Tony G. Says Good Bye In KC
Tony Gonzalez returned to Kansas City on Tuesday, something he plans to do plenty of in the coming years.
The new Atlanta Falcons tight end took the time to meet with the K.C. media and pass along his thanks to Chiefs fans that have supported him so well for the last dozen years.
“Being able to play for some of the best fans, the best people,” said Gonzalez in a press conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. “The people who have stopped me and said congratulations, we are going to miss you. The fans have been incredible.
“I’m still going to be around. Kansas City is my second home and I will be here quite often. I have businesses set up here. My foundation, Shadow Buddies, is here. That’s where it’s going to get hard, the friends and the friendships
“Change is good. I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s a positive situation.”
Former Chiefs President-GM Carl Peterson was in the house at Skies Restaurant, as was former Chiefs FB Tony Richardson, in town during a break from off-season workouts with the New York Jets.
“I’m sad, I’m anxious, a little scared, a little weird saying I’m an Atlanta Falcon,” Gonzalez said. “But change is good, it’s like being drafted all over again, and gives me a chance to go out there and prove myself.”
Gonzalez said he met twice with new GM Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley, but he did not request a trade.
“I didn’t ask for a trade and they didn’t come to me and ask if I wanted a trade,” Gonzalez said.
Here is sound from the Tony Gonzalez press conference:
See ya in canton buddy!…AS A CHIEF!
I hope the fans in Atlanta appreciate what kind of player they’re getting…and that Tony gets what he’s after down there. As long as he’s not playing against us, I hope he kicks ass.
Just to clarify…
I hope Tony G. kicks ass.
I hope the Falcons go 0-16…so the draft pick we got for him will be #33.
No I hope he gets his ring just like he has always wanted. I hope he does great and I hope the Falcons do great also. It would seem like a waste if he goes to Atlanta and doesnt get a playoff win or play in the superbowl. He would have went to Atlanta for nothing if he doesnt do anything there.
Best of luck Tony. Will always be one of the best Chiefs EVER.
So, let’s take the operative statement from this story and review:
“I didn’t ask for a trade and they didn’t come to me and ask if I wanted a trade,”Âť Gonzalez said.
Where do we go here? You might know where I’m going and that is the growing level of incompetence Pioli is displaying due to his growing inflated sense of self that has hardly been fairly earned as a competent NFL GENERAL MANAGER.
You know something strange, if not weird from my point of view? I had light years ahead in my confidence of CP in his first 3 years than I have with Pioli in his first 3 months.
What to do about it? In my case, I’m lucky in that I live a short drive from the Falcon’s complex in Flowery Branch so I’ll be showing up as a fan, encouraging and still able to cheer on Tony G in person the next few years, and yes, he will KNOW I’m there.
As to the Chiefs under Pioli? (SFX: Long, pregnant sigh)
I’ll miss Tony a lot….but lets be honest here. Tony did not ask Pioli and Haley for a trade…..but Tony was asking for a trade. He just had others do the talking for him. The way he was talking it just kind of happened out of the blue…..Please….don’t insult my intelligence. I wont hold a grudge. I hope Tony does well personally but I root for the Chiefs…that means I want the Falcons to STINK this year. After that they can do well as long as it’s not against us.
Tony was great while he was here. I was always impressed by his work ethic and production. But guess what? He wanted out, he’s no longer a Chief. Do I wish him well? I guess so. Do I want the Falcons to do well? No way in Hell. Besides the fact that it will produce a higher draft pick if they suck, I refuse to root for any other NFL team.
A perfunctory farewell to the 2nd best TE in Chiefs history as he heads south…like the Chiefs in 2009.
i wouldnt put my name on a comment like that either, especially when you know your talkin outta your arse.
Harold C. hit it on the head. Tony didn’t specifically ask Pioli or Haley for a trade, but he made it clear he wanted out. Also, I heard Tony made some comment about not playing for records anymore, now he’s about winning (he must have been referring to the Denver home game last year). Did anybody else hear him say that?
I get that people like him, I’ve got a Gonzalez jersey hanging in my closet. But let’s be real, he’s acted like an idiot over the last year. Like he’s the only Chief that wants to win?!?
I’m with Scott, I hope the Falcons go 0-16. Why would you want them to do well? Why would you want them to win the Superbowl? That would mean we get a lower draft pick and we’re not Superbowl champs. It wasn’t fun watching Neil Smith win a Superbowl with the Broncos and it wouldn’t be fun watching Tony do it with the Falcons.
Just to be fair…
Rip ‘ems quote is only half of what Tony said:
“I told them, “ËśLook, if I’m on this team, I’m going to give you guys 100 percent. If you do want to trade me, just let me know. I wouldn’t be opposed to it,”Âť’ Gonzalez said. “I didn’t ask for a trade, and they didn’t come to me and say, “ËśDo you want a trade?”Âť’
Take it however you want. We all know Tony would have done what he said…given 100%. But we also know…his heart was really not here anymore. It left somewhere in the first part of last season. To pinpoint it, and this is just personal opinion, it was the Denver game (at home).
Doesn’t really matter now, one way or the other. Agree or disagree…like it or not…Gonzalez is a Falcon. He doesn’t seem too upset about it…so I’m not going to be either. Life goes on.
Tony is a classy guy. I am not going to say I want the Falcons to win the superbowl but if they do, I will honestly be glad for Tony. The guy gave his best years of his career to the Chiefs. He will always be in my mind a Chief.
Now that being said in the interest of my team I hope the Falcons blow next year. But the year AFTER that let them make it to the superbowl, and lose….to the CHIEFS!
Good luck Tony G! You were the face of the Chiefs just like Derrick was. And I’m going to miss you just the same.
couple thoughts:
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1. interesting that this was done at a hotel and not at arrowhead
2. were fans invited? I heard only the press/guests were.