Zach Thomas (1 Viewer)

[Weiner Dog]

link:

http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/1137526.html

Chiefs sign veteran LB Zach Thomas

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star

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The Chiefs added another part to their defense Saturday when they agreed to contract terms with veteran linebacker Zach Thomas.

Thomas turns 36 in September, but he has made seven trips to the Pro Bowl in his 13 NFL seasons. His most recent Pro Bowl season came in 2006 with Miami, but Thomas started 14 games last year in his first season with Dallas after 12 years with the Dolphins.

Thomas is the second veteran linebacker acquired by the Chiefs in recent weeks. He follows Mike Vrabel, who came in the trade with New England that also brought QB Matt Cassel.

With the Chiefs looking to play the 3-4 defense next season, Thomas is a probable starter at one inside linebacker position. Vrabel will start at one of the outside positions.

Derrick Johnson also figures as one of the starters, probably on the inside. The Chiefs also have Demorrio Williams and recently signed veteran Monty Beisel for depth and to play on special teams.

That leaves one starting spot. The Chiefs could fill the position through the draft and may be planning to select Aaron Curry of Wake Forest or Everette Brown of Florida State with their No. 3 overall pick.

Thomas, a fifth-round pick by Miami out of Texas Tech in 1996, immediately became a starter for the Dolphins. He has been extremely durable, missing only 24 games in his career because of injury.

Thomas missed 11 games in 2007, his final season with Miami. An auto accident midway through that year caused migraine headaches that led the Dolphins to put Thomas on the injured list.

 

[grantsa4]

Any chance he is an every down LB in KC?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Any chance he is an every down LB in KC?

There's a chance, but I don't know that he'll remain there all year even if he starts there opening weekend. There's an expectation that the Chiefs will draft Aaron Curry if he's there, but there are plenty of other needs -- pure rush OLB, NT, OL -- that could be addressed instead. KC is very likely to address the ILB position early, though, and I'd expect that player to eat into Thomas' playing time fairly early on.

 

[stevegamer]

This is very nice for what is likely a last hurrah for Thomas.

The Chiefs LB group looks much improved with Vrabel & Thomas - maybe it's just the names, but they at least used to be good.

 

[Fanatic13]

I got Thomas as trade fodder earlier this year...so this is all good news to me.

If he posts solid backup #'s or LB 4 type #'s...I will be very happy. To me this news means he Should do just that

 

[Toads]

I paid particular attention to Thomas in the last three games last year.....had to start him in a points based competition come Championship Week.

Really disappointed....watched the game week #16 and he was horrible....against the team allowing most points to LB's yet.

"He just waived as they went by." Check out his stats for second half of last year before getting too excited.

Thomas is done.

 

[Marino13]

I paid particular attention to Thomas in the last three games last year.....had to start him in a points based competition come Championship Week.

Really disappointed....watched the game week #16 and he was horrible....against the team allowing most points to LB's yet.

"He just waived as they went by." Check out his stats for second half of last year before getting too excited.

Thomas is done.

As a long time Dolphins fan, and Thomas fan, I'm sad to say he's about done. He'll start this year, and provide some leadership to some of the young guys, but overall, his physical skills have diminished greatly. He missed some very easy tackles last year, especially the last game he played for in Dallas.