It's All Turning Around In Buffalo

Thurman Thomas -- Reunited & It Feels So Wood
by TMZ Staff

After several traumatic days away from home ... the missing Thurman Thomas statue finally returned to Buffalo today -- where he was greeted by his flesh-and-bones counterpart.

The woman who sculpted the statue of the NFL legend went all the way to Canada to pick up Wooden Thurman from a guy who claims he rescued the 1000-pound beast from pyro-maniacal vandals last weekend.

But the statue won't return to its perch outside Buffalo Bills stadium -- too dangerous. But its new home won't be too far away ... Thurman Thomas plans on keeping it at his official training center.

"I'm grateful for Orchard Park Police Dept for finding my carving, and I'm glad no Cleveland Browns fans took it and burned it."

The story is insane -- police in Orchard Park, NY tell TMZ a Canadian dude has fessed up to taking the statue ... but says he only took it to save the 8 1/2-foot carving from grave danger.

Cops say the Canadian claims he saw a bunch of hooligans trying to light the giant pine statue on fire -- so he loaded wooden Thurman onto the back of a pick-up truck so he could drive it to safety.

BTW -- the statue had only been unveiled on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Now, we're told the Canadian has contacted the owner of the statue to arrange the carving's safe return.

No word if the Thurman Thomas statue was able to locate its helmet in the melee.

Finally, a victory in Buffalo...

It all seemed lost for the Bills for a while. A terrible record, an anemic offense, a pouty All-Pro receiver, a lame duck coach, fans throwing popcorn at players and burning penises in their yards and a billboard to remind everyone of how bad it had gotten. But then things hit rock bottom. They stole Thurmo's wooden statue.

Something had to change in Buffalo and it had to start with getting some wood. The Buffalo police had already come to the rescue once, apprehending the punks who burned the falice in Leodis' yard and they came up big again. They got the statue back, Edwards got the concussion, Posluzny picked off the ball, the kicker made the kick and the Bills are back! Next step - the Super Bowl. Well, maybe not, but at least its a start!