Report: Tony Gonzalez Offer Rejected By Chiefs
by Dave the Falconer on Apr 14, 2009 8:00 AM EDT
in Falcons News
36 comments
That's the word from our friends over at Arrowhead Pride, who picked up a report that the Kansas City Chiefs rejected the Falcons' second round pick for Tony Gonzalez.
Your first reaction might be something to the effect of "Scott Pioli is completely insane," but if this particular rumor is true, I think it says more about the way Pioli is attempting to mold his new team's identity. Teams that have no choice of contending trade away legendary veterans. Whether or not you believe the Chiefs are in a position to compete for the division title, you have to admire a team for not being willing to throw in the towel before the season even starts. It certainly worked out pretty well for us last year.
If the team can't get Gonzalez for a second, though, I think it's time to break off discussions. Y'all know I would rather we spent the second round pick on a young defensive player anyways, and if it's going to take more than that to get Gonzalez, I don't think it's a smart move for the future. With the strength of our schedule this year, I'm not going to be the guy who takes a winning season for granted, and it seems in our best interest to shore up the defense. You know, like now.
In my mind, building through the draft is almost always preferable to trading picks or throwing gobs of money at free agents. The best approach combines pieces of each, but when a team has as many holes as the Falcons, you're better off trying to plug them with six fingers than two. Or whatever analogy makes more sense than the one I'm trying to come up with at 2 a.m.
Leave your (civil) thoughts in the comments. At least we've got something breaking to talk about, right?
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I understand Tony's role in the lockerroom
and his ability to lead by example. He’s the face of the franchise to them. But doesn’t he want out? If he does and you hold onto him, that isn’t much of an example to set. The Chiefs are overvaluing him because of the nostalgia effect and I agree, not worth more than a 2nd round pick. Tony will be upset to hear this news I’m sure.
SuperStar Fred McGriff gives this post his "full endorsahment"!
by Molly Flogger on Apr 14, 2009 8:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yep
This was the one TE I wouldn’t have had a problem with them going after. At least to a certain degree. I agree with you for the most part on the round 2 pick, but maybe they can go back at them with a little something extra…? What I wouldnt know, but hopefully not much. Lord knows we need defense more, but Gonzalez would be a nice addition to the roster.
Do you get a check from the Falcons by the way? You are sounding more and more like you work for them. LOL!!!
Life is a garden. Dig it!
by Hardcore Falcon on Apr 14, 2009 8:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The story @ Arrowhead Pride
Mentions the asking price last year was a 2nd and a 5th. Apparently, that’s still the price… No thanks.
by orang3b on Apr 14, 2009 8:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well
Nothing has been confirmed but last year around the trading deadline the rumor went that the asking price was a 3rd and the Eagles offered that but then Carl Peterson (our previous GM, thank God) quickly changed it to a 2nd and a 5th (which in reality is very, very high for a player even of Tony’s caliber that might have 2 seasons left).
After Tony heard that, he accused Peterson of not being serious about trading him.
I would be very happy either way this turned out…if the Falcons got him for a 2nd, great. If the Chiefs keep TG, just as great.
by Joel Thorman on Apr 14, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for coming by, primetime
I’m hopeful you guys either keep him or some team with a desperate need pays the 2nd and 5th round price.
by Dave the Falconer on Apr 14, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im sure a Chiefs fan
will come in a chime in with a Atlanta slander of how dumb and gay we are for not offering more. Nonetheless, we have WAY too many holes to fill to be throwing away 2 picks on a TE.
I maintain that you could argueably get more value out of the 2nd round pick if he stays with us for 4-8 years as compared with TGs 2 years. Just a thought.
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
by tapate50 on Apr 14, 2009 8:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nah
Most Chiefs fans are emotionally tied to Gonzalez and over-inflate his value. I’m sure the Falcons feel the same way about some players in their history (minus the slander/dumb part).
by Joel Thorman on Apr 14, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am off the mindset
That a number two pick for him was stretching it but to add another pick in the draft, on top of the second, is just too much. He would have been a definite offensive upgrade but as so many have stated here: We need defensive players.
by dwaltlhi on Apr 14, 2009 9:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hardly a losing situation
Had the Chiefs pulled the trigger, we would have gotten a productive Tight End in the offense. Now, we still have the second pick and can plug more holes on defense (or if we take Pettigrew in round one, fill the TE spot with a productive player for years).
