Why Zach Thomas Is In Kansas City
From the Truman Sports Complex
Why would a soon to be 36-year old, seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker sign up with a team that’s coming off a 2-14 season and in total rebuild mode?
Zach Thomas had five reasons over and above the biggest reason he plays and that’s his love of the game:
- 1. Scott Pioli
- 2. Toddy Haley
- 3. Matt Cassel
- 4. The Miami Dolphins
- 5. Middle linebacker
They were all factors in his decision to sign with the Chiefs and continue his football career after 12 seasons in Miami and last year in Dallas.
“I knew everything is changed here,” Thomas said Saturday afternoon in a break between mini-camp practices at the Chiefs facility. “I’d like to be here for that change, kind of like Miami did last year, you know, turn it around.
“I’m excited just to come out here and try to make a difference. I’m excited for the opportunity and that’s why I’m here.
The key in him making his move to K.C. was those five factors.
PIOLI/HALEY
Last year, Pioli chased Thomas on the free agent market when the former was working for the Patriots. Thomas ended up signing with Dallas because of his desire to have a chance to play back in his home state o f Texas.
“It all starts at the top,” Thomas said. “When you’ve got the best GM in Scott Pioli and you look at his past.
Thomas didn’t know that much about Haley, but was sold after meeting with the new head coach.
“When I came in here, I was a little skeptical at first about coming to the team,” Thomas said. “When I came in and talked to Todd (Haley), he was straight to the point. He wanted to change the mindset of the players. He really grabbed me right there. I knew once you get the mindset of this team changed, I want to be part of it.
“Nothing is guaranteed from year to year. Look at Dallas where I was last year. We were supposedly guaranteed to win a Super Bowl and we didn’t make the playoffs.
“I have high expectations for this team.”
CASSEL/DOLPHINS
Miami went 1-15 during the 2007 season. Thomas was part of that team, although he was able to play only five games after an auto accident left him with concussion symptoms for the rest of the year. He was there and knew the misery.
From Dallas last year he watched everything change as the Dolphins brought in Bill Parcells and Miami won the AFC East with an 11-5 record.
“You see they brought in change, Parcells coming in there and they set up a good coaching staff,” said Thomas. “Like I said, it starts at the top and it started with the quarterback. They got (Chad) Pennington from the Jets, a guy that does not turn the ball over. You are in every game. It all starts there.
“I was there many years, we always had great defenses, and after (Dan) Marino left, we never had that, we never had a stable quarterback.”
Thomas thinks the Chiefs have that with Cassel.
“It starts with a quarterback, getting Matt Cassel in here,” said Thomas. “All the good teams last year had good quarterbacks going into the playoffs.”
Even though Cassel wasn’t a starter until last year and he didn’t play the Cowboys, Thomas has seen the quarterback up close and personal. In the final game of the 2005 season, Cassel played the final three quarters of the last regular-season game, throwing for two touchdowns and 168 yards against the Dolphins.
MIDDLE LINEBACKER
Haley has not publicly said whether his team will run the 4-3 or 3-4 defense. That’s largely because they will run both and a few other hybrid versions of both schemes.
No matter what they run, Thomas will play middle linebacker. That’s the spot where he made his mark in the league, where he enjoyed seven trips to the Pro Bowl. Last year, he played inside but not as a middle linebacker with the Cowboys. As a free agent, he wanted to get back to the spot he feels most comfortable.
“There were teams interested in me, but not for that position,” Thomas said. “I went out of my comfort zone last year to make it work. They have a great linebacker in Dallas in Bradie James and I played by his side. It just didn’t feel comfortable enough.
“Now after talking to coach (Clancy) Pendergast, the defenses that he’s put in, is what I played in the past. It’s a little mix of everything. That’s the reason I’m here.”
Nice front office talk from Thomas but I think the real reason he’s with the Chiefs is what a 36 year old LB could get to extend his career and KC offered him the magic number to secure his services.
I believe most of us can see through the player rhetoric? Anyway, Zack is stopgap on the way to a more viable team in 2010 with a probable playoff deep run in 2011.
He’s got the heart, but does the body have the stamina? One good shot to the head could put this guy on IR. But on that same note, one good shot to the knee can put anyone on IR.
I don’t see it as rhetoric at all. Chiefs have everything he was looking for. Opportunity, front office and coaching leadership, opportunity for him to play MLB. Plus, an opportunity to be part of a turn around.
Simply put, Zach Thoimas determined Kansas City Chiefs were a good fit for him.
That’s great news that we are now attracting quality players who want to do it right. That’s the message that jumps out at me. Players who’ve been around understand good organizations and what it takes to be successful. KC is creating that here.
We are on our way.
Rip ‘em a new one
Why can’t you take for face value what Thomas said about why he’s in KC?
agree with rip, that its about the money. That being said, I hope Thomas earns his 1 yr keep
bah, it was one of his best chances to start, plain and simple.
I also agree with rip. Thomas wants one more year in the league. It has a whole lot more with the Chiefs wanting Thomas than Thomas wanting to come here. If he stays healthy he will play with passion, I just don’t see him making us that much better.
Stop-gap or not he will be good for the TEAM.
Good hit to any head and they could be out, he doesn’t have to be 36 for that to happen.
He will be good for the TEAM!!!
It is ALL about the TEAM………..and………..
THE RIGHT (22) 53 2009
InPoli I trust
Sometimes it is all about the money…but is every player that talks like this a liar? Is it ALWAYS only about the money for all players in the NFL? Come on…..I don’t think so. Money certainly is a factor. He wouldn’t be coming to KC if they were paying him peanuts….but why the automatic assumption that Thomas is a liar….(and you are calling Thomas a liar). He sounds sincere….I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
On a side note….Bob…..I know they pay the bills but some of the ads on your site are surprising to me. “Find Your Russian Beauty Today”????? That just strikes me as bizarre.
No one suggested that age had anything to do with concussions. But it’s a proven fact that after that first one, each subsequent concussion comes easier and the effects last longer. Thomas is well over his limit.
“Why Zach Thomas Is In Kansas City”
Because Pioli couldn’t find a neurologist to clear Ted Johnson.
He’s there because Pioli wants to make sure there is a real linebackers assistant out there with Vrabel to kick some guys “a” if they have all the talent in the world but won’t do the work to be a real man on the field…
That’s not even mentioning they may need another enforcer to kick the defensive coaches’ around if they let their stinkin’ egos get in the way of making decent coaching decisions. Whether you like Tim Krumrie or not, he knew how to tear off some heads when he played on the D-Line. Now that Gun is gone, that fire may not be there for the linebackers.
Zach is in KC because Vrabel wasn’t. It’s not a coincidence that Zach was signed the very week Vrabel decided to no show. Zach is filling the role Vrabel was supposed to. Veteran presence and leader by example for the LB’s. Who knows what’s going on with Vrabel? Contract issues?