By Blair Kerkhoff and Brooke Pryor
The Kansas City Star
Andy Reid said he hears the rumors about possible trades, like the one that made the rounds Sunday about the Chiefs’ possible interest in Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas.
But Reid threw a stiff-arm at the thought on Monday.
“Right now, we don’t have anything,” the Chiefs coach said. “That’s now where we’re at. I know the rumors out there.”
Asked specifically if he was talking about Thomas, the three-time All-Pro for Seattle who is unhappy about playing the final year of a four-year, $40 million deal without a contract extension, Reid didn’t bite.
“There are some rumors out there, I guess,” he said.
Reid’s seen first-hand what a midseason addition can do for a team. In 1996, the Packers wide receiver depth was depleted, so they claimed wide receiver Andre Rison off waivers after he was released from the Jaguars. Rison ended up starting seven games —and he scored the first touchdown in the Packers’ Super Bowl win against the Patriots.
“We came down here and played the Chiefs, (Derrick) Thomas put (Don) Beebe in the fifth row on a shallow crossing route and we were out of receivers, so we went out and got Andre Rison,” Reid said. “Ended up going to the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl.
“I was a young coach, this was an in-season pick up that we had, and it worked out for us. But it kind of showed me how those kinds of things work at this level. And so, I have always kept my eyes open for that and been OK with that. I’ve been open to that. When I was making those decisions and I was open to it and I have full trust in Brett (Veach) if he decides whoever that person is.”
This time around, Reid’s team could be in the market for secondary help. All-Pro safety Eric Berry hasn’t played this season —or practiced since training camp —with what the team’s calls a heel injury. He missed most of last year with a torn Achilles.
Other teams thought to be interested in Thomas include the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys have been considered the front-runner. Thomas played at the University of Texas and was caught on camera asking Cowboys coach Jason Garrett to trade for him when Dallas played the Seahawks last December.
The teams met again on Sunday, and Thomas came up with two interceptions in Seattle’s 24-13 victory. He bowed to the Cowboys’ sideline after one of the picks.
“I felt like that was just in the moment, and if they were going to trade for me and extend me, they should have done it,” Thomas said after the game.
