Thomas sets marks in first start for Saints
On the final day of the regular season, finally, a Ron Turner-coached running back enjoyed a breakout game. A record-setting one, in fact.
Too bad for the Bears he wasn't a Bear.
When he served as head coach for the University of Illinois, Turner, the Bears' offensive coordinator, successfully recruited a tough runner out of Thornton Fractional South High School in the South suburbs.
Sunday at Solder Field, Pierre Thomas met up with his old college coach.
"I talked to him before the game," Thomas said, standing at the podium still wearing his New Orleans Saints uniform pants and a T-shirt after the Bears' 33-25 win. "We had a couple of laughs, (shared) old memories. He told the guys on the scout team (during the week) to run the ball hard and he told the defense that they're going to have their hands full. I tried to give them that. I told him I was ready. I was hyped up."
In his first visit to Soldier Field, playing against a team that he rooted for while growing up, and with more than two dozen family members and friends in attendance, Thomas enjoyed the kind of production reminiscent of his days at U of I.
He became the first player in Saints history to have 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game, as he carried 20 times for 105 yards and caught 12 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Not bad for a non-drafted rookie making his first NFL start.
"It's all a big shock to me, really," said Thomas, who had just 30 carries for 146 yards coming into the game. "I just went out there and tried my best. I told myself I was going to work hard this whole season."
Not that Thomas expected to play even a down this season. But with stars Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush out with injuries, and with steady Aaron Stecker injured as well, Thomas got his opportunity.
"I didn't think I was going to get a chance to play, ever," Thomas said. "I was going to sit back and just watch these guys carry the whole load, because Deuce and Reggie and Stecker, they're some great backs. I learned a lot from these guys. They taught me a lot. Thanks to them, I can't help but give a lot to this team."
Another guy who believed in Thomas? His head coach, Sean Payton.
Thomas secured his roster spot in the preseason by rushing for 190 yards (5.8 average) and 3 touchdowns while also catching 6 passes and proving to be an effective kick returner.
"Payton, he trusted me in the preseason," Thomas said. "That's why he picked me up. He knew I could go out there and do the job just in case (McAllister, Bush or Stecker) went down."
Said Payton: "I thought he did a real good job (Sunday). I was proud of him. Aaron was able to dress but still wasn't 100 percent. I thought (Thomas) ran the ball real well. (In) tough conditions, he had some hard yards, and when you watched him finish runs, that was encouraging."
Big, bad Bears were even impressed with the 5-foot-11, 210-pound rookie running back.
"They said I was a tough guy," the humble Thomas said with a smile. "They said they have a whole lot of respect for me. They said I might look like a little guy, but I run like I'm about 260. I really appreciated that.
"(Brian) Urlacher, my first time going against him, that man hit hard. He gave me a couple of shots out there. I was a little dazed, buy hey. I wanted to get back up and keep fighting, and tell them to keep bringing it."