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Philadelphia Eagles legend gives Halapoulivaati Vaitai a pat on the back

By Geoffrey Knox

PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 25: Offensive tackle William Thomas #72 of the Philadelphia Eagles lines up for a play during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 25, 2006 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Steelers 16-7. (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 25: Offensive tackle William Thomas #72 of the Philadelphia Eagles lines up for a play during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 25, 2006 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Steelers 16-7. (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images) /
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Recently, one of the best offensive linemen to ever don a Philadelphia Eagles jersey took some time to show love to Halapoulivaati Vaitai.

On Sunday, the oft-scrutinized Halapoulivaati Vaitai turned in a very respectable performance for the Philadelphia Eagles versus the hated Dallas Cowboys. It hasn’t gotten very much mention, but it wasn’t going to slip past one very notable team legend.

You won’t find too many die-hard Eagles fans who can’t pick Tra Thomas, out of a lineup. After taking this young man 11th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft, the Eagles got 11 years out of a career that’s arguably Pro Football Hall of Fame worthy.

From 1998 until 2008, Thomas protected the blindside of Donovan McNabb, beginning in 1999. Before that, in his rookie season, Ray Rhodes‘ final ride as the head coach, he protected the blindsides of Bobby Hoying, Koy Detmer, and Rodney Peete, who all threw a touchdown pass during a dismal 3-13 campaign.

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Thomas would earn three Pro Bowl nods with Philly (2001, 2002, 2004) before spending one season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and his final season with what was then the San Diego Chargers. In 2013, he came home, serving as an offensive assistant for two seasons.

Thomas officially retired from the NFL as an Eagle on August 16th of 2012. He’s a member of the Eagles’ 75th-Anniversary Team and one of the hosts of 97.5 The Fanatic’s Morning Show in Philly. Recently, he gave the man we all know as ‘Big V’ a pat on the back for a job well done versus Dallas. Take a look.

There’s a certain rule about NFL offensive linemen. We often don’t bring their names up unless they do something in error. It’s a thankless job. Vaitai, normally, has had to fill in during the absences of Philly’s stars, Lane Johnson, when he’s been both suspended and injured, and Jason Peters, when he’s battled through injuries of his own.

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When ‘Big V’ has been good, he’s been very good. When he’s been bad, it’s been awful. Often, we as fans and the media have tried to ship him off over and over again, but if we beat him up for those bad days, we have to give him credit for the good ones. Great job big guy! We may need you to hold it down again for Week 17 if Johnson can’t go.

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