Tony Gonzalez Is The Last Piece Of The Offensive Puzzle In Atlanta
by Dave the Falconer on Apr 24, 2009 8:00 AM EDT
in Falcons News
26 comments
Who is Tony Gonzalez?
Kansas City Chiefs fans will tell you he's a franchise icon. Members of the mainstream media will tell you he's a 10-time Pro Bowler and a future Hall of Famer. Thomas Dimitroff will tell you he's a dream come true for the Falcons:
"Every team in this league dreams of having Tony Gonzalez run out of the tunnel for them."
Gonzalez is all those things, but most importantly for our purposes, he's the missing piece of the offensive puzzle for our beloved team. With Matt Ryan throwing to him, a potent rushing attack led by Michael Turner to complement him and the incredible Roddy White drawing targets, Tony Gonzalez is free to wreak havoc. He blocks well and catches well, and we still have Ben Hartsock and Justin Peelle for when those two tight end sets to help him out. All last season we complained about being a tight end away from a juggernaut, and we've gotten our wish. Rejoice!
Of course, it's not that simple. Despite his early insistence that he'd like to play three or four more years in Atlanta, I think two is a reasonable goal. We also had to give up a second round pick next year, which could net a quality player. There's also the small matter of Gonzalez's almost obsessive drive to get himself out of Kansas City into a new uniform, and I think we've learned over our time as Falcons fans that a lack of loyalty can sting.
Really, though, those aren't going to break the deal. Gonzalez joins the pantheon of monsters in Atlanta alongside Honest Abe, Turner the Burner and Matty Snowballs. It takes a team to win in the NFL, but our gate attractions are pretty impressive for a team that was 4-12 just two years ago. If you can't get excited for Ryan throwing to Gonzalez, you're either a robot or clinically dead. Or you're a zombie robot, which is just plain awesome.
It's unreasonable to expect Gonzo's numbers to hit the 100 catches and 10 TDs he racked up last year, but something like 70 catches and 7 TDs is far from out of the question. I'm also quite fond of the idea of Gonzalez blocking in a two TE set, which could turn our line into an indestructible wall of rush allowing. Our defense could squat in a laundry hamper and drop a Najeh Davenport, but our offense is going to be legendary.
It wasn't that long ago that I was talking myself out of this trade, but deferring the payment a year makes a surprisingly big difference. With the opportunity to aggressively attack our defensive needs on Saturday, there's a good chance that the Falcons will be one of the most dynamic teams in the league next year. Maybe we won't hit 11 or 12 wins, but the promised land--those elusive back-to-back winning seasons--suddenly seem tantalizingly close. All this because we pulled the trigger on an over-30 tight end, too. What an odd world.
Weigh in like sumo wrestlers, folks.
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Weighing in.....
5’9" 250lbs – I must break you!
"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 24, 2009 8:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
less than 24 hours later
and the euphoria still hasn’t passed.
I haven’t been this excited since the Falcons made the playoffs. This is very comparable to Matt Ryan’s first professional pass. Really close to the 7 second rally to a victory against the Chicago Bears.
predicting: “Matt Ryans second first professional pass of the season. TOUCHDOWN!!!!!”
What all used to be a dream seems so much closer to a possibility. I do love this team.
How about another super successful draft from good ol’ TD to show teams that we have a surprise Defense up our sleeves now?
by MentallyMIA on Apr 24, 2009 8:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
awesom!!!!
I was at that bears game, never hugged some many random ppl in my life
by gritzblitz on Apr 24, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Loved
The Najeh Davenport reference… that will never be un-funny.
I think the “lack of loyalty” comment is really over-stating it. He knew the Chiefs were going to stink for a couple years, and he wanted to go to a contender for his last few seasons. It’s not like he pulled an LJ – sign a new huge contract, then immediately start sucking and pouting and asking for a trade…
Also, Football Outsiders had our offense ranked #8 in DVOA last season. Just a couple ticks upward and we’d be in Indianapolis and New Orleans territory. If they could pull a rabbit out of a hat to get the defense even up to average, we could really have a chance to be a serious contender the next couple years.
by orang3b on Apr 24, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rumor
I heard a rumor, from a falcon’s fan in my office, that (as a part/side deal to this one) they may trade their 1st rounder to KC for Dorsey? Has anybody else heard that?
by LittleKing on Apr 24, 2009 10:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Then why wouldn't they have done that during this trade?
There’s really no reason to wait until the draft to make another one is there?
In Dimitroff we trust
by Bonhoffer on Apr 24, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe Pioli is still shopping Dorsey for better pics.
I’d venture to guess the Falcons would be willing an 2nd or 3rd rounder plus JA for Dorsey. Wasn’t he the 8th pick taken in the first round, vs the 5th(4th maybe, it’s fuzzy) pick for Dorsey. I doubt you throw a 1st rounder with that. Also, JA would fit GREAT in their new 3-4.
"We're not maxed out, ... The best is still ahead of us."
Bobby Bowden
by NaGaNole on Apr 24, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey guy's ................
