2008 was quite a year for Tony Gonzalez. He was named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad for the tenth consecutive season. At 32, his strict vegetarian lifestyle had preserved him well. He was the longest tenured player on the 2008 roster. He held Chiefs records for career catches (820), and touchdown grabs (66). In week five of the 2008 season, he bacame the NFL’s all time leader in recieving yardage by a tight end. At retirement, he was the only KC player to catch 100 passes in a single season. At the preseason Bears game in Chicago, I watched as Tony ran out to help an Airforce parachutist untangle himself after landing on the field. The only player from either team who bothered.
2008 Chiefs vs Bears (photo by Randy Murawski)
So whats was there not to like about Tony G?
Something apparently, we sent him packing.
Now Addicts, in 2008 I attended every single home game. And through my Tasco’s I could see that most of the games Tony had a look on his face that reminded one of sucking on a lemon slice. So when Tony started hinting to the press that it might be of mutual benefit to trade him it came as no surprise to yours truly.
Selfishly, I didn’t want it to happen.
But it did.
So what did we get out of the trade? A second round pick .
What did Tony get? A better chance (in his mind) to get a Superbowl ring I guess.
As we start the 2010 season, the results of the trade from KC’s standpoint are now measureable in my opinion. A positive move for us though I couldnt see it at the time.
For Tony? Well I don’t think he will get that Superbowl ring with Atlanta.
What do you think Addicts? How is and how will the trade develop for KC? And what about Tony? Will he retire a Chief like Casey W? Will he want too? What jersey will he wear in the Hall of Fame?
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Nice work, Randy.
I will love the Tony trade as long as Pioli doesn’t strikeout on the draft pick we acquired for him. It isn’t everyday you get a decade of production out of a hall of fame player and are able to flip him for a 2nd round pick at the very end of his career. Tony has been one of the most valuable Chiefs ever. Valuable to their past and valuable to their future.
He will absolutely retire a Chief.
I agree – it was tough, but both parties appeared ready to move on. If the acquired second rounder does us well, the trade looks very timely. I thought Tony was such a quality performer and citizen (as far as I knew) that I was pulling for Atlanta to make it to the big game. Even if that development hurt the ranking of that second round pick. For Tony’s sake, I hoped he could get the ring and shut Shannon Sharpe up (at least for five minutes). We move on.
I dont know if any of u hav actually met Tony or not, but i have. and he is a complete ass hole. im not going into details of why i say this but believe me, if any of u have kids that think hes great and they want an autograph, dont expect him to sign it. what u should expect is him to put his hand in theyr face and walk away. uh oh, looks like i did go into detail.
Matt:
I have met Tony on three seperate occasions. FYI my good friend is best friends with DE Duane Clemons, and that is how I got to meet him.
I am not going to say that he is an asshole, but the first time i did meet him, he seemed to be bothered. It is understandable though since he is famous and stuff. lol. I still and always will love Gonzo.
The next time I met him he was cool. No problems.
Wow! What a drag. it just goes to show that the drive by media can help you or hurt you. Apparently his publicist or the Kansas City Star did a good job of taking care of their baby. He looked squeaky clean as far as I knew.
no they just dont want to piss him off. he was my favorite athlete untill i went to the chiefs preseason lunch and very nicely asked for an autograpgh of which many other players signed. and he just stuck his hand up and walked away!!
I think Tony G will be a Chief in retirement regardless of when or where he retires. KC was his home for the bulk of his career and when other fans hear his name or think of him, it is in red and gold.
I am disappointed to hear he is a jerk.
That said, if I were Tony and had been with the Chiefs all that time and not really made any headway toward the Superbowl, I would be inclined to look elsewhere, too. If he was not a quality player we would not have gotten much for him – so he obviously has talent. If someone doesn’t want to be part of our organization then it is wise to let him go, just don’t have to like it.
Great points Randy, I had no idea his stats were that good.
I have to say that my impression of Tony has always been a bit less than totally favorable. Yes he was very talented and very hard working… but I did get the impression from his television show appearances and from the quotes and sound clips from late in his time here that he was more about Tony and less about the team as a whole. I know this is not uncommon for talented people to act in this manner, but it was disappointed regardless.
By the way, noone “deserves” to play for a playoff team. Tony had a contract and KC would have been fully within rights to force him to fulfill his contract. Tony did a lot of complaining toward the end… and that did not endear him to me… so I had no hopes for Atlanta success in 2009… we owed him no such loyalty
Remember we traded up for him, I think the only time Carl P. moved up it. Speaking of Carl, he’s the reason we had to trade Jared Allen , maybe Tony was the same, having burned the bridge before regime change. The Steeler’s traded up with us for Troy P., do they do so again if Berry is available? Tony had great hands, catching almost everything thrown to him. We need another hands guy.
You know these comments kind of ring true, over the years I did hear some neg’s as far as Tonys contact with the public, at the stadium and at the training camp in Wisconsin. Remember though, here is a guy who graduated college, came to Arrowhead, and didnt leave for what twelve years? That much popularity might grind on you after awhile but then again its the fans that keep him in the bling.
Oh another thought before I head home for the weekend, what satisfaction does a player get from a Superbowl ring with a team you had nothing to do with building anyway?