Bills Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas Talks Josh Allen, James Cook & More w/Rich

Thurman Thomas took James Cook out onto the grass at the new Highmark Stadium, and the reigning NFL rushing leader told him he plans to be even better this year.

"Well, you led the league in rushing," Thomas recalled telling him. Cook did not blink. He said he got stronger in the offseason, and that the next step is catching the football more, more crossing patterns, more screens, more time on the field on third down.

That is a real ask. Buffalo has Ty Johnson and Ray Davis in that role, and Thomas told Cook what earning those snaps actually requires. Picking up blitzes from linebackers and defensive backs. Cook's answer was flat and immediate: "I'm ready for it."

Thomas thinks Cook should go take it rather than wait for it. He pointed at the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead, where Cook was not on the field for the last drive despite being, in Thomas's view, the best player out there that day. "Go and demand it," he said, laying out the pitch Cook should make to Joe Brady. Give me the chance to prove I can handle a linebacker on third down, and if I can't, that's your call.

He never made that argument himself, because you did not question Marv Levy. When the Bills got inside the five, Kenny Davis came running in, and Thomas swallowed it. He is only half joking about the cost. "I could have had at least 20 more touchdowns and I would still have the record, and Josh wouldn't have it right now."

Brady is a young head coach, and Thomas believes that changes the math for Cook. The staff will listen.

Asked what Josh Allen and Jim Kelly have in common, Thomas did not reach for arm talent or style. He landed somewhere simpler. "They want to win. They want to win so bad." Kelly measured himself against Dan Marino. Allen measures himself against Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow. Both quarterbacks carried the same fire, the same willingness to talk back to anyone who wanted to talk, the same toughness in an era where Kelly could release a football and still take three or four steps' worth of contact without a flag.

Both also own the town. Thomas said he was just with Kelly, who put it plainly: it's Josh's town now, and everyone else is just living in it. Thomas has bought 17 jerseys for all nine of his kids and his five grandkids. "We don't even wear 34 jerseys around here anymore."

On the Hall of Fame question, Thomas rattled off Kent Hull, Cornelius Bennett and Darryl Talley before settling on the name he wanted most. Steve Tasker.

"When people say that you are the greatest special teams player ever, why are you not in the Hall of Fame?" Thomas asked. He quoted Marv Levy on the point, that a touchdown on offense or defense will never fuel the excitement of one made on special teams. Tasker blocked punts. Tasker tackled Deion Sanders on returns. He made big plays for an entire career. "For me, it's definitely Steve Tasker."

Thomas also picked a running back MVP for this season, and he went with Bijan Robinson if Atlanta can put together a winning record. Robinson touches the ball 25 to 35 times a game, is entering his fourth year and shows no sign of slowing down.

His visit to the show came by way of Carhartt's Made Possible campaign, honoring the trades people who built the stadium. Thomas and his construction company helped install all 60,000-plus seats. For the first preseason game, the first 20,000 fans through the gates get a towel printed with the name of every worker who helped build the place.

"It is built by the people," Thomas said.