Just want to come and say good luck this season, hopefully T.G can get a Super-Bowl now! I’ve been a CHIEF’S fan for yr’s,and T.G is a great man, and a great pick-up for you’re team! Having T.G is going to make it that much easier on you’re QB, and alot harder for the d-fense’s that you play against, because he alway’s has to be accounted for!
There has been some talk in (Arrowhead Pride) about Dorsey also being traded because he doesn’t fit our scheme now, since we are switching to a 3-4 or some type of hybrid 4-3! So with S.Pioli who know’s what will happen! Wish you guy’s the best of luck!! P.S the Falcon’s just moved to 3rd on my favorite team’s list
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 24, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thank's
but why are you typing like thi’s
by dirtybirdz on Apr 24, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
come on now
retart is a little cruel. I would have at least gone with ‘retard’ – you shouldn’t talk down about yourself.
I mean CPT.Caveman at least means you are smarter than your average caveman, right?
I kid, I kid.
Seriously though, it’s nice to see a chiefs fan around her who isn’t being malicious about the trade that none of us had any control over. Thanks for stopping by so much :) Hopefully the Chiefs can pull of a mean draft class like the Falcons did last year and be surprise playoff contenders this year.
It is always fun to watch everyone talk crap about their GM just to be shut up as the season unfolds. I hope you all get that opportunity. It was great for us last season.
by MentallyMIA on Apr 25, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still love it
Yea I am still in love with this deal. The other angle I can’t help but think about is the Randy Moss/Patriots kind of angle, because I think Gonzo certainly has good football left in him and this could really reenergize him and we could get a Moss-like breakout from him (obviously not to that extent, but at least a rejuvenated Gonzo).
by BVaz on Apr 24, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
T.G
Doesn’t need any rejuvenation at all look at his stats!
REC = 96
YRD’S = 1058
TD = 10
That’s top of the line boy’s no if, an’s, or but’s! When it come’s to making a clutch play he the man!
by CPT.Caveman on Apr 24, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey guys
I’m glad to see that most everyone here appreciates what a great player they got. If you thought Ryan looked good last year…
Hopefully you’ll get some defensive upgrades this weekend. If so, I think you’ll be a force. Good luck!
by ChiefsDude on Apr 24, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dave,
your humor CRACKS MY SHIT UP. For real.
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
by tapate50 on Apr 24, 2009 10:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes,
Shaz, poopy, doo, excrement. Whatev.
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
by tapate50 on Apr 24, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I kid
We’re doing away with the rules this weekend. There’s just too much excitement.
by Dave the Falconer on Apr 24, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matty Snowballs?
I laughed so hard that my boss asked me what was funny.
“Oh… uh… this report i’m pulling… funny name on it… yea thats it…”
Thanks.
If my mother put on a helmet and shoulder pads and a uniform that wasn't the same as the one I was wearing, I'd run over her if she was in my way. And I love my mother.
-Bo Jackson
by Pregame with Pabst on Apr 24, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Eerily similar to me...
how this trade resembles a move the Baltimore Ravens made in the offseason before the 2000 season. They signed free agent tight-end Shannon Sharpe, another future Hall of Famer. How’d that 2000 season turn out? Super Bowl champions. The differences? Ravens had a far superior defense than the Falcons do now. But Sharpe was their biggest offensive weapon, and Gonzalez merely augments an already potent offense.
All of a sudden, the Falcons become more and more relevant in the league. Watch Dimitroff accumulate more pieces to the defense this weekend. Watch the rest of our division start to crouch, hyperventilate and crumble.
by italianice85 on Apr 24, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Let's compare and think
Originally the Chiefs wanted a 2nd rounder and a 5th rounder. Instead they got a 2nd rounder in NEXT year’s draft? Wow. Very Impressive TD. Think about that for a second we have all major offensive weapons this season. TE 2 WR 2 RB’s. We have argueably the greatest Tight End of all Time. (With respect to Mackey, Sharpe, and Ditka). We didn’t get him for a first rounder (which to me is very big). We can now completely focus on defense (our biggest hole this season). Plus because we lost Foxworth, Boley, Brooking, and possibly Grady Jackson we get compensatory picks because we lost them through free agency.
So add up next years draft. We lost four names which is probably equivalent to a 3rd round pick in next years draft. We can trade up to get a 2nd rounder.
On top of all that, KC really doesn’t have offensive weapons outside of Bowe and Johnson (Johnson is a huge stretch by the way)
So figure it out. Norwood, Burner, White, Jenkins, Douglas, and Gonzalez. On top of all that we still have draft picks
by SquallCloud on Apr 24, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
All lead by Matty Snowballs...
"We're not maxed out, ... The best is still ahead of us."
Bobby Bowden
by NaGaNole on Apr 24, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now i can' wait!
we are going to destroy the NFC South. how could we not? Our defense is going to be significantly upgraded since we don’t have to pick ofense in the first couple of rounds. with Gonzo playing for us we can reduce the # of carries turner will have this year by about 50 or so (which is a good thing. running backs don’t last long when they get 400 carries a year.)
Now I’m going to sit back and watch the draft tomorrow and wait for madden 10 so i can start woppin some @$$!
by TheFranchiseis#2 on Apr 24, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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