Glazer: Gonzalez angered and baffled by non-trade

[booger]

Gonzalez angered and baffled by non-tradeby Jay Glazer
Jay Glazer is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com on MSN and also appears every week on FOX NFL Sunday as the network's NFL Insider.



Updated: October 14, 2008, 11:46 PM EST

Tony Gonzalez figured there's no way I'd be writing a story today referring to him as Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez.

But after the NFL's trading deadline came and went and the future Hall Of Famer wasn't moved, he was wrought with a variety of emotions from disappointment to anger to trying to cope with damage caused by his trade request. But more than anything, there's confusion.

Tony Gonzalez: "Nobody is going to trade a second (-round pick) for a 32-year-old tight end." (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

"I'm shocked," he said in an exclusive interview with FOXSports.com. "It didn't make sense not to do this deal. It's winding down for me and this team is rebuilding. If they said from the get-go, 'No, we're not going to trade you,' that would've been better than how this whole thing unfolded. But that's not what happened.

"Last night I talked to Carl (Peterson, Chiefs President and GM) and I point-blank asked him what it would take to get it done. I wanted to know if it could happen with a fourth (-round pick). He started talking about a second and a fifth like the Shockey deal. Nobody is going to trade a second for a 32-year-old tight end. All along Carl said he would do something that works for both parties. Then he talked about how he traded a third for Willie Roaf, and he made it pretty clear to me that's what was going to get it done. That was certainly fair.

"I know teams offered a third and in the end, Carl made the asking price a second. I'm very disappointed that he didn't go through with it after he told me he was going to try to make it happen. I've been around this league a long time, it's a business. There's nothing I can do about it. I was pissed off about it, but I'll get over it. I won't let it affect my play and my preparation."

So where does he go from here? Gonzalez insists he'll do whatever it takes to make the Chiefs a better team. But first he says he will clear the air with many of his teammates.

"I'm going to go in tomorrow and get up in front of the team, no coaches, just my teammates and let them know exactly where I was coming from," he said. "Like I said, they keep talking about the future here and trading me would've helped build for the future. I love Kansas City and will always be a Chief, always! But my road is coming to an end, and I didn't want it to end on a team that is rebuilding.


"When I signed my deal a few years ago, it was to end my career here. But I also felt we had real potential, I didn't see us ending up with a rebuilding effort. But once they cleaned house, and when they traded Jared (Allen), it was clearly to rebuild. They have a bright future here. Some of the players they've drafted are going to be great. They are on the right road, but by the time they travel it, I'll probably be done. That's why I asked for this, and I was certainly led to believe they understood this and would help accommodate it."

Gonzalez, after hanging up with Peterson last night, was pretty sure he'd soon pick up a new zip code. As the day progressed, several teams involved began increasing their offers. A few came up to a fourth while a pair came up to a third. The Chiefs, however, will remain steadfast with a second rounder.

"If I was 28-years-old, we wouldn't even be having this conversation," said the league's all-time receiving leader for tight ends. "We've been talking about it for three weeks now, so we've had plenty of time to get it done. In the end, they had their agenda, and I don't know if they were serious about trading me or whether they were just trying to appease me.

"But you know what? I can't cry about it. If anything, this has motivated me even more. I'm a Chief, will be happy to be a Chief and will bust my butt for the Chiefs. I was never not happy being a Chief. I just wanted the chance to spend my last couple of years winning a title, not rebuilding. But I'm here to help rebuild, I'll work with all our young guys and get after it like I always have."

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Exactly wat I've been saying for the past several days.

Good work, Carl.

No shit...

It's too bad

[dallaschiefsfan]

I'm glad Carl didn't trade Tony...not because I think Carl is a good GM...but because I'm just so damn optimistic that Carl/Herm might be gone at the end of the season and we can shut down this rebuild (in a stupid way) Bullshit and rebuild in a competent way that actually teaches young players to win by tackling, blocking and doing the fundamentals it takes when you're a young team. Oh yeah...and a new leadership that recognizes the QB is HUGE and drafts a guy that grows into the role while letting a vet (not Huard) play the role of mentor/starter for the guy's first year (possibly two).

IF this stuff happens...we'll be glad that gonzo is still around because he helps us get better quicker with a new regime. If this regime remains, nothing changes and you might as well trade Gonzo for a 7th round pick because the quality of player won't matter with the level of incompetence that resides at 1 Arrowhead Drive.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead

But he wanted to play for the Giants? WTF is the difference

between Buffalo & New York?

[TrickyNicky]

Originally Posted by Extra Point

KCTV5 reported that he has one year after this, then he's retiring. Another masterstroke for CarP.

So next year is it? We're going to the Superbowl!