Tony Gonzalez Asked Atlanta Falcons For A Trade

Feb 1, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez walks the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Remember that time we all thought Tony Gonzalez could be traded by the Atlanta Falcons and the Chiefs may be the team to make the deal? Well, as it turns out, Tony Gonzalez (kind of) wanted that to happen, too.

In an ESPN the Magazine piece that will go live next week, Gonzalez confesses he wanted to be traded at the deadline. Though he didn’t specifically ask for a trade in a formal sense, or state where he wanted to be dealt to, he made it clear he would be open to a deal. So open that he was upset when it didn’t happen.

The excerpt:

"With the Oct. 29 trade deadline approaching, the Falcons were 2-5. Gonzalez met with coach Mike Smith and GM Thomas Dimitroff. He was careful not to ask for a trade, but he made it clear that he would accept one. Gonzalez told Seth later: “You trade me to a team that needs me, that wants to make a serious run in the playoffs and the Super Bowl. You get something in return for a guy who you know won’t be here next year. And the season isn’t going anywhere anyway. That’s rational.” At the trade deadline, Gonzalez sat at a restaurant with his wife and waited to hear which team it would be. When that call never came, he was not happy."

Gonzalez could have been a huge piece for the Chiefs in the second half of the season. While he may not have helped the Chiefs overcome the loss of Justin Houston, he certainly would have opened up the passing game a little more and would have been useful in red zone situations. Alas, it wasn’t to be.

I know he wasn’t there at the time, but can we go ahead and blame Scott Pioli for this one, anyway?