KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Zach Thomas wants to be clear: He did not come to Kansas City to rebuild.
The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker acknowledges a team that won only two games has talent issues, possibly entire position groups in need of overhaul. But Thomas signed a free-agent contract with Kansas City because he thinks the Chiefs have what it takes for a Miami-style turnaround, the sort of rebound that took the Dolphins from 1-15 in 2007 to 11-5 in 2008.
“I’m not here just to coach or to help this team out to try to rebuild. I’m not here for that,” Thomas said Saturday.
Thomas, who will turn 36 before the season starts, spent most of his career with the Dolphins. He has firsthand knowledge of the horrors of 1-15. He was released, and signed with Dallas last year because he thought the Cowboys might be up to big things.
Now he’s a Chief, and possibly headed back to the inside linebacker position that he played so well in Miami. He’s excited about a new general manager (Scott Pioli), coach (Todd Haley) and quarterback (Matt Cassel) in K.C.
And wasn’t that the formula that enabled the Dolphins to shock the NFL last season?
“I still love to play football,” Thomas said. “But when I came in here, I knew everything is changed here. It all starts at the top, and I’d like to be there for that transition. Hopefully, that change will be kind of like what Miami did last year. Turn it around. And it can be done.”
Rhodes signs with Bills
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Running back Dominic Rhodes agreed to a two- year contract with the Bills, giving Buffalo an established starter while Marshawn Lynch opens next season serving a three-game suspension.
Rhodes is an eight-year veteran who became a free agent this offseason after spending last year with the Colts.
The Bills, who are coming off three consecutive 7-9 seasons and haven’t made the playoffs in nine years, needed to bolster their depth at running back after the NFL last week suspended Lynch without pay for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
