I wrote this last year on February 8th. Unfortunately, the story still fits today. --Chris

Forever a Chief (Photo source)

Derrick Thomas died 8 years ago today following complications from a car accident on January 23, 2000. There's been more talk of Derrick Thomas over the last month or so because of his Hall of Fame candidacy. Unfortunately, the voters of the HOF did not see fit for Thomas to join the HOF, at least this year. Billed as too one dimensional for his exceptional pass rush ability by the HOF voters, Thomas set Chiefs records for sacks (126.5), safeties (3), fumble recoveries (18) and a ridiculous 45 forced fumbles.

Hall of Fame or not, Kansas City knows that Derrick Thomas was the greatest defensive player we've ever had. If you're not a Chiefs fan, then your memory over the last 6 or 7 years is probably filled with memories of fantastic offensive play and uninspired defensive play. In the 1990s, this was not the case. Thomas played ten years for the Chiefs, from 1989 to 1999. I associate Derrick Thomas with the years that the Chiefs always had a chance to win the AFC West. Today and in the 1990s especially, the AFC West was one of the toughest divisions to compete in. Derrick Thomas reminds me of the era of SI covers touting the Chiefs as the preseason Super Bowl representative from the AFC.

I'm not going to get into the details of Thomas' off the field stuff because I really don't care. Derrick Thomas was the face of the last dominant era of Kansas City football. The QBs came and went. The RBs came and went in that time. But Derrick Thomas always scared opposing offenses, which is the era in Kansas City Chiefs football that I'd like to return to.

I know. Another video already? But its Friday and I haven't seen too many clips of Derrick Thomas playing at Alabama. Simply amazing...

RIP, DT.

If the fingerprints of Herman Edwards could be visibly seen anywhere on this team, it's the linebacking corps. A unit that's been a question mark since the day we lost DT, it's probably seen the biggest upgrade of any other position in the young Herm Edwards era.

A position that was once reliant on underachievers and castoffs is now fortified with provens at the starting level, solid support at the backup level, and a comfortable mix of veteran savvy and youthful upside.

Linebacker is the deepest position on the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Today Arrowhead Pride combs through what should shape up to become the heart and soul of the Kansas City defense: the linebacking corps.

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I know that people in KC have to be sick of the Ty Law talk that floated around for the last few months but now that we have him, I have to say that Ty Law is the most exciting Chiefs pickup since Joe Montana.

Both Law and Montana came to the Chiefs in similar situations.  In 1993, it was established that the Chiefs had one of the preeminent defenses in the NFL but they lacked offensive firepower.  Thats how I grew up with the Chiefs-- the D was rock solid yet our QB always seemed shaky and the running back by committee was a sham.  

Then came Joe.  Suddenly, SI predicts a Chiefs-Packers Super Bowl.  We finally had an above average offense (with the addition of Marcus Allen of course) to go with our consistently stellar defense.  

The last five years or so saw a switch-- potent offense, horrible defense.  Now we have Ty Law, last year's INT leader.  The Chiefs only had 16 INTs all of last year to Law's 10.  For all the talk about him, Ty Law truly could be the superstar that not only performs on the field but improves the younger players around him. Like Montana should have been, Law could be that one missing piece of the puzzle that puts KC over the top.  

In 2006, Ty Law brings the same hope and excitement that KC felt when the Comeback Kid came on. If you're not excited, then talk to my brother who declared last Sunday Ty Law Day and threw on his Zubaz.