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In football, a ball hawk is a defender who is always around the ball making plays. The dictionary definition should have a picture of Earl Thomas.
Considered one of the best free safeties in football, Thomas plays like a missile. His specialty is covering large distances to strike his target.
No play summed up his ability than late in Seattle’s regular-season finale Dec. 28 against St. Louis.
Up 20-6, the Seahawks were six minutes from winning the NFC West and a No. 1 playoff seed. St. Louis had driven deep into Seahawks territory.
When Rams receiver Benjamin Cunningham caught a pass at the 6-yard line, Thomas was at least 10 yards away. But as Cunningham reached the ball toward the end zone, Thomas flew in and chopped with his fist, dislodging the ball just inches shy of the goal line.
The ball dribbled into the end zone and out of bounds for a Rams turnover. The play clinched the division title and reflected why Thomas and the Seattle defense are considered the best in the NFL.
“Any other person in the league would have probably slowed down and let him score,” linebacker Bruce Irvin said.
