What’s Up With Zach?
On Tuesday, Zach Thomas will celebrate his 36th birthday.
Will he still be a member of the Chiefs when he cuts his cake?
Adam Schefter of ESPN says no, he’s gone. Thomas’ agent Drew Rosenhaus says that’s wrong, that he plans to play this year with the Chiefs.
Unknown in this story are the words and thoughts of Pioli/Haley, because they do not talk about injured players. And Thomas has been injured. He has not practiced with the team since August 6th. That as the Chiefs ninth practice of training camp, and Thomas had missed two earlier workouts.
His injury appears to be either a hamstring or a quad muscle; the Chiefs will not confirm anything. Thomas disappeared last week from the rehab team, but he was back during Monday’s practice. He was running and taking part in exercises and drills with the strength and conditioning staff and seemed to have no problems moving about.
But, Monday night came the ESPN report that Thomas would retire this week, reach an injury settlement with the Chiefs or be released. There’s a mandatory NFL cutdown on Tuesday; by 3 p.m. CDT the Chiefs must slice their roster from 80 to 75.
Not long after that report hit television screens, Rosenhaus debunked it on his Twitter account saying: “Zach Thomas is not retiring. He is progressing from his injury & he fully expects to have a great season with the Chiefs in 09.”
Thomas had no problems all through the off-season program and had become a defensive and team leader for his workout habits and his knowledge of defense. But one of the problems with older players is sometimes their body gives out before their desire. Thomas has played 184 NFL games and has missed very few, a total of 24 games over 13 seasons in the league. The only physical problem that really limited his participation came in 2007 when he had post-concussion problems after an auto accident; that cost him 11 games.
After missing so much practice time, the decision is probably no longer in his hands. There doesn’t appear to be any place for him and the roster clock is ticking – 27 players must be sliced by Saturday.
If he does get whacked it will be a bad way to spend a birthday.
Why can’t Chiefs put him on PUP list? Then he won’t count on roster numbers. He can be cut or activated later, when the picture on his health is clearer.
I still think Thomas is to this team what Mike Webster was at the end of his career. He may not contribute much physically on game day, but he helped the team by modeling work ethic and by sharing his knowledge. Just hope Thomas doesn’t end up like Webster, which could happen with the concussion issues Zach has had.
I hope he is cut. He is a nice guy and a former great player, but at this point he is a waste of a roster spot.
PUP is a waste for a 36 y/o with concussion history. If he can’t go, he can’t go. Another report said he had to be on the active roster for the beginning of the season to get paid. I would guess his agent is only trying to quash rumors and encourage him to stick it out until then. HE gets more that way.
Keep him on as a coach/advisor if he is willing. It is all he was contributing at this point anyway. This certainly isn’t a loss for the Chiefs since he hadn’t played a down.
“What’s Up With Zach?”
- the right to choose his own barber. Zach, who did that to you- your mom? I’d cut you too just because of that haircut.
Sir Issac Newton’s first law: an object at rest tends to stay at rest; conversely, an object in uniform motion tends to stay as such unless tis acted upon by a net external force.
Zach, meet Turk…
Rosenhaus would lie if the truth were better. Zach is done, his agent is looking for one last paycheck. Zach is all that’s right with the league, Drew all that’s wrong. Interesting connection.
Cut his old butt, and make room for a younger LB. That’s the way of the NFL. Rosenhaus is just trying to get money for his client through the media, what he does best.
Hamstring and quad injuries can be the nagging type, especially with older players. Maybe that’s why he’s been out so long, letting it heal completely before coming back instead of coming back too soon and aggrevating it.
If Zach is healthy and wants to play, let him play. Even at 36, he’s a good player, and a great leader and quarterback-type for the defense.
Like Donnie Edwards last year. Father time seems to have caught up with ole Zach Thomas. With guys like Corey stepping up and playing well along with Demmorio not doing bad himself it look like it only make since to go with the young guys.
Unfortunatly, I’ll have to agree with most here. Even though he is/was a good player and has a perfect work ethic, he needs to go. Maybe they can hire him as a consultant or as a LB coach.
We are looking in thru a frosted window. Even if he can still play, whose place does he take? Would you cut a 25 year old with potential (gosh how I hate that work) over a 36 year old with health issues? Let him coach if Haley and Pendergast agree. OR play him until he breaks, but that is just sick.