Zach Thomas (LB) signs with the Chiefs

[TD22]

per dallascowboys.com

Thomas Finds New Home In Kansas City

Posted by mickshot at 4/12/2009 12:46 AM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

Maybe Zach Thomas just wanted out of all the Cowboys drama. Or maybe now that it’s already Easter the 35-year-old linebacker was running out of alternatives.

But the Kansas City Star is reporting the former Cowboys linebacker who said he didn’t feel he fit into the 3-4 defense he was asked to play from the weak inside backer position in 2008 has agreed to a free-agent contract with the Chiefs. Funny thing is the Chiefs, with new head coach Todd Haley and defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, both former Cowboys assistant coaches, are expected to play a 3-4 defense this year.

Thomas finished the 2008 season with 177 tackles, second on the team to Bradie James’ 202 tackles. Thomas, though, did not have many memorable plays, totaling just one sack and three tackles for losses. The 13-year veteran was able to play all 16 games, reducing the four-year deal he had signed with the Cowboys to just one to make him an unrestricted free agent.

The Cowboys didn’t wait to replace Thomas, immediately signing Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking to play Thomas’ vacated weak inside backer spot next to James at the start of free agency.

Mickey Spagnola

 

[AdamJT13]

I just saw this and was about to post it.

As a 13-year veteran, Thomas almost certainly will get enough money to qualify for the comp equation, which would allow us to get that high comp pick for Chris Canty next year. Tank Johnson signed with the Bengals for only $670,000 for one season, so he won't qualify. But Thomas' minimum salary alone is $845,000, which would put him close to qualifying. If he got a decent bonus, that should put him over the amount needed to qualify for the equation, as long as the Chiefs don't cut him.

 

[silverbear]

I just saw this and was about to post it.

As a 13-year veteran, Thomas almost certainly will get enough money to qualify for the comp equation, which would allow us to get that high comp pick for Chris Canty next year. Tank Johnson signed with the Bengals for only $670,000 for one season, so he won't qualify. But Thomas' minimum salary alone is $845,000, which would put him close to qualifying. If he got a decent bonus, that should put him over the amount needed to qualify for the equation, as long as the Chiefs don't cut him.

Good for us, and good for him...

Top of the mornin' to you, Adam...

 

[Randy White]

I just saw this and was about to post it.

As a 13-year veteran, Thomas almost certainly will get enough money to qualify for the comp equation, which would allow us to get that high comp pick for Chris Canty next year. Tank Johnson signed with the Bengals for only $670,000 for one season, so he won't qualify. But Thomas' minimum salary alone is $845,000, which would put him close to qualifying. If he got a decent bonus, that should put him over the amount needed to qualify for the equation, as long as the Chiefs don't cut him.

Wouldn't losing Burnett, then, put us over the top, or you've already counted his salary ?

 

[AdamJT13]

Wouldn't losing Burnett, then, put us over the top, or you've already counted his salary ?

Burnett already is one of the three we've lost.

Before Thomas, we had lost Canty, Burnett and Berger, and we had signed Olshansky, Brooking and Sensabaugh. We're 3-3 in the equation, and we need to lose at least one more player than we sign.

 

[GOLDENCHILD1688]

I just saw this and was about to post it.

As a 13-year veteran, Thomas almost certainly will get enough money to qualify for the comp equation, which would allow us to get that high comp pick for Chris Canty next year. Tank Johnson signed with the Bengals for only $670,000 for one season, so he won't qualify. But Thomas' minimum salary alone is $845,000, which would put him close to qualifying. If he got a decent bonus, that should put him over the amount needed to qualify for the equation, as long as the Chiefs don't cut him.

good news. i wish him luck. hope he does well

 

[Hostile]

Burnett already is one of the three we've lost.

Before Thomas, we had lost Canty, Burnett and Berger, and we had signed Olshansky, Brooking and Sensabaugh. We're 3-3 in the equation, and we need to lose at least one more player than we sign.

