Chiefs to retire Emmitt Thomas' number
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
Thomas The shy
cornerback from east Texas wasn’t shy about asking how to get better.
Emmitt Thomas started his career as a talented but quiet cornerback and emerged as one of the Chiefs’ all-time best players. He will be enshrined next month in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame, and the Chiefs announced Monday that Thomas’ No. 18 will be retired before a game Oct. 19.
Former secondary and linebackers coach Tom Bettis watched Thomas mature when Thomas began his career in 1966. Bettis said all Thomas wanted was to be a good player and, later, a good coach.
“He wanted it bad,” said Bettis, who also introduced Thomas to coaching. “And you have to. You have to have a passion for it if you’re going to play.”
Thomas will be the ninth Chiefs player to have his number retired. Former Chiefs receiver Samie Parker, who signed this offseason with the Denver Broncos, wore No. 18 last season. No player is listed on the Chiefs’ offseason roster with that number assigned to them.
“Certainly, the Chiefs feel it is appropriate that no other player should ever wear his jersey,” executive vice president Denny Thum said in a release by the team.
Attempts to reach Thomas on Monday were unsuccessful. A team spokesman said Chiefs president Carl Peterson was out of the country and unavailable for comment.
Thomas, who attended Bishop College, played 13 seasons in Kansas City and had 58 interceptions, which is ninth in
NFL history. He also played for the Chiefs in the first Super Bowl.
LINK
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/686238.html
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