Thomas Only Negotiating with Chiefs
Feb. 18, 1997
Leigh Steinberg, who represents Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, was doing a little damage control Monday.
He said Thomas' comments last week when he criticized and questioned free-agent maneuvering by Chiefs management were borne of frustration. Thomas was upset after quarterback Jeff George agreed to a contract with the Oakland Raiders and the Chiefs allowed defensive end Neil Smith to explore free-agency.
Steinberg said Thomas remains committed to the Chiefs and is not responding to inquiries from other teams.
"We're going to make a deal with Kansas City," Steinberg said. "We just haven't made it yet. We're close in terms. We're not going to go through free-agency.
"Derrick has been frustrated because he so intensely wants to win. That's a frustration occurring throughout the Kansas City family. The flip side of it would be if he didn't care. He passionately cares, and there may be times when his comments aren't politically correct."
Steinberg pointed out that Thomas never has issued an ultimatum to the team along the lines of "do X or Y or we will leave."
"He very badly wanted the quarterback (Jeff George) there, and sort of, in Derrick's way, got involved in the lobbying process," Steinberg said. "He talked to Jeff a lot. He was just frustrated."
Steinberg said Thomas still believes in Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson and coach Marty Schottenheimer and "their ability to provide a Super Bowl winner."
Steinberg said the deal linebacker Chad Brown signed with Seattle, reported to be six years, $24 million, $7 million to sign, had some impact on the negotiations and "affects our concepts."
"But my instructions are to negotiate only with Kansas City," he said. "We haven't really responded to some of the calls we have gotten."
from kc star
