How much is Gonzo really worth (dollars)?

keg in kc · 07-21-2001, 02:42 AM

Gonzo is contracted through the 2002 season, and I think we should make every effort to sign him to an extension following the conclusion of this year in order to avoid a nasty free agency/tag situation. That raises the obvious question, however, of how much he's worth.

Here's some recent TE contract numbers, and some stats for the player involved:

In 1998, Frank Wycheck signed a 6-year, $15 million extension including a $2.5 million signing bonus.
1995: 40 receptions for 471 yards, 1 TD, 11.8 ypc
1996: 53 receptions for 511 yards, 6 TDs, 9.6 ypc
1997: 63 receptions for 748 yards, 4 TDs, 11.9 ypc

In 1999, Kyle Brady signed a 5-year, $14.4 million contract including a $4 million signing bonus.
1996: 15 receptions for 144 yards, 1 TD, 9.6 ypc.
1997: 22 receptions for 238 yards, 2 TDs, 10.8 ypc
1998: 30 receptions for 315 yards, 5 TDs, 10.5 ypc.

In 2000, Ken Dilger signed a 5-year, $15 million contract.
1997: 27 receptions for 380 yards, 3 TDs, 14.1 ypc. 1 100-yard game.
1998: 31 receptions for 303 yards, 1 TD, 9.8 ypc.
1999: 40 receptinos for 479 yards, 2 TDs, 12.0 ypc.

In 2000, Shannon Sharpe signed a 4-year, $13 million contract.
1997: 72 receptions for 1107 yards, 6 TDs, 15.4 ypc. 4 100-yard games.
1998: 64 receptions for 768 yards, 10 TDs, 12.0 ypc.
1999: 23 receptions for 224 yards, 9.7 ypc (broken collarbone).

In comparison, here's Tony's stats from the last two seasons:

1999: 76 receptions for 849 yards, 11 TDs, 11..3 ypc.
2000: 93 receptions for 1203 yards, 9 TDs, 12.9 ypc, 6 100-yard games.

Clearly, Tony has exceeded the single-season performance of any of the other TE's in the league, including Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe has him in terms of career numbers, obviously, but in terms of single season marks in receptions, yardage, touchdowns and 100-yard games, Gonzo has him, while Shannon has the advantage in only a single stat: yards per catch.

Going further, assuming he has a repeat performance in 2001, I just don't think you can judge Tony against the other tight ends. In 2000, he had 22 more receptions than any other TE (Freddie Jones), 400 yards more than any other TE (Shannon Sharpe), and 4 more TDs than any other TE (Sharpe again).

You have to judge him against the wide recievers, IMHO.

Throwing WRs into the mix, Gonzo was 10th in the NFL in receptions, while his 1203 yards would rank him 14th and his 9 touchdowns would net him a tie for 6th in the NFL.

Now, I have a single WR in mind who I am going to focus on (this is draggin' on long enough...). People have probably seen me make this comparison before.

This offseason, Eric Moulds signed a 6 year, 38.234 million dollar contract including a $12 million signing bonus. Here's his stats:

1998: 67 receptions for 1368 yards and 9 TDs. 4 100-yard games.
1999: 65 receptions for 994 yards and 7 TDs. 3 100-yard games.
2000: 94 receptions for 1326 yards and 5 TDs. 7 100-yard games.

So, based on that much, I believe Gonzo should be offered a contract worth, roughly, $30 million over 6 years including an $8 million signing bonus. That's a significant increase over the $3 million/year numbers that the other TEs in the league seem to be worth, but it's less than Moulds, who is a bit better than Tony in terms of production. I think it's a fair deal, and it's representative of the value of Tony to the team, at least right now.

I hope we do something like this and take care of the issue next offseason, and don't give him a chance to test the free agent waters in 2003. It's a lot of money to spend, obviously, especially on a tight end, but, then again, Tony really isn't "just a tight end" is he. I mean, literally, he's a quarter of our offense (26.8 percent of our passes went his way in 2000 - 12th in the league, including WRs, btw ;))

Thoughts?

