Smith, Thomas Put On Really Big Showing for Buffalo : Football: Seeking some respect, back scores four touchdowns and lineman shuts down Everett.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. —  When last we left Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith, they were complaining about a lack of respect before Super Bowl XXVI. Thomas walked out of a mandatory media function because he felt he wasn’t getting his due as the league’s most valuable player and Smith was talking about the hate mail he had received from the not-so-good folks of Buffalo.

After Sunday’s season opener against the Rams at Rich Stadium, at least Thomas won’t have to worry about receiving approbation from the Rams and the only hate mail Smith might get will be from Jim Everett and Gerald Perry.

Thomas had 82 yards rushing, 33 receiving yards and three touchdowns by halftime . And Smith spent the afternoon blowing past left tackle Perry and slamming into Everett.

Thomas, a running back, finished with 103 yards in 22 carries and four touchdowns. Smith had two sacks, knocked down two passes at the line of scrimmage and spent more time in the backfield than either Cleveland Gary or Robert Delpino, who split time in the Rams’ new one-back offense.

“It really was just the usual for Thurman, just another outstanding day,” Bill Coach Marv Levy said. “He’s a magnificently versatile player and it was just vintage Thurman Thomas.

“And as far as Bruce’s play, well, we all know what he can do. But I am surprised that he played at this level this quickly. He played just 12 plays in one exhibition game, so I thought it might take (him) longer to turn in the kind of game he played today.”

Smith, the right defensive end who has been hampered for more than a year by a left knee injury that required two surgeries, appears to be back to his old All-Pro self. He refused to comment after the game, but there were plenty of others willing to pay tribute to his dominance.

“I wasn’t sure exactly what he was going to do, what kind of condition his knee was in,” Perry said. “But when I got out there today, it was the same old Bruce Smith. He’s one heck of a ballplayer.”

Perry spent much of the afternoon craning his neck to see where Smith went. Everett, however, got a real good, up-close-and-personal look. In fact, it was a regular barrage of the senses.

“I had to tell him those onions he was eating before the game were killing me,” Everett said. “And I smelled them all day. He had just a fabulous day. There’s no doubt he controlled us.”

Quarterback Jim Kelly, who says the Bills need a healthy Smith on the field to elevate them from a good team to a great one, said Smith had just one request for him Sunday.

“He kept getting us the ball back and we were scoring pretty quickly,” Kelly said. “He asked me if we could slow down a bit to give him a little more rest, but I said, ‘Sorry, Bruce, we gotta do what we gotta do.’ ”

If Smith was instrumental in keeping Ram points off the scoreboard, it was Thomas who was orchestrating the Bills’ offensive onslaught.

On Buffalo’s first scoring series--a nine-play, 55-yard drive--Thomas ran off right guard for three yards, caught a swing pass for 10, went around left for 11, then around right end for 11, back up the middle for five and finally caught a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Early in the third quarter, Thomas took a direct snap from center and danced 10 yards up the middle into the end zone and the Bills led, 34-7.

“We always practice it, but I was surprised when Jim (Kelly) called it,” Thomas said. “They were in a defense that made it the right call because nobody touched me.”

It went on like that for much of the first three quarters before the Bills’ reserves took over.

Levy says Thomas, who is often portrayed as a malcontent, is mostly misunderstood and his outburst before the Super Bowl was blown out of proportion.

“Thurman probably didn’t realize what a spotlight you’re in when you’re at the Super Bowl,” Levy said. “The time he chose was wrong. Thurman is the kind of guy who gripes about the little things. ‘Who ordered this bus? Why do we have to have chicken so many times?’ And that was just another manifestation of what he thought was a very minor gripe.

“Thurman’s an unselfish guy, but he didn’t give that impression at the Super Bowl. He’s also a very bright guy. He picks up assignments and game plans. He understands why you’re putting something in.”

Thomas picked up something in the game plan this week that surprised and pleased him. He saw his name on the depth chart for the Bills’ goal-line offense.

“That’s something I’m not familiar with,” he said, smiling. “They usually put Kenny Davis in down there. I guess they wanted to keep me on the field so (the Rams) would have to worry about whether we were going to pass or run.

“Good game plan by Marv, but I probably won’t be in there next week. I always come out when we get down there, and I don’t think anything will change.”

Poor Thurman. Four touchdowns and some guys still can’t any respect.