Former Raider Alonzo “Skip” Thomas passed away Sunday at the age of 61 of an apparent heart attack. Thomas played six seasons in the NFL, all with the Raiders. He started opposite Willie Brown in most of those seasons, including the Raiders’ 1976 Super Bowl winning season.
Thomas earned the nickname “Doctor Death” from his fierce tackling style. That is saying a lot for a guy who was all of 205 pounds. His reckless style of play was common for the Raiders in those days, and he fit right in. His eccentricities had him fitting in with his teammates as well.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=
pQAaq7C9DrI[/youtube]His two best seasons came in 1974 and 1975 where he put together back to back six interception seasons. He had future Hall of Famer Willie Brown as the other starting corner and that put more pressure on Thomas to perform. The two of them would often shut down their receivers altogether. Either that or quarterbacks would be forced to throw at Skip Thomas’ receiver which he reveled in as another chance to lay the wood.
He and Willie Brown were rated as the eighth best cornerback tandem in NFL history by NFL.com.
The two of them were at their best in Super Bowl XI as they held future Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton and the Minnesota Vikings to one touchdown. The Vikings scored two touchdowns but the second TD was after the Raiders already had the game sealed.
Thomas was born in 1950 in Higginsville, Missouri, and attended USC. He was drafted by the Raiders in round seven of the 1972 draft.
Thomas’ death comes almost exactly a year after Raider legendary safety Jack Tatum died. Tatum died July 27th of last year.
Skip Thomas was a truly great Raider whose time ended too soon. Rest in peace, Doctor Death.
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