We could be in a MUCH worse situation.
by LetsGoFalcons on Apr 14, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree we could be
I just would prefer we keep the pick.
by Dave the Falconer on Apr 14, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
JUST DRAFT A TE
wouldnt it make more sense to draft a TE with the first or second pick instead of sending two picks to the cheifs? i know hes a seasoned vet but hes old…i personally think atl should draft nothing but mean ugly defensive players that are all or most capable of starting come season opener. our offense if it stays anywhere near what it was last season will be ok cept for maybe an OL or two and what they were able to do with the guys they had from a year before im not so sure they couldnt get an undrafted free agent to fill some back up roles on the O line with the improvements they made in just one year.
by atlfan30605 on Apr 14, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i personally think atl should draft nothing but mean ugly defensive players that are all or most capable of starting come season opener.
If TD could pull that off, it’d be epic. To be fair, that might not be the most realistic expectation though.
Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?
Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.
by FrankyWren on Apr 14, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats crazy!!!!!!!!! Cant beleive the Cheifs would say no to 2 pick for TG… But thats fine we can keep our picks and fill more holes like you guys have said.. I like TG and i think hes great but in all honesty he is old and is production will decline as the years go by…
by MTB33 on Apr 14, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Faith In Der Comrade
I was watching NFL Total Access last night and one of the “4 downs” question was “If the Falcons get Tony G, are they Super Bowl contenders”. I forgot who said it, but one of them simply replied “Since when do TE’s win championships?”
Yes, Tony G is a badass TE, but he is still a TE. I think that Pioli seems to have a Madden game-ish view of his value. Being the best tight end in the league is kind of like saying you are the worlds tallest midget. Alright, so maybe not that bad, but we have to put in into perspective here. He is an aging TE that could bring some value to us, but it’s not like our season will be made/blown because of him.
In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.
by runningback on Apr 14, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LMAO
Being the best tight end in the league is kind of like saying you are the worlds tallest midget.
But shouldn’t it be “Das Comrade”? My Russian is rusty (read: nonexistent) …
Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?
Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.
by FrankyWren on Apr 14, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Russian doesn't have articles
It should just be “Comrade”
Der/Das is German
by MostlyCorndog on Apr 14, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's all greek to me
In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.
by runningback on Apr 17, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bah!
I don’t think the Chiefs are even particularly concerned w/ keeping Tony. It more seems like they want to drive up the price, and that makes sense (given how quickly we threw a 2nd round pick at them).
Dear Mr. Pioli:
Keep Tony! Oh, and good luck staying away from the bottom of the league again next year.
Best Regards,
FrankyWren
Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?
Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.
by FrankyWren on Apr 14, 2009 1:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Now I'm worried...
If TD was really considering TG, then maybe Pettigrew will be in red and black next Saturday…
"We're not maxed out, ... The best is still ahead of us."
Bobby Bowden
by NaGaNole on Apr 14, 2009 2:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Defense starters
i was being sarcastic but i really think defense should be our priority.
by atlfan30605 on Apr 14, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Defense has to be the priority
Even assuming our best wishes come true and both Trey Lewis and Thomas DeCoud prove to be capable starters, we still have holes that need to be filled immediately.
by Dave the Falconer on Apr 14, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank the Lord
What can we really expect from Tony at this point in his career? Sure we weren’t productive last year at that position but a second round pick for him? What did the Jets give up just for Brett Favre, arguably the best player at his positiong? A conditional 4th round pick. Look the market looks at draft picks like Gold. We’re guaranteed at least two conditional draft picks for next years draft for losing three players. Why gain TG when not dealing for him is better for our future? We’re committed to six years with Ryan and Burner so we know for sure that we are not in a win now scenario. Gaining TG puts a sign of desperation on us. We play the Patriots, Bears, and the Cowboys with in three to four weeks between each other. Myself and everybody here would agree with me that we simply must focus on defense first.
Has anyone looked at our schedule yet by the way? http://www.nfl.com/schedules/release
The last six weeks we’ll be grinding but, I personally love what it looks like. Panthers can’t trust their quarterback, Bucs don’t have one, We have to play TO and the Bills Week 16 (Which means guard TO because he will want the ball). Honestly I think our record this year will be either 10-6 or 9-7. I would like for us to make the playoff’s but the first 6 weeks are brutal.
What are your thoughts?
by SquallCloud on Apr 14, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Do you think?
That because of the schedule release that TD and Mike Smith now are going to look at their draft plans and think a little differently?
by SquallCloud on Apr 14, 2009 8:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not sure it'll change their thoughts a whole lot.
