Still seeking a ring, Thomas concentrates on winning, not the pain
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ASHBURN – The doctor delivered the news, Randy Thomas processed it for a minute — heard the phrase “possible paralysis” — and came to a quick conclusion, one that surprised nobody. Thomas would keep playing.
And he never thought about the potential danger again.
“Once I commit to something, that’s what I’m going to do,” Thomas said.
But it’s one thing to hurry back from a triceps injury, as he did two years ago, not wanting to miss out on a potential playoff berth. It’s another to play with a herniated disk in his neck, as he did in the second half of last season. Offseason surgery fixed the problem.
He consulted with doctors and then-Redskins director of sports medicine, Bubba Tyer. They let him know the risks. He let them know his answer.
“I was hitting as hard as I could, but I was having pain,” he said. “Sometimes I was afraid to hit because of the pain. They told me a big hit would probably hurt you and I never did lighten up on my hits. That’s the stubborn part of it.”
Thomas did not tell his teammates but obviously the coaches knew his situation. Line coach Joe Bugel told him the minute the trainers and doctors say he can’t play, then he would pull him out. But they did not give him the red light, leaving it up to Thomas and his competitive desire to continue.
“He’s a rare person,” Bugel said. “I’ve never coached a guy that’s any tougher and understands injury and pain better than him. He’s very close to my heart.”
Said left tackle Chris Samuels, “It just shows how tough Randy is — a little bit crazy, but he’s a tough guy.”
That’s why, though the Redskins are concerned about his right knee, they know that Thomas will be able to toughen out any situation. Whether or not that means playing 16 games is another matter.
But Thomas, entering his 11th year, knows the last thing he can do is worry about what-ifs. Besides, he said this is the best he’s felt in six years, sore knee and all.
“If there’s a reason I can’t go, it’s a big reason,” Thomas said.
The tradeoff, of course, could come years down the line after he’s done playing. Once again, his response is to ignore the negative and focus on what football has given him: a lifestyle few enjoy.
“This is my gift,” he said. “I’ve worked so hard in life to get where I’m at now. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. … I’ve been so blessed; I’m making a life for my family and I want a ring to justify and show them why I continue to do what I do.”
The Redskins already understand.
“I’d call him old school,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “When you think of what we want a Redskin player to be, he’s what we’re looking for.”
