If the Chiefs Were the Cowboys, This Move Would Make Sense

At least, that's how the signing of Zach Thomas has been portrayed to me. Last year, Thomas signed with the Dallas franchise and the move was heralded as a coup for Jerry Jones and the Boys. "He'll bring leadership!" "He's still got some gas in the tank!" And so on... Now, one year later (and admittedly, one year older), Thomas is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, and from the reception the move has generated, you would think that Thomas should be creating a bucket list rather than learning the playbook. While Thomas is not a long-term solution, he is (for better or worse) an upgrade over what the Chiefs had to offer in 2008. Scott Pioli's history of preferring older, more experienced linebackers is well-documented - and the results have proven themselves in the form of three Super Bowl rings and four trips to the big game. However, what made the Patriots successful (in part) was that they were able to recharge the roster with young players. So while Vrabel and Thomas will be joining veteran Derrick Johnson now, there is still room for someone like Aaron Curry or another linebacker drafted in the later rounds. So don't let the national media fool you - because this move didn't involve one of ESPN's golden children, that doesn't mean it doesn' t make sense. You don't need Ed Werder telling you that Thomas is an upgrade for the Chiefs - if only for a cheap, single season.