Oh and Clay, there's no way Raji is going at 12, I think his worst case scenario is Packers at 9.

A one year contract to an established veteran LB, given our current LB woes and ample cap room ? I'm ok with it.

You're just pissed that now that we have Zach Thomas, we don't need Curry.

Aren't double standards fun?

This is a good move. It reminds me of the Roman Phifer signing by the Pats years ago. Thomas is a consumate professional and will most likely start for us, while helping teach the younger players what it takes to become a professional with staying power.

I know he's lost a step, but he'll go the extra mile in practice and in conditioning, so hopefully some of the young players take notice. Let's hope he stays healthy and not be a liabilty.

So if we're signing guys to be professionals and teach young guys to do the same, does that mean we're going to get rid of our whiny bitches?

Not for less than a 1st and 4th rounder.

I would pay him a lot for two years. We can definitely give him more than New England...and he is married to Zach Thomas' sister.

This would be awesome.

...and then he came to Kansas City, met Sackintosh, and that was ALL SHE WROTE! LMAO

I thought they were divorced...

that's possible...I just know they were once married

You really haven't paid complete attention to things I've posted or you'd know that's not true. I've discussed taking more then just Curry in the first round. I've argued Curry way to much but it's because IMO the aruments against him are not that good. The people who argue against Curry don't really seem to consider the other players in this draft and how their skills compare to Curry or how they do or don't equate to the #3 pick in the draft. And in the end "if"(and I have no idae what he will do) Pioli is thinking about drafting Curry the signing of Thomas means absolutely nothing.


PhilFree:arrow:

Sweet! We went from signing over-the-hill 30 year old free agents under Carl to signing 36 year old free agents under Pioli.

But that's cool. Haley could find 22 homeless guys on the street and win more than 2 games in this league.

I disagree.

I'd assume if we drafted Curry that it would probably be Thomas and usually Curry/sometimes DJ on 1st, 2nd down, and Curry+DJ at ILB on 3rd down. DJ might see a little time at OLB, too.

Just like Vrabel, Thomas is not a long-term solution, but a leader, role-model, and stopgap.

We could use Taylor, but I'd rather get a draft pick in there opposite Vrabel. We really need a passrusher though, contrary to popular belief Vrabel does not fill that need.

I swear, some people bitch just to bitch. Carl signed those types and overpaid money wise, signing bonus wise, and length of contract. That's the only way he could attract some of those types of players was to overpay. It's not like they were lining up to take a shot at a ring with good ol carl.

Pioli is getting them for short term deals, very reasonable money, and limeted to no signing bonus. And a guy like Thomas has to give some encouragment that in the future we can have a shot at a guy or two who usually jump to a team like NE to play there because they are recruited with the idea in mind they are wanted for leadership and they have a role in mind for them.

Thomas might get another concussion or another injury. He might not adjust well to the team in general. Or he might just provide a solid addition on the field and in the locker room. You get players signed to these deals you usually also get guys that want to hang around and play the game. Either they can or can't but they have to prove their worth, not like Carl signings who are regrettable in the first season and stay another 2 because of cap and cash commitments.

Also its not like teams let their talented players get to FA anyway. Very few, IMO.

So we added for depth and Special teams with also a couple of Vets to provide as many quality snaps as possible and the leadership/attitude for the youngsters.

I was in favor of the youth movement last season. But it was always mentioned by Herm about the fact the team was one of the youngest in the league. To pioli coming in it is almost like an expansion team in some respects. This is unusual that a GM comes in to a new team and has to add much more in terms of veterans instead of saying the team has to get younger. I don't think people really consider that when evaluating the offseason.

Some people whouldn't know an intangible if it crawled up and crapped on their chest.

Decent signing. Not a big fan of it but I can live with it and know the reasons why they did it.

Eh.

Not really a big deal either way.

He's nothing special, nor will he be here when the team is competing for a Championship.

Roster filler until we can groom some younger players at the LB position.

