Teicher: Gonzalez asks Chiefs to explore trade possibilities
 

Gonzalez asks Chiefs to explore trade possibilities
By ADAM TEICHR
The Kansas City Star

This year, the Chiefs prepared for the eventuality of replacing Tony Gonzalez by spending one of their three third-round draft picks on Tennessee tight end Brad Cottam.

That day could come sooner than they thought, as Gonzalez has asked the Chiefs to explore trade possibilities, and they have fielded calls about his availability.

Gonzalez, a nine-time Pro Bowler who has been with the Chiefs since he was drafted in 1997, would like a chance to contend for a championship before his Hall of Fame career comes to a close. The NFL trade deadline, which rarely sees much action, is Tuesday.

The Chiefs appeared pessimistic they could reach a deal for Gonzalez by then. The New York Giants have been the most interested in making a trade, but the sides were far apart on the compensation.

The Chiefs were asking for a third-round pick, and the Giants offered a sixth-rounder.

Green Bay and Buffalo are other teams that may have an interest in Gonzalez.

Gonzalez is 32 years old, and the sense of urgency to play for a contender has never been greater. If he stays with the rebuilding Chiefs, who will be a young team for several years, he may lose his chance.

“I’m winding down in my career and I’m thinking this is not what I signed on for last year when I redid my deal,” Gonzalez said in August, before the season started. “It is what it is. There’s nothing we can do about it.

“That’s another thing that weighs on my mind all the time, and that’s part of the frustration. … I haven’t even won a playoff game. That’s the reality of it. You can look back and say you had a pretty good career, but I want to be able to say I went to the playoffs, I won some playoff games and I went to the Super Bowl.”

When the Chiefs traded defensive end Jared Allen to Minnesota in April, they didn’t have a ready replacement for the reigning NFL sack leader. They moved Tamba Hali into Allen’s spot at right end, and he’s without a sack through five games.

They prepared to eventually replace Gonzalez by drafting Cottam, but he won’t provide what the veteran tight end has. Cottam has played more in the past couple of games in a two-tight end formation, a sign the Chiefs are getting more comfortable with him in their lineup. But Cottam hasn’t caught a pass and is used mostly as a blocker.

The Chiefs wouldn’t necessarily suffer without Gonzalez when they run. But they certainly would in the passing game. Gonzalez is the all-time leader among tight ends in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He has led the team in receptions in seven of his 12 seasons, including the last four.

Cottam doesn’t have Gonzalez’s ability to use his body to shield defenders or his skill in going up to snag a pass. He also doesn’t have Gonzalez’s knack for finding seams in zone coverage and wouldn’t be as difficult for defenses to cover when the Chiefs are near the opponent’s end zone.

He does run faster than Gonzalez, so Cottam brings the possibility of more big passing plays down the field.

The Chiefs this year drafted another tight end, Central Florida’s Mike Merritt, in the seventh round. Merritt has been on the injured list all season but could get activated in the coming weeks.

The Chiefs hope to develop Merritt into a blocking tight end, much like they used to havewith Jason Dunn.

Great, just ****ing great...

We run the risk of losing the face of this franchise, save Lenny Dawson, for what? For Herm ****ing Edwards?

Goddammit, this pisses me off to no extent... IF he is traded, then **** the Chiefs, Carl, espically that ****ing shit **** piece of ****ing ass faced shit bag Herm ****ing Edwards.... May sand fleas infest your crotch, you ****ing ass sucking ****tool!

TG leaves, we are left with nothing.....................

Wheres the tylenol?

I really want to punch Herm and Carl in the face

Jack Daniels works for me

And then some.

:D

Have you SEEN them play??
What exactly do we have WITH him??
A guy held hostage that deserves to be winning is what we have. Especially now in the twilight of his career.


We have 4 or 5 very good to great players and 50 guys trying not to get embarassed every Sunday.

I hoped this trade would happen 2 years ago.
I've enjoyed having TG as much as the next guy, but he wants to win, and there's not the faintest scent of victory going on around here right now. At this moment the Chiefs are making the Royals look like they know exactly what they're doing.

As Chiefs fans -- If we care about the team and its players this should be a time of celebration for Tony to get out of this disaster Carl's "built" and hook up with a team he can actually help.

As a professional athelete, and one of the best at his position that has ever played - he deservers much better than what KC is giving him right now, or will be able to give him anytime in the near future.

It's nothing but selfish douchebaggery to look at it any other way.

QFT

They just showed this on ESPN2. Trade deadline coming up soon. They said something about the Giants, but I couldn't hear it well enough to tell if it was related.

The trade deadline is Tuesday.

The Giants reportedly have no interest at the moment.

I still think that come Tuesday night Tony will still be with the Chiefs

My friend who's a Bills fan is saying the Bills have interest but it's not moving because the Chiefs are demanding a 1st, something they won't get for a player Gonzalez age.

Asking for a first doesnt mean you get a first, thats just their starting point. They wont hold firm to it. Never know what can happen between now and Tuesday.

Might as well demand as much as you can till the end and get waht you can. I hope at worst we get a 3rd and another pick

Id prefer a 2nd