Chiefs Babb: Victory puts a smile on Gonzalez’s face

**Tribal Warfare** · 11-30-2008, 11:08 PM

Victory puts a smile on Gonzalez’s face
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

OAKLAND, Calif. | Tony Gonzalez was smiling again. That was new. So were his words.

He stood in front of his locker after Sunday’s 20-13 win against Oakland and talked about progress. He mentioned quarterback Tyler Thigpen and Kansas City’s wide receivers and just how different it felt to be standing there after a victory.

“Finally,” said Gonzalez, the Chiefs’ star tight end. “We’ll take it. You have no idea how good it feels to get a win. It’s been so long.”

Gonzalez is the honest one. The Chiefs have lost 10 games this season, so there’s plenty of honesty to go around. The previous seven weeks, Gonzalez used words like “frustrated” and “embarrassed,” and after one of the losses, two weeks ago, Gonzalez slipped out of the locker room without speaking to reporters. No more words.

So it was different Sunday in Oakland when Gonzalez smiled and laughed and spoke playfully about his conversations with Thigpen that seem to have helped the pair blossom into the Chiefs’ most dangerous offensive weapons. Gonzalez had eight catches Sunday for 110 yards, a week after hauling in 10 passes for 113 yards.

Thigpen, for better or worse, didn’t look toward other receivers Sunday — many times Dwayne Bowe and Will Franklin were open — and instead targeted Gonzalez. That’s usually not a good habit for a young quarterback, but Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said he’d overlook it for now.

“If I was a rookie quarterback,” Edwards said, “I’d look for him, too. You’ve got a Hall of Fame tight end. I’d find him. Any smart quarterback would do that, and he’s learning: throw it to that guy, because most of the time, he catches it.”

Gonzalez has had one of the more tumultuous seasons of all the Chiefs. He asked for, and didn’t receive, a trade two months ago. He sulked and spoke out against Chiefs president Carl Peterson, saying it would’ve been best for both sides to part ways. Then Gonzalez was in Carolina when he broke the record for all-time receiving yardage for tight ends, and few outside Kansas City acknowledged it.

It’s been a long season, and in those honest moments, Gonzalez isn’t shy about detailing his frustrating season.

His mood has been different the last two weeks. Even after last week’s blowout loss to Buffalo, Gonzalez said he was hopeful for the future. Then the Chiefs beat the Raiders partly because Thigpen kept finding Gonzalez.

“We’re all getting on the same page,” he said. “We’re just reading each other, and he’s putting the ball where I want it, and I think I’m getting open to where he feels comfortable enough to throw it to me. It’s paying off.”

Hammock Parties · 11-30-2008, 11:09 PM

Tony's gonna be back next year.

ArrowheadHawk · 11-30-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

Tony's gonna be back next year.

I sure hope so.

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-30-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

Tony's gonna be back next year.

DUH

CoMoChief · 11-30-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

Tony's gonna be back next year.

I agree, just not with the Chiefs

ArrowheadHawk · 11-30-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I agree, just not with the Chiefs

Why wouldn't he?

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-30-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I agree, just not with the Chiefs

No ****ING way the Chiefs trade Gonzalez now.

No.

****ing.

WAY.

blueballs · 11-30-2008, 11:17 PM

Tony G has more value to the CHiefs as a Chief
than any draft pick they could get for him
they need him to break in the QBotF -Thiggy or not

**pr_capone** · 11-30-2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

No ****ING way the Chiefs trade Gonzalez now.

No.

****ing.

WAY.

Agreed

The Chiefs squandered the career of the best TE ever

What a waste

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-30-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr_capone

Agreed

The Chiefs squandered the career of the best TE ever

What a waste

When are you going to start a trade Jackie Battle thread? Or a trade Jamal Charles thread?

blueballs · 11-30-2008, 11:33 PM

Franklin's getting open
is nice to hear

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-30-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueballs

Franklin's getting open
is nice to hear

Franklin = Jericho Cotchery

Hammock Parties · 11-30-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Franklin = Jericho Cotchery

So now we just need to get rid of Herm?

unothadeal · 11-30-2008, 11:36 PM

You think he gives a **** about drafting first and drafting top 5?

**pr_capone** · 11-30-2008, 11:37 PM

11-30-2008, 11:08 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $942813	Babb: Victory puts a smile on Gonzalez’s face Victory puts a smile on Gonzalez’s face By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star OAKLAND, Calif. \| Tony Gonzalez was smiling again. That was new. So were his words. He stood in front of his locker after Sunday’s 20-13 win against Oakland and talked about progress. He mentioned quarterback Tyler Thigpen and Kansas City’s wide receivers and just how different it felt to be standing there after a victory. “Finally,” said Gonzalez, the Chiefs’ star tight end. “We’ll take it. You have no idea how good it feels to get a win. It’s been so long.” Gonzalez is the honest one. The Chiefs have lost 10 games this season, so there’s plenty of honesty to go around. The previous seven weeks, Gonzalez used words like “frustrated” and “embarrassed,” and after one of the losses, two weeks ago, Gonzalez slipped out of the locker room without speaking to reporters. No more words. So it was different Sunday in Oakland when Gonzalez smiled and laughed and spoke playfully about his conversations with Thigpen that seem to have helped the pair blossom into the Chiefs’ most dangerous offensive weapons. Gonzalez had eight catches Sunday for 110 yards, a week after hauling in 10 passes for 113 yards. Thigpen, for better or worse, didn’t look toward other receivers Sunday — many times Dwayne Bowe and Will Franklin were open — and instead targeted Gonzalez. That’s usually not a good habit for a young quarterback, but Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said he’d overlook it for now. “If I was a rookie quarterback,” Edwards said, “I’d look for him, too. You’ve got a Hall of Fame tight end. I’d find him. Any smart quarterback would do that, and he’s learning: throw it to that guy, because most of the time, he catches it.” Gonzalez has had one of the more tumultuous seasons of all the Chiefs. He asked for, and didn’t receive, a trade two months ago. He sulked and spoke out against Chiefs president Carl Peterson, saying it would’ve been best for both sides to part ways. Then Gonzalez was in Carolina when he broke the record for all-time receiving yardage for tight ends, and few outside Kansas City acknowledged it. It’s been a long season, and in those honest moments, Gonzalez isn’t shy about detailing his frustrating season. His mood has been different the last two weeks. Even after last week’s blowout loss to Buffalo, Gonzalez said he was hopeful for the future. Then the Chiefs beat the Raiders partly because Thigpen kept finding Gonzalez. “We’re all getting on the same page,” he said. “We’re just reading each other, and he’s putting the ball where I want it, and I think I’m getting open to where he feels comfortable enough to throw it to me. It’s paying off.”
Posts: 42,041

11-30-2008, 11:09 PM	#2
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4740478	Tony's gonna be back next year. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 277,716

11-30-2008, 11:17 PM	#8
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	Tony G has more value to the CHiefs as a Chief than any draft pick they could get for him they need him to break in the QBotF -Thiggy or not
Posts: 14,233

11-30-2008, 11:33 PM	#11
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	Franklin's getting open is nice to hear
Posts: 14,233

11-30-2008, 11:36 PM	#14
unothadeal HOF 20?? Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $5115120	You think he gives a **** about drafting first and drafting top 5?
Posts: 6,124

11-30-2008, 11:37 PM	#15
pr_capone ** SOC & ** YOU Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chiefs Hell Casino cash: $10018214
Posts: 19,884