All Tony, All The Time
It’s time for our tight end talk segment here on KTG, that’s all Tony Gonzalez, all the time. This is your host AG and the phone lines are jammed so let’s go to our first caller. It’s Fred in Raytown. Go ahead Freddie.
Man AG, I don’t understand this. Have the Chiefs gone loco? Why are they trying to trade Tony Gonzalez? He’s the best player on the team. Has Carl Peterson completely flipped out?
Freddie my man, you haven’t been paying attention. The only reason the Chiefs are trying to trade Tony Gonzalez is because he asked them too. Not once, not twice, but several times. He does not want to go through the rebuilding project that the Chiefs are in right now. He wants out. They are just trying to make him happy.
Let’s go to Shannon from Lenexa for our next question.
AG, I understand Tony wants out, but would they let any player out if they walked into the office and said ‘Carl, trade me’?
Probably not Shannon; Tony’s situation is unique, at least on this team right now. Everybody thinks Carl Peterson is such a hard-ass, but here’s another case where he’s a softie for a guy he likes, and he likes Tony G. There are some teams and GMs that would have told Gonzo to take his request and said “don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.”
OK, here’s Johnny Mack out East, what’s your question?
I want to know what we can get and who are we going to get it from. Tell me what’s coming back to the Chiefs and I’ll tell you if it’s a good deal or not. What do you say to that?
Johnny, I don’t think the Chiefs are going to make this a fire sale with Gonzalez, meaning they’ll take whatever they can get for him in a trade. That sets a very bad precedent for future players, who can say ‘Hey you let Tony G out of here for a sixth rounder’ Plus, if the Chiefs don’t get a decent draft choice in return, they’ll get smacked twice by the public: once for trading Gonzalez and then for not getting enough for him.
One more question man. Surely somebody would give us a No. 1 pick for the best tight end in the history of the game. Come on, we shouldn’t take less.
Believe me, if somebody offered the Chiefs a first-round pick for Gonzalez, the deal would be done so fast it would make everyone’s head spin. No team is going to offer a No. 1, not for a 32-year old tight end. Let’s remember we are talking about a tight end here. He’s not a quarterback, running back or even a big-play receiver. Listen, we all love Tony, but he’s not a game changer. In 179 career games, he has 861 catches. That’s an average of 4.8 catches per game. He’s got 75 touchdown catches and that’s an average of a score every 11.5 catches.
That math means he catches a TD pass on average every third game. That’s not a game changer.
Now, let’s get in Kellen who is calling from Columbia, go ahead Big K.
A team like the Giants should be jumping all over Gonzalez. Add him with Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs for Eli Manning and they would be unstoppable.
Maybe so Kellen, but they are already unbeaten going into the Monday night game without Gonzalez. They don’t need Tony G. but they could use him. Making a deal like this really isn’t the Giants style, however. They like to build through the draft and have done a darn good job of it for the last few years.
And since they dealt Jeremy Shockey back in July to New Orleans for a second and fifth round picks in next year’s draft. If I were the Chiefs there’s no way I would accept anything less than a second from the Giants, either their own choice or the Saints pick.
If I’m Carl Peterson and Herm Edwards, I get a second or third-round pick, or a fourth and another choice. Anything less and the deal does not get done.
Time for one last caller, let’s punch up Al calling from Gladstone.
AG shouldn’t the Chiefs just dump him, rather than bring him back to the locker room where his teammates won’t be happy with him. How’s he going to be a leader now?
Al, you are suggesting that Tony G. is a leader now. The tight end is pretty quiet in the locker room. He has always led by example and his work ethic. If he does not get traded, then he’ll have a great opportunity to continue to be a professional and set an example for dealing with negative situations.
That’s a problem for the Chiefs right now; they don’t handle negative situations in games very well. Maybe Tony G can help show them the way.
Gonzalez is a pro and as long as he feels the Chiefs made a good faith effort to deal him, he should come back and be fine.
OK, that’s it for now. Stay tuned because later KTG brings you an hour of Brodie Talk.
I’m a bit disappointed in Tony Gonzalez. I think we would all love for Tony to have a chance to play in or win a Superbowl. But my disappointment comes from his lack of desire to be a part of the Chiefs returning to a competitive level.
His “I want out” mentality, or “bailing out when things are bad” vibe isn’t the type of thing I was hoping to see from one of our prominent veterans. Listening to the things Brian Waters this season on the radio, you can sense his frustration with the lack of success the team is having this year, but he also staunchly expresses his support for the plan the team is involved in. Waters is on board, and he’s participating in the rebuilding of the team. He’s not asking for a ticket out of town.
Tony has said that by the time the Chiefs are finished rebuilding, he will be finishing up his career. My argument is–what better way to finish your career than to reach the top of the mountain with the Chiefs, after battling through the low times?
Look, I love Tony Gonzalez and everything he has contributed to the Chiefs since he arrived in 1997. And I do hope he has an opportunity to play for a championship before his career is over. I just wish he was willing to stick it out with the Chiefs, and enjoy the fruit that can result next year or the year after.
