Tony G speaks to the media

[dirk digler]

From Blob Gretz

Tony G. Speaks About No-Trade

October 15, 2008 - Bob Gretz |

From the Truman Sports Complex
Tony Gonzalez was back in familiar surroundings on Wednesday, practicing with the Chiefs in their indoor facility and then holding court for the media horde after practice.

Gonzalez spoke to his teammates at their morning meeting, with no coaches in the room at his request.

“I told them the situation, how it occurred what my thought process was behind everything, why I wanted to go and how I thought maybe it could help the team,” Gonzalez said of what he told his teammates. “But now it’s over. So, it’s done with. I’m a Chief now for these next 11 games. I’m concentrating on going out there and trying to be the best player that I can be and help this team win.
“I wanted to make sure; I think most of them know me, the guys that have been around for awhile know what I’m all about. But I wanted to make sure those young guys know that this is about winning football games, about being the best football player you can be. No matter what the situation is, whether you are frustrated or you are extremely happy, you have to go out there and bust your tail every day and try to get better and help this team win.”

He also had plenty to say on various subjects:

-On what the day was like on Tuesday waiting for a trade to be made: “It was a high stress situation. It was a sad situation. It was confusing … it was pretty stressful for myself and my family. I felt this was it. What was told to me, a deal was going to get struck if a team was willing to give up what I thought was necessary for me to get out of here. When it came and when I was somewhat shocked that it didn’t go down.”

-On the status of his relationship now with Carl Peterson: “Who knows. I’m disappointed. In the end it doesn’t matter what our relationship is any more. I’m a Chief and I’m here and I’m here to play.”

-On what was offered for him and whether it sounded like a reasonable deal: “From what I understood, a third round was offered and it didn’t go down that way. If you are going to trade me, that’s what you can expect to get. You are not going to get anything higher. I’m 32 years old. A second-round pick you are not going to get that. Everybody knows that … if they were serious about trading me, I think they would have taken that third-round pick. But that’s just my opinion.”

-On whether the Chiefs were serious about trading him: “A part of me thinks maybe they were just trying to appease me. I don’t know if they were serious. In the end, the way it all went down from what I understand, it didn’t sound like it … if they weren’t serious from the beginning, I wish they would have told me that, because in that case none of this would have even gone down. Just sit there and tell me it’s not going to happen this year.”

-Did he request a trade before the season: “No … I wanted to see how it worked out. Obviously Brodie (Croyle) going down, I think that hurt us definitely. We’ve been snakebit this year too. At that point (before the season) I didn’t see the need too.”

-On what it says about the Chiefs that he wanted out: “I’m not saying anything bad about these guys. I think this team is going in the right direction, I really feel that way. They’ve got some great young talent on this team and they are rebuilding, there’s no doubt about that. These g uys are going to be good in thef uture and we can be good this year, but it takes guys about three years to really get in that groove. That’s how long it took me, so knowing that and knowing I’m not going to be around here in three years … that’s the reason I said if it can help the Chiefs with them going out there and getting a pretty good draft choice for me, and it would help me going out there and playing for a contender this year, that was the whole reason behind it. It’s not that I don’t believe in Herm, or I don’t believe in Carl. They’ve done a good job in my opinion. It’s getting down to the end of the road for me and I had to take that shot.”

-On the ceremony planned to honor him before this Sunday’s game: “That’s probably something I would like to wait until the end of the year. It’s up to them … I think it would be akward in light of what went down this week. Let’s just wait on it. We’ll see what they want to do.”

-Will he ask to be traded again after this season is over: “We’ll see. I can’t answer that question honestly.”

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

"I’m a Chief now for these next 11 games. "
"Just sit there and tell me it’s not going to happen this year"
"“Who knows. I’m disappointed. In the end it doesn’t matter what our relationship is any more."
"“That’s probably something I would like to wait until the end of the year. "

Reading between the lines on all of these comments does not make for a good situation. It doesn't sound like he wants to return next year. He no longer has trust in Carl, and he doesn't even care if he is honored by the team because he feels the team has screwed him over in recent weeks.

Those big name free agents are going to come flocking to KC next year!

Hopefully the 10 fans will give him a nice cheer

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Zouk

That's as good as can be expected from Tony in this tough situation. I think he did a very good job.

He was surprisingly diplomatic in the interview.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Par for the course.

Carl has pissed off so many big-time contributors to this franchise.
Allen, Green, Gonzalez, Johnson... Clark please...