07-21-2001, 02:42 AM	Topic Starter
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	How much is Gonzo really worth (dollars)? Gonzo is contracted through the 2002 season, and I think we should make every effort to sign him to an extension following the conclusion of this year in order to avoid a nasty free agency/tag situation. That raises the obvious question, however, of how much he's worth. Here's some recent TE contract numbers, and some stats for the player involved: In 1998, Frank Wycheck signed a 6-year, $15 million extension including a $2.5 million signing bonus. 1995: 40 receptions for 471 yards, 1 TD, 11.8 ypc 1996: 53 receptions for 511 yards, 6 TDs, 9.6 ypc 1997: 63 receptions for 748 yards, 4 TDs, 11.9 ypc In 1999, Kyle Brady signed a 5-year, $14.4 million contract including a $4 million signing bonus. 1996: 15 receptions for 144 yards, 1 TD, 9.6 ypc. 1997: 22 receptions for 238 yards, 2 TDs, 10.8 ypc 1998: 30 receptions for 315 yards, 5 TDs, 10.5 ypc. In 2000, Ken Dilger signed a 5-year, $15 million contract. 1997: 27 receptions for 380 yards, 3 TDs, 14.1 ypc. 1 100-yard game. 1998: 31 receptions for 303 yards, 1 TD, 9.8 ypc. 1999: 40 receptinos for 479 yards, 2 TDs, 12.0 ypc. In 2000, Shannon Sharpe signed a 4-year, $13 million contract. 1997: 72 receptions for 1107 yards, 6 TDs, 15.4 ypc. 4 100-yard games. 1998: 64 receptions for 768 yards, 10 TDs, 12.0 ypc. 1999: 23 receptions for 224 yards, 9.7 ypc (broken collarbone). In comparison, here's Tony's stats from the last two seasons: 1999: 76 receptions for 849 yards, 11 TDs, 11..3 ypc. 2000: 93 receptions for 1203 yards, 9 TDs, 12.9 ypc, 6 100-yard games. Clearly, Tony has exceeded the single-season performance of any of the other TE's in the league, including Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe has him in terms of career numbers, obviously, but in terms of single season marks in receptions, yardage, touchdowns and 100-yard games, Gonzo has him, while Shannon has the advantage in only a single stat: yards per catch. Going further, assuming he has a repeat performance in 2001, I just don't think you can judge Tony against the other tight ends. In 2000, he had 22 more receptions than any other TE (Freddie Jones), 400 yards more than any other TE (Shannon Sharpe), and 4 more TDs than any other TE (Sharpe again). You have to judge him against the wide recievers, IMHO. Throwing WRs into the mix, Gonzo was 10th in the NFL in receptions, while his 1203 yards would rank him 14th and his 9 touchdowns would net him a tie for 6th in the NFL. Now, I have a single WR in mind who I am going to focus on (this is draggin' on long enough...). People have probably seen me make this comparison before. This offseason, Eric Moulds signed a 6 year, 38.234 million dollar contract including a $12 million signing bonus. Here's his stats: 1998: 67 receptions for 1368 yards and 9 TDs. 4 100-yard games. 1999: 65 receptions for 994 yards and 7 TDs. 3 100-yard games. 2000: 94 receptions for 1326 yards and 5 TDs. 7 100-yard games. So, based on that much, I believe Gonzo should be offered a contract worth, roughly, $30 million over 6 years including an $8 million signing bonus. That's a significant increase over the $3 million/year numbers that the other TEs in the league seem to be worth, but it's less than Moulds, who is a bit better than Tony in terms of production. I think it's a fair deal, and it's representative of the value of Tony to the team, at least right now. I hope we do something like this and take care of the issue next offseason, and don't give him a chance to test the free agent waters in 2003. It's a lot of money to spend, obviously, especially on a tight end, but, then again, Tony really isn't "just a tight end" is he. I mean, literally, he's a quarter of our offense (26.8 percent of our passes went his way in 2000 - 12th in the league, including WRs, btw ;)) Thoughts?
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