It's all foreshadowing. We intend on trading Waters, because Thomas wouldn't come here without assurances that he would be able to wear #54.

You really might be the only one who misses Carl Peterson.

we all miss Carl :) like a hole in the head. The new mgmt, coaches are making good moves already.

Good signing..its only a 1 year deal worth the veteran min..he'll be starting at ILB in the 3-4 defense..just gotta hope he stays healthy

That's the difference with Carl; these stop-gaps would be getting 5 year deals.

And **** Carl; that's 11 miserable Chiefs years I'll never get back.:cuss:

He'll help school the youngsters .... Smart player thats lost a step but makes up with savy ....

I'm still not sold on the argument against Curry. I'm not in love with him. I do think that he has as much potential as an rushing OLB as any player in the draft this year. There's noone who jumps out at me and gives me reason to think they'll be worth a shit.

As much as guys that you know actually have rushed the passer?

I like the signing, we are doing it exactly the same way the Patriots are. I guess thats not a bad thing considering. We got the young players already. Fill in the game with smart veterans.


Also, whoever we draft we draft. We cant do anything about it. I just hope whoever it is, is not a bust.

This.

The young players are going to have a bit of culture shock in this year's training camp.

Not to discount his natural talent at all, but Flowers came from a program like that and it shows. I don't give a damn what these cussed beakers think of Frank Beamer; that guy does NOT **** around.

(Oh, do he got some Oranges in HIS trophy case too? Yes. Yes he does).

I hear ya. I just think there's going to be a stark contrast from Herm's camps and this year's camp. For the players that have not known anything other than Herm...well it should be very different. I hope the newly added vets, with all their success, have the desired effect on the young ones.

Yep, it's gonna' be time to work, sweat, and bleed. Ol' Tank better eat his corn beforehand; Haley's probably contracted security to patrol that field! :D

Now that I think of it, Haley's in for a big sweat bath too. I guarantee you River Falls is nothing like the nice, cool mountains of Flagstaff!

"Hard Knocks" picked the wrong year to go to Chiefs' camp.

As fun as it would be for us, that show is a CURSE.
(I got's a few superstitions in this life, and that's one)

Indeed.
I think it'd be much more dramatic this year with the Gonzalez-Waters-Johnson situation, the ushering in of a new regime, and a fiery new HC.

1 yr- $2M
 

The Chiefs have added yet another piece to their rebuilding roster.

Kansas City has agreed to a 1-year, $2 million deal with veteran linebacker Zach Thomas, a source told FOXSports.com's Alex Marvez. The deal will be signed Monday or Tuesday, according to the source.

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.

More than the minimum, but I think it'll be worth it.

I wish someone would sign me to a 1 yr-$2M deal. :D

Hell I'd mow the grass and iron the jerseys for 500K!

We now have a couple of D coordinators on the field on any given time in Vrabel and Thomas.

He can tackle which is more than 95% of the assclowns currently playing defense for KC.

Yep, and he's not scared of contact, which is more than DJ can say as well.

What are you going to do with Glen Dorsey?

That was the real long, drawn out rebuild with the emphasis on youth. Went by fast, didn't it?

And he's such a smart football player.
He'll be where he needs to be...

Yep back to the good ol days.....

Youth? ROFL

What's funny is the only reason I find myself on the OTHER side of the argument is because the arguments AGAINST Curry are iron-clad. Rock solid. People that ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

At this point, so is Cassel. Everybody seems to conveniently ignore that HE DOESN'T HAVE A CONTRACT.

Little trouble in paradise this morning too if I'm correct, yes?

I'm all for making him prove himself again before he gets an extended contract. It's a smart move by the Chiefs IMO.

Just exactly what history is it I'm about to repeat?


PhilFree:arrow:

I sure don't agree with doing this kind of stuff. I hope these guys really do know what they're doing, instead of just appearing to.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afceast/0...over-Jets.html

Agent: Zach Thomas chooses Chiefs over Jets

April 13, 2009 8:30 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

Jason Taylor reaffirmed his aversion to the New York Jets last week.