Come on Keith Davis, ink your name somewhere.

 

[adamknite]

Come on Keith Davis, ink your name somewhere.

I wish he would ink it back here personally.




well maybe not if it would help us get a better comp pick...

 

[Hostile]

I wish he would ink it back here personally.




well maybe not if it would help us get a better comp pick...

Naw, it's like a teenager who threatens to run away but keeps coming home. I've heard the threats, even seen him out the door to Miami. Run away.

 

[adamknite]

Naw, it's like a teenager who threatens to run away but keeps coming home. I've heard the threats, even seen him out the door to Miami. Run away.

hmmm.... good analogy.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Maybe Zach Thomas just wanted out of all the Cowboys drama.

Or maybe he isn't that good any more.

Since the Cowboys made no effort to keep him in Dallas that is the conclusion I make.

 

[dstew60105]

I just saw this and was about to post it.

As a 13-year veteran, Thomas almost certainly will get enough money to qualify for the comp equation, which would allow us to get that high comp pick for Chris Canty next year. Tank Johnson signed with the Bengals for only $670,000 for one season, so he won't qualify. But Thomas' minimum salary alone is $845,000, which would put him close to qualifying. If he got a decent bonus, that should put him over the amount needed to qualify for the equation, as long as the Chiefs don't cut him.

Not sure of the of the calcuations, but what type of pick are we due for Canty?

 

[Sarge]

Or maybe he isn't that good any more.

Since the Cowboys made no effort to keep him in Dallas that is the conclusion I make.

Ya, he's pretty long in the toof.

 

[Hostile]

Not sure of the of the calcuations, but what type of pick are we due for Canty?

3rd round if he plays a lot. 4th if he doesn't.

 

[brickman]

Don't know if anyone posted this yet.
Source: Chiefs to sign LB Thomas this week

by FOXSports.com




addthis_pub = 'foxSports'; function BlogThisStoryTools() { var headline = "Source: Chiefs to sign LB Thomas this week"; var url = document.location.href; var destination = "http://blogs.foxsports.com/BlogThis.aspx?r_title=" + escape(headline) + "&r_url=" + url; window.location.href = destination; } T



Kansas City has agreed to a contract with veteran linebacker Zach Thomas, and a source told FOXSports.com's Alex Marvez the deal will be signed Monday or Tuesday. It is believed to be a one-year contract.
Thomas joins former New England Patriot Mike Vrabel in the Chiefs' revamped linebacking corps. Vrabel came to Kansas City in the trade that also brought quarterback Matt Cassel.
With the Chiefs planning to utilize a 3-4 defense this season, Thomas will likely be a defensive starter, said the Kansas City Star — which first reported the deal late Saturday. Thomas, who will be 36 when the season starts, has been to seven Pro Bowls in his 13 seasons in the NFL, most recently in 2006. He was a fifth-round draft pick by the Dolphins in 1996 and played in Miami through 2007. He played for the Dallas Cowboys in 2008.

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

Yep, and moved to NFL Zone.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150572


I guess that he really wanted away from Dallas.

 

[brickman]

It doesn't other me in the least that he's gone.

 

[BigWillie]

Yep, and moved to NFL Zone.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150572


I guess that he really wanted away from Dallas.

Why? He mentioned that he had no problem with a 3-4 defense, but he wasn't crazy about not being able to call the defenses in Dallas, which he had done his entire career.

 

[Common Sense]

So are we now eligible for a compensatory pick for losing Canty?

 

[AdamJT13]

So are we now eligible for a compensatory pick for losing Canty?

See the other thread.

This is why I think that when our UFAs leave, the mods should not move the threads to the NFL Zone right away. Getting compensatory picks for our UFAs is of interest to Cowboys fans, obviously. If we had traded a player, I doubt the thread would get moved to the NFL Zone immediately. This essentially is the same thing.