Former Eagles linebacker William Thomas continues to quietly be a dominant playmaker in the NFL. The former Pro Bowl star still has those soft hands made for interceptions. He still possesses the explosive strength and speed needed to blow up plays in opposing backfields. Once again, he has a knack for anticipating where a specific offensive play is headed upon breaking the defensive huddle.

Except, unlike (1991-99) when he played alongside Byron Evans, Seth Joyner, and Bill Romanowski, the former No. 51 is currently dominating alongside All Pro linebackers Ray Lewis and LaVar Arrington.

"I am the king of Madden 2005," said Thomas, known to many Eagles fans as Willie T. "Ask all those guys in the locker-room, I beat them all. It's too easy to play with the Eagles, because they beat everybody. I need a challenge so I'm starting a season with the Ravens and the Redskins."

Thomas admits that current Eagles defensive tackle Hollis Thomas is one of the tougher opponents he has ever faced in the X-Box game.

LB William Thomas

A product of Texas A & M University, Thomas admired the play of New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor while playing in college. Then he had the luxury of learning all about the NFL game and its complexity from likely the greatest Birds' defense of all-time back in his rookie season of 1991.

"That defense just had a 'never-say-die' mentality. They had such an intimidation factor as a defense because nobody wanted to play them. And as a rookie I was just taking it all in; but that defense in 1991 was tough and watching how they practiced and played was very beneficial to me," said Thomas, praising a defense that often found the end zone themselves that year (scoring 24 points) led by Joyner's two touchdowns.

In just his second year with the team, Thomas established himself as a full-time starter, starting alongside fellow linebackers Byron Evans and Joyner. He recorded 94 tackles, two interceptions, and showed Philadelphia fans that he was a young staple within the linebacker corps.

By 1995, Thomas proved to be one of the best players in the league at his (RLB) position, garnering consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl in 1995 and 1996. In addition, his teammates voted him the Eagles Defensive M.V.P. for three straight years (1995-97). Yet, he credits a lot of his success during that period to veteran players who showed him how to be a student of the game when his career had just begun.

"Learning the importance of film study from great players like Byron (Evans), Seth (Joyner), Eric (Allen), and Andre (Waters), those guys were always in the film room studying and they showed me the importance of it," Thomas recalled. "So on gameday, I was able to use that knowledge from films and just go make plays letting my ability take over."

Another key player Thomas credits for his development is linebacker/special teams standout Ken Rose.

"He really took me under his wing my rookie season and I really appreciated that. He was even my roommate during away games, and we often worked out together," Thomas said. "He was a great teammate because we were competing for the same position, but he wanted to see me succeed. I guess he saw something special in me and showed me the ropes."

Now 36 years old, Thomas has many great memories of his nine years in Philadelphia. Games against the Cardinals and Lions hold a special place for him.

"I probably had one of the biggest adrenaline rushes ever playing against Phoenix, stopping them five times on the goal line," said Thomas, referring to the Eagles victory over the Cardinals when the famous "Gang Green" defense stopped the Cardinals on downs to win the game. "They ran the ball five times inside the 1-yard line and we stopped them cold every single time.

"In that game, I had the most fun playing (outside linebacker) because all I had to do was force the play back into the middle of the field for Byron Evans and the gang."

Thomas then spoke about the home playoff win over the Lions in 1995: "That game was the craziest game I have ever been involved in. We scored on the Hail Mary (QB Rodney Peete throwing to Rob Carpenter) to end the first half.

LB William Thomas

"Then to get an interception in the second half and taking it to the house to end it was great, because I actually had a dream the night before the game that a play like that would happen and it actually did."

Thomas was referring to the interception he returned 37 yards for a touchdown that sealed the 58-37 playoff victory.

Thomas currently resides with his wife, Susan, and three boys in Mullica Hill, N.J., where he sells real estate for a living. He describes himself as a low-key, laid back, family man. In his spare time, he likes to golf. He also donates his time and money to his children's school, and Freedom Theatre a dance theatre very close to his wife's heart.

Thomas, whose favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird, is also flirting with the idea of coaching professional football in the future.

"Down the road, I would definitely consider getting into coaching because I know so much about the game," said Thomas, who currently coaches his sons in basketball and track.

In fact, when asked what current Eagles player he would find most difficult to game-plan against both as a player and coach, he stated: "For me being a former linebacker, (Brian) Westbrook would be so tough to cover if I played today. Furthermore, when I played (for the Raiders) we always had a tough time game planning for (WR) Terrell Owens. We would even double-team him and it still did not work."

Thomas believes that the addition of No. 81 (Owens) has been fantastic for the offense. However, he has also been excited to see a former defensive teammate return to Philadelphia.

"Jeremiah Trotter provides great depth, leadership, and play to the team. He is a big aggressive linebacker who will throw the center away, then use his biggest assets of size, strength, and speed getting to the football," said Thomas, who started alongside Trotter during the 1999 season.

Lastly, Thomas has a simple request for the organization that he loves so much: "I would love to retire as a Philadelphia Eagle. I want to do it because I played nine years for them and I loved the time when I was there. It would only be right for Philadelphia, the fans, and myself."