But his brother-in-law and former longtime Miami Dolphins teammate apparently had no problem switching allegiances.

Zach Thomas was in talks to join the Jets before he finally settled on the Kansas City Chiefs for a one-year contract, agent Drew Rosenhaus told Fox affiliate WSVN in Miami.

"We had been talking to the Jets as well, and we had the option of waiting even until after the draft or before training camp," Rosenhaus said. "But the truth of the matter is Zach was excited about the chance."

Thomas, like Taylor, spent last season in the NFC East after more than a decade as a fixture on the Dolphins' defense. They combined for 13 Pro Bowls while playing together.

Taylor last year was traded to the Washington Redskins, who cut him last month. Thomas was released and signed with the Dallas Cowboys, who didn't want him back.

Taylor is waiting to sign. He probably won't have a new employer until after the NFL draft in two weeks, but it almost certainly won't be the Jets based on what he had to say last week.

"It'd be very, very, very difficult. Very difficult," Taylor said at a youth football camp. "But at the end of the day, if you can't find a job anywhere else and the Jets call, I guess you've got to retire or go play.

"The Jets are the Jets. I've had a lot of history saying bad things about Jets fans. The fireman hat guy [Fireman Ed], and all of the people in New York that are Jets fans are not the ones that are working on Wall Street. I've said all of those things. So I've got to leave it at that."

Taylor would appear to have more attractive options than his wife's brother did. Taylor could land with the New England Patriots, a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

The Chiefs went 2-14 last year, but Rosenhaus ticked off a number of reasons Thomas was interested: new general manager Scott Pioli, new head coach Todd Haley, new quarterback Matt Cassel and the fact Thomas likely will be the starter.

"Zach really likes the opportunity in that defense," Rosenhaus said. "They play a 3-4. He's going to get a chance to start inside. He's going to be 36 years old in September. To have an opportunity to start for a quality franchise, you can't turn that own."

He's our franchise player right?

That also means if he gets hurt or sucks we won't owe him anything in the future.

Exactly. It's all about possibilities.

And it's not me that's not acknowledging them.

Name the last non-pass rushing LB that went in the top 5 and how was their career...

If we're depending on Thomas to start I don't like it. If he's solid, vet depth I like the move.

This team has very little vet leadership.

AJ Hawk..... linebackers in the top 5 are rare, pass rushing or not.

Do you want AJ Hawk with the #3 overall pick?

I sure as hell don't.

That's a different question. Hawk is the only top 5 linebacker taken since Arrington in 2000. However, this is a terrible year to have a top 5 pick, because this year the players available at 10-20 are going to be just as good as those available at 1-10, with the possible exception of the left tackles. Just looking at linebackers, Gholston, Rivers and Mayo would all be possible top 5 picks if they were in this year's draft instead of last year. Heck, Gholston went at 6 last year.

Gholston is a passrusher that warrants top 5.

A.J. Hawk or Gholston?


PhilFree:arrow:

The arguments against Curry are rock solid. It's the arguments FOR Curry that need the work.

What's the main argument against Curry? The fact that 8 NFL teams seem to believe that college DEs, not 4-3 OLBs, are the ones you want to put at the 3-4 OLB position (16 of 16 NFL 3-4 OLBs were DEs in college). Or the fact that 15 of 16 NFL 3-4 OLBs are over 260 lbs (Curry is under 260 lbs).

As for arguments claiming he should be an ILB, two arguments against that. #1) ILB is more of a role-playing position. You usually have a run-stuffer and a pass coverage guy. DJ is the pass coverage guy. So is it worth taking DJ out of a role that he's going to be pretty good at? Not at the #3 pick. #2) The ILB position in a 3-4 defense is like the guard position on offense. It's a nice position to have, but it's a very easy position to fill. Why would you spend a #3 pick on an ILB, when you can easily find a solid starter in the 3rd or 4th round?