—Tim
(Now, let the disagreement with my views begin…lol)
Now there is talk of Huard to Buffalo, Sartain to Dallas or two other. LJ is up for a trade but no one wants him. carl will be very busy tomorrow won’t he. Also chief’s insiders are really pushing the point what a deep draft with underclassman next year, wow talk about spin doctors.
I guess this is all part of the painful rebuilding, right guys?
Tim,
You won’t get any disagreement from me. It’s been depressing to see the comments and overall attitude from Tony, especially after the Denver game. He’s not the first HOF’er never to have contended for a championship.
I’ve never understood this whole trend of veterans trying desperately to get on the roster of a Super Bowl champion so they can retire with a ring, even if they had little or nothing to do with the team getting there. It’s hard to believe anyone would find that fulfilling.
One thing, though; I wouldn’t put money on the Chiefs winning any championships before Tony’s ready to retire.
BTW - seems a little harsh to say Tony isn’t a “game changer”. I’ll bet a lot of Philadelphia fans think they’d be 5-2 if they had a tight end like Tony.
If Carl want to do something good for TG fire Herm and get a coach that can rebuild this team!!!
I think that a traide for another coach would be more like it look at the focons and thedolphins they rebuilt and are wining football games mr Hunt better take a hand soon or kc will be another raiders we need a QB and somemore players just to winand every body is talking when we have rebuilt bring dick vermil back and see how quick it turns around thanks mr Gretz
Can we trade Dick Curl?
You know, Andre Rison threw his Super Bowl ring in the Flint River. He said the Packers (1996) “used him like a prostitute” and he wanted no part of that ring and didn’t care he won a Super Bowl.
I know Rison is a bit more….eccentric than Tony G, but maybe Tony should give Spiderman/Bad Moon a call and ask him what it’s like winning a ring as a “ringer” brought in from the outside.
TonyG is only about TonyG.
Maybe he just wanted a ring for his finger…but why did he choose to raise his middle finger to Chiefs fans and his teammates, then?
TonyG has done his job, for the most part…he might actually have the Super Bowl, or at least the playoff win, he was hoping for, if he had just been a little less fumble fingered, eh?
But let’s not get confused: TonyG is *not* a team player. He works hard, he has a great work ethic, but only for what he can get out of the game. *NOT* for the Chiefs, not for the fans, not for his teammates.
This move should make that 100% clear to everyone, not just those of us who saw it clearly years ago.
That being said, I like Tony and hope he stays to win a Super Bowl with us in 2010. But let’s not try to pretend he’s anything approaching a good teammate, okay?
It will sure suck to see him go… Especially since I have a Gonzalez replica jersey.
I have to say though, if we can get a second or third round pick for Gonzalez.
A Second for Larry Johnson.
And trade Surtain for a 4th rounder.
I am all for it. Might as well go all the way and just clean house and load up!
We might even want to see what we can get for Pollard?
I say don’t let the door hit him on his way out. He has too many holding calls, cries because he can’t get open and is not a team leader. An average of 4.8 catches a game? That is not a game changer.A touchdown every 3 games. If you play the game long enough, you will have records. Quit crying Tony. Grow up!
One note on the game changer moniker. If he has 5 catches per game (from the likes of Grbac, Croyle, Thigpen and Huard, btw), how many of those went for 1st down? It’s easy to say how many catches per touchdowns, but if a guy makes catches that move the chains and keeps scoring drives alive, he’s changed the game.
I don’t understand why everyone is so bent on Tony getting a Superbowl ring. Why didn’t they get upset when Will Shields or Willie Roaf didn’t get a ring?
There are lots of great players who didn’t get Superbowl rings. Not very many of them have cried like spoiled brats about it though.
Nobody knows the Chiefs situation better than Tony. While we fans look at it from the outside and wish he’d be here for better times, Tony looks at it realistically from the inside. He sees Carl Peterson, Herm Edwards, Brodie Croyle, etc. everyday and he knows it is going to be “a long, long, long time” before this team is even competitive again.
I dont blame Tony for wanting out. From the outside looking in, the chiefs have looked pathetic since Herm has been the coach…I couldnt imagine how crushing it must be to play for him.
He may not be a game changer in the sense that he does not have big play potential that can bust a game wide open. But he is in the fact that defenses have to account for him on every play.
Tony is not unhappy with the coaching, just the state of the team right now and in the immediate future.
LJ is a cry baby, he always has been. He was crying with Vermeil and is still crying with Herm.
Since he has in effect quit on the team, then why doesn’t he just quit? How many times have we heard the old axiom that there is no “I” in team? I reckon I have even heard such from Mr. Gonzalez a time or two….I guess all of his positive “team” talk during training camp was just so much smoke blowing up our rears? What a shame. What an utter lack of class, and also a lack of leadership for the younger players. I have been an admirer of Mr. Gonzalez since he was blocking punts and kicks while playing special teams all those years ago, but I cannot stand any rat that will jump ship when things don’t go his way. Be a man Mr. Gonzalez; shut up, suck it up, or get the hell out.
