Zombo Reunited with Dorsey in Kansas City
Linebacker Frank Zombo has left Green Bay via free agency to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Linebacker Frank Zombo has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a street free agent, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Chiefs are signing former Packer Frank Zombo, who reunited with KC GM John Dorsey.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2013
With three years of experience under his belt, Zombo entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, but when the Packers didn't offer him a tender of any level, he was free to test the open market.
Terms of the deal were not reported, but no matter what size contract he receives, Zombo will not count as part of the compensatory draft pick formula next season.
After coming to Green Bay as an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan, Zombo exceeded expectations and had a encouraging rookie season, which included eight starts and four sacks and two forced fumbles in the regular season.
The high-water mark of Zombo's career probably came in Super Bowl XLV when he got the start at right outside linebacker and recorded a sack of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Since that time, Zombo couldn't stay healthy, suffering a variety of injuries that sidelined him more often that not.
A broken scapula limited him to five games and one start in 2011 while a hamstring injury forced Zombo to miss all but seven games and zero starts in 2012.
There were no indications that the Packers attempted to re-sign Zombo this offseason, but in Kansas City he'll get a fresh start under former Packers front office executive John Dorsey.
With Zombo and Erik Walden leaving the Packers in free agency, the Packers lack depth at the outside linebacker position. Clay Matthews is a proven commodity, but 2012 first round draft choice Nick Perry is coming off a wrist injury that forced him to be placed in injured reserve last season.
Dezman Moses is the only other outside linebacker on the roster with any NFL experience, although the Packers did sign Micah Johnson to a futures contract after last season.
Comments (7)
April 04, 2013 at 04:36 am
Brad jones could slide outside if needed in a pinch, which adds more depth
April 04, 2013 at 09:16 am
Yeah, he was an OLB for most of his career. I have to wonder if the Packers didn't resign him with that in mind.
April 04, 2013 at 09:38 am
True - though he did seem to find himself after he moved inside. He has experience outside, but I think he'd be more of an emergency fill-in there.
I think they'll pick up an OLB somewhere in rounds 3-5 for depth.
April 04, 2013 at 10:32 am
I agree. Also they could move Jamarri Lattimore back outside too. I think the Packers will draft an OLB between round 1 and 5. I also believe they will bring in 3-4 rookie free agents at OLB.
April 05, 2013 at 05:41 pm
If that's all we can hope for is un drafted free agents when our division foes are getting top notch free agent help and drafting before us, that will take its toll on this teams winning ability. I think it starts this year.
The real results of poor drafting by Ted Thompson shows its ugly head this year and it aint gonna be pretty.
April 04, 2013 at 02:10 pm
Its great that Packer nation no longer has to settle with Zombo and Walden. I like Moses and know he will only get better. If Perry stays healthy he'll be a force and anywhere in rounds 1-3 Tinkering Ted could hit on an OLB. Not to mention James Harrison is still on the street along with Shaun Phillips in a pinch for veteran depth.
April 05, 2013 at 05:37 pm
I was so high on a guy name Zombo. I had expected great things from him other than bench sitting with recurring injuries. I won't wish him well I wished him well as a Packer and that didn't work.