2007 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Was part of an offensive line that paved the way for  the NFL's yards from scrimmage leader in Brian Westbrook (2,104 yds.) and a rushing attack that ranked 2nd in the NFL in  yds./carry (4.7)

2006 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Was part of an offensive line that allowed opponents just 28 sacks, the team's lowest total since 1981 (22). It was the 6th-lowest sack total allowed in team history since records began being kept of the stat in 1963. The starting line was one of two units in the NFL to start all 16 regular season games (and two playoff games) and together paved the way for the highest net yardage total (6,103) in team history

2004 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Earned his 3rd selection to the NFC Pro Bowl squad, but did not play in the game. Also named All-NFC by Pro Football Weekly
• Was integral in the success of one of the most productive offenses in the NFL, an offense that posted a team record 4,208 passing yds.
• Was inactive at StL (12/27/04) for personal reasons
• Played in his 100th NFL game at Cle. (10/24/04). Made his 100th NFL start vs. Bal. (10/31/04)

2003 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Was part of an offensive line that protected QB Donovan McNabb and helped pave the way for the "Three Headed Monster" RB attack that posted a combined 1,618 rushing yds. and 2,465 total yds. from scrimmage

2002 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Earned his 2nd Pro Bowl selection, his first as a starter. He, RT Jon Runyan, and RG Jermane Mayberry were the first trio of Eagles offensive linemen ever to go to the Pro Bowl in one season
• An All-Pro selection by AP, The Sporting News, USA Today Sports Weekly. Was also named All-NFC by Pro Football Weekly
• Started all 16 games and helped pave the way for the league's 4th-highest scoring offense (25.9 pts./game), the best output in team history (415)
• Helped Duce Staley notch his 3rd career 1,000-yd rushing season
• The offensive line allowed the team's lowest sack total (36) in a 16-game season since 1981 (22)

2001 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. Was originally selected as the first alternate behind the Rams Orlando Pace (starter), the Redskins Chris Samuels (starter) and the Bears James Williams (reserve). When Pace withdrew from the game due to injury, Thomas filled in just days before the game
• Missed the first game of his career, at TB (1/6/02), as many starters were rested
• Helped RB Correll Buckhalter to a team rookie rushing record 134 yds. vs. Arz. (10/7/01). Buckhalter, (129-586) also broke the Eagles' single-season rookie rushing record set by Keith Byars (177-577) in 1986

2000 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Was selected as the first alternate to the NFC Pro Bowl squad behind Pace, William Roaf, and Korey Stringer
• Was a member of an offensive line that started all 16 regular season games (and both playoff contests) in the same combination. As such, the Eagles were just one of four clubs to have the unit stay intact throughout the season and, since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, became the first Philadelphia team to accomplish that feat
• Helped open up holes during one of the greatest rushing performances in club history as Staley gained 201 yds. in the season opening win at Dal. (9/3/00), and the team ran for over 300 yds.

1999 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Helped pave the way for Staley's consecutive 1,000-yd. rushing campaigns in 1998-99

1998 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Earned NFL All-Rookie team honors from College and Pro Football Newsweekly
• In the 4th game of his rookie season vs. KC (9/27/98), held Chiefs All-Pro LB Derrick Thomas without a sack or tackle

BIRDSEED:

• When Thomas was young, he was too big for Pop Warner football, but that didn't stop him from establishing his athletic prowess. ""He got his first trophy when he was 4 for swimming,"" recalled Ethel Thomas, Tra's mother
• Has begun to transform himself into quite a renaissance man, crediting maturity, relocation, marriage and living faith for his evolution. Some of his eclectic hobbies include: French lessons, Broadway shows, the opera, chess and Scattergories. Said Thomas, ""I want to expose my kids to these things. Growing up in a small town, there weren't opportunities to explore different things. I just played pool and went swimming. I'm fortunate to be able to explore these opportunities with my family.""
• Aspires to have a 20-year career in the NFL and then plans to coach offensive linemen on the collegiate level. ""I'd really like to teach young linemen. It's not a natural position for kids. Everyone grows up playing quarterback, receiver and running back, not offensive line. Technique is the most important part for them to learn.""

IN THE TRENCHES

• His definition of an O-lineman: "We are the toughest guys and the hardest working guys on the team. We play every snap, every down, every game. We are sometimes anonymous, but we are asked to protect the 100 million dollar quarterbacks from getting hit."
• His favorite NFL O-lineman: Bob Brown. "He's just a beast, man. He was a real aggressive player. He took it on everyone he lined up against."
• International Man of Mystery: Tra and his wife, Rosa, take French lessons together. The couple began the lessons in 2005 when they were planning a trip to France.

PERSONAL:

• Tra and his wife, Rosa Chanea, have three sons
• His father, William "Crane" Thomas, was an offensive tackle at Florida A&M and attended Atlanta's training camp in 1974
• His 550-lb. bench press was a FSU record
• Was a two-way tackle at Deland (FL) HS
• Enjoys motorcycles and bought a Big Dog Chopper in the 2008 offseason
• During the bye week in 2006, returned to Deland and had his jersey #95 retired in a ceremony
• His first job was working as a recreational advisor at a park in Florida. ""I was basically a babysitter for the kids that went there.""
• Majored in criminology
• Full name: William Thomas III

INJURY HISTORY:
Inactive at NYG (9/30/07) with a MCL sprain suffered vs. Det. (9/23/07). Suffered a lower back injury at NYG (11/20/05) and was placed on IR on 11/25. Diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg and missed both mini-camps of the 2005 offseason. Was inactive at Mia. (12/15/03) due to back spasms.

Polished his pass-blocking skills during Florida State practices against top-flight defenders such as Andre Wadsworth, Peter Boulware, Reinard Wilson, and Greg Spiers (Boulware and Wilson were NFL 1st round picks in 1997 by Baltimore and Cincinnati, respectively; Wadsworth was the third selection overall in 1998 by Arizona; and Spiers was taken in the 3rd round by New England in 1998). Played the "tight" tackle position, switching from left to right tackle in order to match up against opponents' top pass rushers. As a senior, earned 2nd team All-America honors, 1st team All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition, and the Jacob's Trophy given to the ACC's top offensive lineman. Helped the Seminoles' offense lead the ACC and rank 8th in the nation with 452.1 total yards per game. Switched to offense after originally being recruited as a defender.