Tony G Meets Atlanta

Tony Gonzalez and his wife Toby were lounging around in bed Thursday afternoon in a New York hotel room, watching Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler and enjoying a quiet day. They were in the Big Apple for promotional appearances this week centered around the NFL Draft.

That’s when his phone rang. It was Chiefs coach Todd Haley and he was calling to tell Gonzalez that he was headed to Atlanta.

On Friday, Tony and Toby landed in Atlanta and were introduced to the media by owner Arthur Blank and GM Thomas Dimitroff, the man who made the deal to get the 10-time Pro Bowler.

“I’m here for one reason and that’s to win a Super Bowl,” Gonzalez said. “I haven’t won a playoff game in my whole career. That’s something I’m definitely trying to make sure that’s not going to be an end for me. I want to come her go to the playoffs and win playoff games. I want to go to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl.”

Gonzalez posed with owner Arthur Blank (far left), head coach Mike Smith and GM Thomas Dimitroff (far right).

Gonzalez said his phone conversations with Haley, who then handed the phone to Pioli, were positive.       

“It wasn’t anything negative,” Gonzalez said. “It was something that they felt would work for them and it would work for me. I think they are right.”

Dimitroff made it plain why the Falcons were interested in Gonzalez.

“Tony is for us the type of guy on the field and off the field, the type of guy we want to continue to build this program around,” said Dimitroff. “We want him to help set the tone for our evolution as a football team.

“We need to continue to provide the instruments for this offense.”

Gonzalez called his new quarterback Matt Ryan on Thursday, but had yet to make contact with the Falcons quarterback.

As he did on Thursday, Gonzalez thanks the Hunt family and the fans of Kansas City. “I’m going to miss them,” he said. “I’m really going to miss Kansas City.

“I’m excited to be here. This is an unbelieveable opportunity. I think it’s going to be something special.

“After 12 years, sometimes change is good. I couldn’t be in a better situation. Hopefully I’ll be here for a long time.”