DaWolf
02-04-2009, 03:47 PM
Gonzalez: I'm willing to stick with Chiefs (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9180456/Gonzalez:-I'm-willing-to-stick-with-Chiefs)
KAPOLEI, Hawaii - The headline reads "Gonzalez still wants to be traded."
There's only one problem: Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez says it isn't true.
In an exclusive interview with FOXSports.com, Gonzalez said that a Yahoo.com story published Wednesday morning misrepresented his stance toward the organization. Gonzalez said he is amenable to returning for a 13th NFL season in Kansas City and won't know whether he will ask for a trade until seeing what personnel and coaching moves the franchise makes this offseason.
Such a decision won't come for some time.
"I want to make sure people know I have not asked for a trade," Gonzalez said Wednesday morning before the AFC's Pro Bowl practice. "I haven't even talked to (new Chiefs general manager Scott) Pioli yet. I said there are reasons I would ask for a trade, but depending on the coach they bring in and the free-agent acquisitions, I could easily be a Chief next year, too. In fact, that's the direction I want to go."
Gonzalez was particularly irked at the attention his "trade demand" received as it aired on an ESPN television crawl for his Pro Bowl peers and coaches to see, not to mention unsuspecting members of the Chiefs organization on the mainland. Gonzalez said he isn't as down on the franchise as he believes the story made him out to be.
"It's always been important to me to approach this game with class and do the right thing," Gonzalez said. "I have been so fortunate to be with the Chiefs. They've always taken good care of me. I have no complaints and I love the city, but who knows what's going to happen."
Gonzalez hopes to know more by week's end, which is when he expects Kansas City to name a head coach. Arizona offensive coordinator Todd Haley is believed the leading candidate.
Gonzalez also is curious to see how Pioli revamps the Chiefs roster after spending the past nine seasons with New England. A key front-office member on three Super Bowl-winning teams, Pioli is projected to have at least $30 million in salary cap space available entering free agency in late February. The Patriots, though, usually shied away from big-money signings.
"I had a chance to talk with some guys who played in New England," Gonzalez said. "They all said he knows how to do great things. He knows how to pick talent. That definitely was the best decision that (Chiefs owner) Clark (Hunt) made — bringing someone like that in there that can turn this organization around. I have no doubt he's going to do it."
Gonzalez, though, admits he doesn't know whether he will still be playing by the time Kansas City is ready to contend for a Super Bowl title. The Chiefs finished 2-14 in 2008 — their second consecutive season with double-digit losses — and failed to reach the playoffs for the ninth time in Gonzalez's 12 NFL seasons.
Gonzalez, who turns 33 later this month, is under contract through 2011. While committed to playing in 2009, Gonzalez said he is taking a season-by-season approach toward retirement.
One of Gonzalez's most prominent teammates went public Tuesday expressing his desire to leave the Chiefs. Running back Larry Johnson told a Kansas City radio station that "it's time for us to break ties. They can go on and find what they want. I can try to go on and rebuild my career and find what I want. I'd rather just play somewhere else. I don't belong on this rebuilding team ... I'm not getting any younger and this team is getting a lot younger."
The losing has taken its toll on Gonzalez, who says he became emotional while watching the long-suffering Arizona Cardinals play in Super Bowl XLIII. Gonzalez said he could relate to the plight of Arizona strong safety Adrian Wilson, who hadn't even reached the postseason until his eighth Cardinals season
"People were saying, 'He stuck with the team when he could have maybe gone somewhere else,' " Gonzalez said. "I'm like, 'He's been there eight years. I've been with my team for 12.'
"I don't want to be on a good team. I know we can be good. There's no doubt. But I want to be on a Super Bowl-caliber team. I don't know how much time I have left. That window of opportunity is closing for me. I want to make sure I at least get a shot at going out there and doing something great."
Gonzalez originally asked for a trade last October. Rather than pout when the deal didn't happen despite the reported promises of then-team president Carl Peterson, Gonzalez still played at a high level. He finished with 96 receptions for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns.
"I would be selling myself short as well as my teammates if I did anything less than that," said Gonzalez, who is primed to set career receiving marks of 900 catches and 11,000 yards in 2009. "That's why I spoke to my team after the trade didn't go down to tell them I'm on board and, if anything, I'm going to play even harder because I want to prove to everyone in this room, city and organization that I'm not that type of (selfish) guy."
Gonzalez knows the report that he is still demanding a trade doesn't help that perception.
"I've never been the type of guy who goes to the media trying to get my way," Gonzalez said. "That's just not my style. If anything, it's just to explain my side of the story. I'm not going to start doing that now.