We will never know what is happening inside the chiefs organization. It will remain non vocal until forced to make a statement, usually self serving. That is the way it should be.
If they could trade every veteran, nothing would help this years edition of the chiefs. There is just not much of a team left in KC.
Now we can accept the rebuild. All the old is or will be gone and we can begin to put in place the pieces for the future. My heartburn is I doubt those who must make the decisions have any ability to do so.
A side note my how many Tony G haters are out on this site, one wonders?
What will be will be and the tune remains the same forever.
Let’s not forget one very important fact kiddies. Football is a business. Tony is an employee of this franchise. He isn’t happy here and would like a change. That’s the truth, no other way to slice it.
If anyone else here was unhappy at their jobs and wanted out do you think you’d have the support of your friends, family, even some co-workers? You bet your rear you would.
For any of you fools that have convinced yourself Tony is anything other than a paid professional doing a job, wake up. Stop thinking with your emotions and start using logic. It really disgusts me the way most of you bash a man you cheered for not long ago. One person here spoke of “rats from a sinking ship.” Well, it’s obvious another rat left another sinking ship when it became just as fashionable.
Thinking with your emotions is irrational. And that’s what I’ve read here, irrational thinking. Partly due to Mr. Gretz and his undermining of a future hall of fame TE.
I hope no one brings up your “not a game changer” bit when he’s up for induction.
Very well said BleedRed!
Tony is definately a “Game Changer,” Look how many times he has changed games for us! How about that catch in he end zone just two weeks ago aginast Denver? How many people make that kind of catch? Gates doesn’t even make that catch most of the time.
There is no reason to disrespect Tony on his way out. He has been one of the greatest Chiefs.
But, that being said, we won’t need him on the team when he is 36 and the Chiefs are in the superbowl.
This brings me back to my comment here a couple of weeks ago. These guys are just kids.
They have not had to grow up and therefore haven’t. They are surrounded by people who kiss there butt all day long. It is just the way it is. That is why when someone says they are a true “PRO” as a compliment. That is like saying you show up for work at McDonalds to run the frier. These guys do not live in our reality, so there is no sense in trying to stuff them in it.
Think about it, many of these guys get paid enough money in a year for us to live on our entire lives and we expect them to understand or relate to our thoughts on life. They live in a different world. They actually don’t put their pants on one leg at a time. I don’t know how they do it, but I would like to get enough money to find out…
If a deal is not made, I will be very upset…Tony needs to go, I wish Larry could join him but Im the only guy willing to dump LJ for free…heck Id give a team harris to TAKE LJ…His attitude kills this team..
As for the comment to trade pollard…no way, he has outplayed Page this season, is all over the field, and makes our special teams only kinda poor…no way.
Bob, this whole thread SMACKS OF A SMEAR CAMPAING!
Did I made a mistake on my post a few days back when I said that I like the way you always treat coaches and players with respect?
Well that “crap” (quoting you) ain’t going to change my mind about what Tony G. has meant to this franchise, nor is it going to change my opinion on Tony’s professionalism!
You may have influenced a few of the ummmm less knowledagble (or casual) fans,but not me.
This crap is a weak attempt to smear a guy who has devoted 12 yrs of his life to making himself THE BEST TIGHTEND TO HAVE EVER PLAYED THE GAME.
It is shameful that you would go this route, if your attempt is to prepare us to get used to the idea of trading Tony for nothing well I ain’t buying it.
If we accept anything less than a 3 for him or a 4 and perhaps another player would be beyond BONEHEAD. That he be let go for anything less is just staggering to me!
If we can’t get that than Tony G. will stay and continue to be a professional, and productive.
Hey JohnNdallas what are you talking about? I don’t see Bob smearing anyone. I think you are reading something into it. It’s actually a pretty creative article. Too much reading in between the lines usually results in a bunch of miss understandings and miss conceptions. Maybe you are reading too much Whitlock….unless you ARE Whitlock. By the way….TG is still with the Chiefs I see….its after 3 central.
Game changing player. When a man plays and he gets triple coverage 50 % + of the time, it will free up two other ‘receivers’. How much more game changing can that be? Also, when Tony did get a pass his way, it usually moved the ball on the average of 12 yards, HEY ! that’s a first down, damn!!Did that just change the game in a small way at least?
Bob, I’d like to know if you’ll be double-teaming with Peter King to keep THIS should-be Hall Of Famer out as well.
Wow, Bob you amaze me.
I’ve been a loyal Chiefs fan for 38 years and if I was in Tony’s position, I would want out too.
Poor management and poor coaching are the reasons the Chiefs are fighting for last place in the league, not Tony’s lack of making game changing plays.
It should be hard to argue Tony’s case for the HOF with garbage like this on your resume. Being the mouthpiece of Chiefs management, I’m guessing, pays better then properly representing Chiefs greats.
Seriously, you should resign your position as the spokesmen for Chiefs players trying to get in the HOF. You’re doing more harm then good. Maybe let a journalist have a shot at it.
Stay Classy Bob.