The schedule is brutal in some points but there’s really nothing they can do about it. Player availability is probably the only thing that is changing their minds about the draft plans. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve covered strategy ad nauseum and are just dying for the thing to actually get here.
I’ll go on record and say that I think we’re going to really surprise everyone this year, again. And that’s saying a lot for a team that pulled a ridiculous turnaround like we did. For all that we “lost”, I am quietly excited about the possibility of addition by subtraction. We want to get caught up in what we’ve lost and what we’re going to get in this draft, but we’ve got some young guys who might be able to contribute in a big way. Plus we’ve obviously got continuity on the coaching staff which did a pretty phenomenal job of getting some guys that we’re supposed to go 1-15 (how’d that work out for you sporting news) to go 11-5.
Anyway, I’d go more with your 10-6 number, but I’ll go even crazier and say we win 11 games again next year. No I haven’t been drinking, just in a lucid interval of Falcons homerism.
by LetsGoFalcons on Apr 14, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I Agree that we are a pretty good team however
The addition to the other teams can be a little much. The Patriots are just as dangerous and we have a hard time beating any of the NFC South teams on the Road so lets count that as four Dallas will want to flaunt themselves but, I think they are not as good as a team so I’ll take that win. Chicago will be a surprise to us since we nearly lost to them when they had Orton now they have Cutler. So lets say thats another loss thats 5. We never beat the Eagles lol. The Giants are better than the Eagles. Thats where I see the seven. However it only matters who shows up to play on that Sunday. I plan on being very wrong this season.
by SquallCloud on Apr 14, 2009 9:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I plan on you being wrong as well ...
Patriots: I have a feeling Brady won’t simply “hop back on the horse,” so to speak
NFC South Teams (on the road): Yes, we had trouble winning away games against NFC south teams last fall, but I see us winning at least one (if not two) of those games.
Chicago: Cutler has an arm, but his whiny attitude won’t fly in Chi-Two, and they still don’t have anyone to protect him/throw to. Oh, and their defense isn’t getting any younger/better.
Eagles: McNabb is due for one of his “down years.” Add the loss of LJ … OH SNAP!
Giants: Color me unimpressed.
Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?
Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.
by FrankyWren on Apr 14, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unimpressed??
The team that beat the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl? The team that stormed out to a 11-1 start last year (and only fell apart after Plax shot himself)? The team that is apparently about to pull off a trade for Braylon Edwards (to fix the Plax problem)?
I think I’d have to disagree. I think the Giants are still firmly established at/near the top of the NFC.
by orang3b on Apr 15, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree to disagree ...
Braylon Edwards isn’t going to fix much of anything IMO. That is assuming it happens in the first place. Mr. 5 Hour Energy wants 10 million a year, and the Browns want a 1st and 3rd rounder. Moreover, their secondary is weak sauce, a weakness we should be able to exploit (assuming Clabo, Clabo’s replacement [wishful thinking], and/or Baker can keep their DEs occupied). Yes, they won the SB two years ago, but they were one Asante Samuel interception away from a big L.
Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?
Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.
by FrankyWren on Apr 15, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The NFC South Teams of Last Year
Are not the ones of this year. Tampa Bay has no quarterback, if Carolina trades Julius Peppers, they’ll hurt on it. New Orleans seems pretty good on paper only because their offense is nasty, but they need to find an every down running back.
I really think we’ll take a couple on the road from these teams. That’ll put you at 5.
by LetsGoFalcons on Apr 14, 2009 9:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
haha
The Bucs signed Leftwhich, so that’s a two wins right there.
"If Woody were Captain of the Titanic, he'd argue the boat sinking speaks to how effectively they put rich people in life boats and lock the poor folks below."
-jrauch commenting at Hoopinion on Woody's (non)logic in his post-game comments
by Jesse28 on Apr 15, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know
I think the Falcons could have a rough go this year. I am hoping that will not happen but we have a pretty brutal schedule.
by dwaltlhi on Apr 15, 2009 10:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Let us not forget...
Matt Ryan is going to be MUCH better this year. After spending one full your in Mularkey’s system, I think you’ll see the play book open up. I also wouldn’t be suprised to see us use no huddle more often. Ryan seems to thrive with a hurry up off.
"We're not maxed out, ... The best is still ahead of us."
Bobby Bowden
by NaGaNole on Apr 15, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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