Gonzalez plans return to Chiefs unless he hears the R word (rebuild)

[royr17]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/961410.html

Gonzalez plans return to Chiefs unless he hears the R word (rebuild)

By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Tony Gonzalez will soon make his annual postseason trip to Hawaii to play in the Pro Bowl. Upon his return, he should have a better idea about which direction the Chiefs are headed.

By then, the Chiefs will likely have a new general manager and a decision on whether coach Herm Edwards will be retained.

At that point, Gonzalez will decide whether he will again ask for a trade.

“As far as I know, I’ll be a Chief next year,” Gonzalez said. “Depending on what Clark (Hunt) wants to do, if he wants to blow this whole thing up and bring in a new coaching staff and bring in a new coordinator with that and bring in a new quarterback in the draft, that all weighs into whether or not I want to be a Chief next year.

“As far as I’m concerned, as a veteran on this team going into my 13th year next year, the last thing I want to hear is ‘rebuild.’ I’m not into it. If they come in here and they want to blow it all up, I’ll be frustrated and I’ll be a little (ticked) off.

“There are some really good coaches on this staff. I want Herm back, I want (offensive coordinator Chan Gailey) back. I want my position coach, Jon Embree, back. These guys are going to take us in the direction we want to go.”

Gonzalez indicated he would play only one more season, at least if he stays with the Chiefs. In that case, it might benefit the Chiefs to at least listen to trade offers for Gonzalez, though those offers might not be overwhelming given that Gonzalez is nearing the end of his career.

“In reality, it’s just like this year,” he said. “If they don’t want to let me go, they don’t have to let me go and I’d have to deal with it. I’d still come back and play hard. But there’s only one year left in that. If they want to get something for me, that’s when I would say, ‘Why don’t you get something for me?’

“I’m just being honest. I’m just talking candidly here. No matter what happens, I’ll try to make it work for the best. Whatever team I’m on — hopefully it’s this team — we can build something special.”

Even at 32 and while playing for a 2-14 team, Gonzalez had one of his best seasons. That seemed improbable early in the year when the Chiefs continually shuffled their quarterbacks.

His season turned around when Tyler Thigpen took over for good at quarterback. That’s one reason Gonzalez would prefer to see the Chiefs stay with Thigpen, at least if they continue in the spread offensive formation.

“I think Tyler is the guy, especially for this offense,” Gonzalez said. “If they want to keep this offense in place, why would you need to go out there and get another quarterback? He’s perfect for this offense. If you want to go out there and get a dropback quarterback, then maybe you might want to get another quarterback.

“Tyler’s proven himself. He’s come out of nowhere and shown he can be an elite quarterback in this league. People need to keep in mind that it was his first year starting. He came into this season just hoping to be the third-string quarterback and now he’s pressed into the starting spotlight. I think he handled it well.

“If he gets a whole offseason and gets the (practices) and the whole camp and gets his confidence going that he’s going to be the guy, then I think he can be a pretty good quarterback in this league for a long time.”

Gonzalez and outgoing president/general manager Carl Peterson said their goodbyes after the Chiefs returned from Cincinnati Sunday night when they bumped into each other while having dinner at the Capital Grille on the Plaza.

Gonzalez was upset with Peterson for a time after the Chiefs failed to trade Gonzalez in October.

“Our relationship has healed,” Gonzalez said. “We were frustrated but I’m not going to hold a grudge forever. Whatever he does, I’m sure he’ll be successful. Twenty years as a general manager of an NFL team, that’s unheard of, especially nowadays. He should be proud of that. He had some real good football teams.”

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Rausch

No, Tony knows he has 2 or 3 more years at the most and Thiggy's pass-first offense pads his stats.

He has no hope for a SB in KC and no hope of getting out.

So what do you think motivates him?...

I believe that was pretty much implied

[DeezNutz]

Hey Tony, you're a great player and a lot of fun to watch.

Now shut the **** up and call Oprah and see if there's anything she wants you to do.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Claythan

As much as it pains me to say it, I'm beginning to think that Tony is part of the problem, not the solution.

You don't need a great tight end on a championship team. It's a crutch for teams that are weak in other, more important areas.

How many great TEs are in the playoffs right now?

The top 4 teams in the NFL don't have a TE worth much. Scaife is probably the best one out of the group.

Gates is the best TE in the playoffs on an 8-8 team.
Anthony Fasano, Todd Heap, Vishante Schiancoe are the best of the rest.

You can easily win without a TE.

I love Tony, but if he wants to be the GM, he should hang up his pads and get in line.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

He stayed with the Chiefs for 2 reasons:

1) They paid him handsomely
2) He was ALWAYS the focal point of the passing game.

Don't get me wrong, I love Gonzo, but right now the one thing that makes him different than Rickey Watters is that he knows when to S.T.F.U. and play...

[chief52]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

How many great TEs are in the playoffs right now?

The top 4 teams in the NFL don't have a TE worth much. Scaife is probably the best one out of the group.

Gates is the best TE in the playoffs on an 8-8 team.
Anthony Fasano, Todd Heap, Vishante Schiancoe are the best of the rest.

You can easily win without a TE.

I love Tony, but if he wants to be the GM, he should hang up his pads and get in line.

The Chiefs do not exactly use Tony like a "normal" tight end.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by chief52

The Chiefs do not exactly use Tony like a "normal" tight end.

They use him like a pass catching TE. You don't need one of those to dominate in the NFL like you did in the early 90s when the 49ers had Brent Jones, and the Cowboys had Novechek.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by chief52

The Chiefs do not exactly use Tony like a "normal" tight end.

He still isn't used like a true wide receiver if that's what you're trying to say.

His longest catch this year was only 35 yards.

It's also probably not a coincidence that Tony's best years have come when the Chiefs were at their worst.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by chief52

The Chiefs do not exactly use Tony like a "normal" tight end.

whale's vagina doesn't use gates like a "normal" tight end.

[DeezNutz]

If Tony had been traded midseason, it would have been interesting to have seen the effect on Thigpen. My guess is that his play would have been much more similar to what it looked like in the Atl. game.

This would have killed all the bullshit uber-Thigpen love on the board.

Yet another reason Carl (still) needs to be kicked in the man sack.

[chief52]

Originally Posted by chief52

The Chiefs do not exactly use Tony like a "normal" tight end.

The above is exactly what I was trying to say.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

"I have nothing new to add, and Clark isn't telling me shit, so I'll rehash the same old bullshit." /CP FOR NEXT 2 WEEKS/

FYP...

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by chief52

The above is exactly what I was trying to say.

you mean, like you typed it? wow. I thought you meant that we use him as a 'normal' tight end.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

They use him like a pass catching TE. You don't need one of those to dominate in the NFL like you did in the early 90s when the 49ers had Brent Jones, and the Cowboys had Novechek.

True, but this assumes the team has above average receivers, which the Chiefs have not had and still do not have.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Rausch

FYP...

Indeed.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

They use him like a pass catching TE. You don't need one of those to dominate in the NFL like you did in the early 90s when the 49ers had Brent Jones, and the Cowboys had Novechek.

I'd argue that.

Of course I'd also argue that making said spot your primary playmaker on offense is a $#it idea.

I'd argue for QB/WR/TE/HB in that order...