I'll give you Green, Gonzo and LJ, though the argument can be made for Carl in each of those instances, considering 2 of those players were trying to dictate EXACTLY where they were going to be dealt.

But Allen?

If Jared Allen was pissed off by being called "a young man at risk," which he is, then tough shit.

Carl's made a TON of mistakes over the last 20 years, but the way he handled Jared Allen's immature ass isn't one of them, IMO.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

"I’m a Chief now for these next 11 games."


gee i'm glad carl didn't trade him for a 3rd....since we're not rebuilding it makes perfect sense to hold on to a 32 yr old player who has no intention of playing for us next year...

brilliant

He should find a way to make Gonzo happy to stay with K.C. That's what you do for hall of famers.

If that's impossible, you get best value. Best value was available yesterday. He'll never be worth more.

Carl Peterson may be the most overpaid man in the world, except for those idiots who drove down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I'll give you Green, Gonzo and LJ.

But Allen?

If Jared Allen was pissed off by being called "a young man at risk," which he is, then tough shit.

Carl's made a TON of mistakes over the last 20 years, but the way he handled Jared Allen's immature ass isn't one of them, IMO.

Agreed and we got what we could...

[TEX]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

This is just a miserable situation for the player, the team and the fans.

Yep. Such is life withe Carl and Herm. I honestly feel that it wouldn't be THIS bad if Herm wasn't the HC. There's absolutely no light at the end of the with Herm. Tony knows it.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Agreed and we got what we could...

.. no pass rush.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

.. no pass rush.

Yep, those three sacks would be making all the difference right now.

Actually, those two sacks, unless we could have arranged for Cutler to run out of the back of the endzone...

If people can't see that he was just playing for a payday now...

Playing next to two of the best DT's in the league, and the best you can do for $70M is 3 goddamn sacks? And you didn't even have to touch the QB on one of them?

Carl's done a TON of stupid shit, but managing to get 3 draft picks, including a mid-first for an alcoholic with 2 strikes against him isn't on the list.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Yep, those three sacks would be making all the difference right now.

Actually, those two sacks, unless we could have arranged for Cutler to run out of the back of the endzone...

Having alot of sacks is nice, but what we really need is pressure on the QB. We have absolutely none. Not even close. Their QB's have all day to find the receiver they want. Allen would have at least put pressure on the QB and hopefully force him into a bad throw. That shit just doesn't happen right now with our pathetic dline.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Yep, those three sacks would be making all the difference right now.

Actually, those two sacks, unless we could have arranged for Cutler to run out of the back of the endzone...

If people can't see that he was just playing for a payday now...

Playing next to two of the best DT's in the league, and the best you can do for $70M is 3 goddamn sacks? And you didn't even have to touch the QB on one of them?

Carl's done a TON of stupid shit, but managing to get 3 draft picks, including a mid-first for an alcoholic with 2 strikes against him isn't on the list.

He's had tons of pressures and would still be the best player on the Chiefs if he were around.

[Spott]

Carl is such an arrogant prick that it is getting harder and harder to root for this team. All of his "success" came because Marty was here, yet he has an ego as big as Jerry Jones's.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by kcxiv

Having alot of sacks is nice, but what we really need is pressure on the QB. We have absolutely none. Not even close. Their QB's have all day to find the receiver they want. Allen would have at least put pressure on the QB and hopefully force him into a bad throw. That shit just doesn't happen right now with our pathetic dline.

That's wishful thinking, considering he's not getting much pressure in Minnesota, with two studs helping him out by giving him the one-on-one matchup.

I've tried to watch as much of the Vikings as my schedule allows, and he looks like a completely different player.

Check the Vikes boards. He's getting barbecued.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Yep, those three sacks would be making all the difference right now.

I'm sure he hasn't gotten pressure on the QB aside from those 3 sacks.


And he doesn't play well against the run, right?
Hali wouldn't be getting sacks from a more natural position either, right?

[Sure-Oz]

Allen should be leading the league in sacks with Minnesota's DL

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Yep, those three sacks would be making all the difference right now.

Actually, those two sacks, unless we could have arranged for Cutler to run out of the back of the endzone...

If people can't see that he was just playing for a payday now...

Playing next to two of the best DT's in the league, and the best you can do for $70M is 3 goddamn sacks? And you didn't even have to touch the QB on one of them?

Carl's done a TON of stupid shit, but managing to get 3 draft picks, including a mid-first for an alcoholic with 2 strikes against him isn't on the list.

I can't argue against that except it doesn't appear they had a plan in place to replace Allen. Did they think Boone was a suitable DE? That was just stupid.