"I'll probably from this point on stop (publicly) talking about this. There's nothing to talk about. You can't do anything right now anyway (with the NFL barring trades until February 27). I just want to play it out and see what happens."
KAPOLEI, Hawaii - The headline reads "Gonzalez still wants to be traded."
There's only one problem: Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez says it isn't true.
In an exclusive interview with FOXSports.com, Gonzalez said that a Yahoo.com story published Wednesday morning misrepresented his stance toward the organization. Gonzalez said he is amenable to returning for a 13th NFL season in Kansas City and won't know whether he will ask for a trade until seeing what personnel and coaching moves the franchise makes this offseason.
Such a decision won't come for some time.
"I want to make sure people know I have not asked for a trade," Gonzalez said Wednesday morning before the AFC's Pro Bowl practice. "I haven't even talked to (new Chiefs general manager Scott) Pioli yet. I said there are reasons I would ask for a trade, but depending on the coach they bring in and the free-agent acquisitions, I could easily be a Chief next year, too. In fact, that's the direction I want to go."
Gonzalez was particularly irked at the attention his "trade demand" received as it aired on an ESPN television crawl for his Pro Bowl peers and coaches to see, not to mention unsuspecting members of the Chiefs organization on the mainland. Gonzalez said he isn't as down on the franchise as he believes the story made him out to be.
"It's always been important to me to approach this game with class and do the right thing," Gonzalez said. "I have been so fortunate to be with the Chiefs. They've always taken good care of me. I have no complaints and I love the city, but who knows what's going to happen."
Gonzalez hopes to know more by week's end, which is when he expects Kansas City to name a head coach. Arizona offensive coordinator Todd Haley is believed the leading candidate.
Gonzalez also is curious to see how Pioli revamps the Chiefs roster after spending the past nine seasons with New England. A key front-office member on three Super Bowl-winning teams, Pioli is projected to have at least $30 million in salary cap space available entering free agency in late February. The Patriots, though, usually shied away from big-money signings.
"I had a chance to talk with some guys who played in New England," Gonzalez said. "They all said he knows how to do great things. He knows how to pick talent. That definitely was the best decision that (Chiefs owner) Clark (Hunt) made — bringing someone like that in there that can turn this organization around. I have no doubt he's going to do it."
Gonzalez, though, admits he doesn't know whether he will still be playing by the time Kansas City is ready to contend for a Super Bowl title. The Chiefs finished 2-14 in 2008 — their second consecutive season with double-digit losses — and failed to reach the playoffs for the ninth time in Gonzalez's 12 NFL seasons.
Gonzalez, who turns 33 later this month, is under contract through 2011. While committed to playing in 2009, Gonzalez said he is taking a season-by-season approach toward retirement.
One of Gonzalez's most prominent teammates went public Tuesday expressing his desire to leave the Chiefs. Running back Larry Johnson told a Kansas City radio station that "it's time for us to break ties. They can go on and find what they want. I can try to go on and rebuild my career and find what I want. I'd rather just play somewhere else. I don't belong on this rebuilding team ... I'm not getting any younger and this team is getting a lot younger."
The losing has taken its toll on Gonzalez, who says he became emotional while watching the long-suffering Arizona Cardinals play in Super Bowl XLIII. Gonzalez said he could relate to the plight of Arizona strong safety Adrian Wilson, who hadn't even reached the postseason until his eighth Cardinals season
"People were saying, 'He stuck with the team when he could have maybe gone somewhere else,' " Gonzalez said. "I'm like, 'He's been there eight years. I've been with my team for 12.'
"I don't want to be on a good team. I know we can be good. There's no doubt. But I want to be on a Super Bowl-caliber team. I don't know how much time I have left. That window of opportunity is closing for me. I want to make sure I at least get a shot at going out there and doing something great."
Gonzalez originally asked for a trade last October. Rather than pout when the deal didn't happen despite the reported promises of then-team president Carl Peterson, Gonzalez still played at a high level. He finished with 96 receptions for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns.
"I would be selling myself short as well as my teammates if I did anything less than that," said Gonzalez, who is primed to set career receiving marks of 900 catches and 11,000 yards in 2009. "That's why I spoke to my team after the trade didn't go down to tell them I'm on board and, if anything, I'm going to play even harder because I want to prove to everyone in this room, city and organization that I'm not that type of (selfish) guy."
Gonzalez knows the report that he is still demanding a trade doesn't help that perception.
"I've never been the type of guy who goes to the media trying to get my way," Gonzalez said. "That's just not my style. If anything, it's just to explain my side of the story. I'm not going to start doing that now.
"I'll probably from this point on stop (publicly) talking about this. There's nothing to talk about. You can't do anything right now anyway (with the NFL barring trades until February 27). I just want to play it out and see what happens."