In a 3-4 defense, the areas of priority are probably... Nose Tackle, CBs, Pass rushing OLBs, Safety, DE, ILB. So from a pure positional value standpoint, you'd much rather have a nose tackle or an OLB than an ILB. I've heard people say Curry will do fine as a pass rusher. He can't do just "fine" as a pass rusher as a 3-4 OLB. He has to be very good, and he has to be better than guys like Everett Brown or Robert Ayers, who have been doing it and training for it in college. That's unlikely. I'd rather have a good, solid player at a position of high positional value than an outstanding player in a position of low positional value. Therefore, Raji, Brown, Ayers, maybe Maybin all jump on the board over Curry for any team in a 3-4.

So there's your argument against Curry. In a 3-4, he would play a position with very low positional value. And those who claim he can play OLB are underestimating how much different pass rushing as a 3-4 OLB is than as a blitzer in a 4-3.

Come on, use your head. The DROY was a non-pass rusher. Re-Stack last year's draft and he goes top 5, in all likelihood while Gholston doesn't go in the first round. It's just another example of why having fixed notions about where to take positions in the draft is idiotic.

Redraft my ass if ILB was worth anything they would be taken every year in the top 5. History proves that.

And he plays a position that is very easy to learn. He got DROY because he had a ton of tackles. But the 3-4 puts ILBs in a position to make plays. It's the least important position in a 3-4.

In the first place, LBs have to be exceptional to be in the top 5. I've seen evidence that Mayo and Rivers were worth first round picks, but I haven't seen any evidence thusfar that they can play to the same level as say a Ray Lewis. Because that's how good you need to be to warrant a top 5 pick at LB. Especially an OLB in a 4-3. That's years of draft history, not just my personal opinion.

More nonsense. When was Marino drafted? How about Randy Moss? How about Jerry Rice? Joe Montana? You're confusing positional picking in a normal year with talent aquisition.

AJ Hawk was a top 5 pick. That alone kills your argument.

Your dense aren't you?

Grab a mirror and take a good long look....


When you're insulting someone's intelligence, botching your post with "your" instead of "you're" is probably not the best way to go.

But they play positions that have high positional value. WRs and QBs are drafted in the top 5 every year. Even LBs that are very highly touted like Derrick Johnson and Patrick Willis barely crack the top 10 if at all.

Let me refer you back to post #299, because this has now become a circular argument.

Alex Smith going #1 proves that Urban Meyer's spread QB's are the bomb.

2 LB was drafted in the top 5 over the last 10 years (Arrington, AJ Hawk). That means that 4% of first round picks are LBs.

I'm glad that 4% kills my argument.

On a team with precious few holes.

Come on, use your head.

One has nothing to do with the other. This is a terrible year for top prospects outside of the left tackle position. While Smith may be a cautionary tale regarding Sanchez or Stafford, that's not the point I'm trying to make. What I'm trying to get across is that, even if you generally don't believe that a linebacker should go in the top 5, this year that sort of thinking doesn't apply. Unless you need a left tackle, there is no 'typical' top 5 prospect in this draft. This draft is great for first and second round depth, but it's terrible for prospects at the very top.

Yeah, because we really NEED AJ Hawk.

This is crazy stupid. Crazy stupid.

That type of thinking ALWAYS applies. Unless you want to be like the Lions and Bengals forever.

I am using my head. Sadly, far too many people here, who complain about "business as usual" under Peterson, are arguing that the Chiefs should conduct "business as usual" in the draft.

The irony involved seems to have been missed.

"Well, I REALLY wanted a cheeseburger with lettuce, onions, and mayo. But since the only thing you have on the menu is a shit sandwich, I guess I'll take that."

ROFL

Taking a non-pass rushing LB and giving him $50M before he's ever played a down is precisely the type of thing Carl would do.

This is nothing at all like Carl Peterson's business as usual, unless you're wanting it to be.