Jack Del Rio, Zach Thomas Forever Linked

Associated Press Published: December 3, 2006 12:00 AM CDT Updated: December 3, 2006 12:00 AM CDT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Jack Del Rio wanted to play one more season with the Miami Dolphins. But an undersized rookie linebacker took his job. Ever since Zach Thomas, a fifth-round draft pick in 1996 from Texas Tech, took Del Rio's job, the two have been linked. They will reunite again Sunday when the Dolphins (5-6) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5).

"I guess I did a pretty good job mentoring," Del Rio joked.

Del Rio spent a summer and a training camp in Miami in 1996, trying to extend his 11-year career. He knew the Dolphins had drafted another middle linebacker, but few expected Thomas to shine so soon.

Thomas' play prompted Johnson to cut Del Rio. Thomas has since made six Pro Bowls, while Del Rio became a coach and got his first head coaching job in Jacksonville four years ago.

"I was at the end of my career and was hoping to get another year with Jimmy down there in Miami and this talented kid came in there and just made play after play everywhere," Del Rio recalled. "It was obviously a good, sound decision by Jimmy. I've been fishing with Jimmy and joked, 'Come on, Jimmy, what the heck?'

"Jimmy made the right decision. It's borne itself out. I was at the end of my career, ended up not playing anymore and Zach's gone on and been a Pro Bowl guy and a very good player."

Thomas remembers the day Johnson told him he had beaten out Del Rio for the starting job.

"It was in the team meeting room. He came and told me and said, 'You're the man now,'" Thomas said. "I just thought I was going to start for a week to help motivate Jack, but Jack had a great game against Tampa. He made a big third-down-and-1 play, so I was thinking I'm just going to back up the whole year. If he went down, I'd have a chance.

"When Jimmy told me that, I didn't know that they let him go. I was a little shocked after that. That's just the way the business is. It happens to every one of us. When you get older, those younger guys will come in and take your job."

Thomas has 1,754 tackles, 18 1/2 sacks and 17 interceptions in 11 seasons since supplanting Del Rio. By comparison, Del Rio finished his career with 1,078 tackles, 12 sacks and 13 interceptions while playing for New Orleans, Kansas City, Dallas and Minnesota. He made the Pro Bowl once, in 1994.

Thomas credits Del Rio with teaching him some nuances of the position.

"I learned a lot from Jack. He was a great player in his 11 years," Thomas said. "He was a heck of a player that I looked up to, but I didn't take his job. Everybody said I took his job. That's not what happened. It's just Jimmy wanted to look toward the future, and that's how it panned out. What a great player - he's a great coach now. I have all the respect for him."