ESPN.com's Bill Williamson is reeruned

[BigMeatballDave]

Chiefs will regret trading Gonzalez

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcwest/0...-Gonzalez.html

I've really liked most of what the new Kansas City regime has done this offseason.

Until now.

I hate the decision to trade tight end Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta.

I was against it when Gonzalez requested a trade in October. I was against it this offseason when the talk resurfaced and I am against it now. I am really down on it now that I've heard what the Chiefs got in return for Gonzalez: A second-round pick in 2010.

This certainly balances out Kansas City's steal of a trade for quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel earlier this offseason. It only cost Kansas City a second-round pick for the two players. The least Kansas City should have received in return for Gonzalez was a second-rounder in this weekend's draft.

It just doesn't make sense that Kansas City has to wait until next year to get compensation for Gonzalez. The Chiefs need plenty of help now. They could use another quality rookie.

They could still use Gonzalez as well. He was brilliant last season and he had one of his better seasons with 96 catches.

Gonzalez, who owns every significant NFL receiving record for a tight end, is 33 but is still playing at a high level. He caught 195 passes in the past two seasons. How are the Chiefs going to replace all the catches?

The Chiefs will regret this day. Gonzalez has been a pillar in the community as well as one of the greatest players in team history.

I thought Kansas City owner Clark Hunt had a handle on that when he said last month that the team didn't want to trade Gonzalez. The team needed to talk Gonzalez into being part of the new regime. He could have brought so much to the Cassel era.

Sure, Kansas City probably wasn't excited that Gonzalez didn't show up for a voluntary minicamp last weekend, but he has missed voluntary camps in the past. Gonzalez said last month he was a "neutral" about a trade. Kansas City didn't have to trade him.

This was a bad move by the Chiefs and it was a move that makes it difficult to believe they will be improved in 2009 because of it.