04/26/24
April 23, 2009
Tony Gonzalez now a Falcon: traded for a 2010 2nd-round pick.
posted by fadetoblack5 to football at 03:12 PM - 16 comments
...the best tight end in football history....for a second round pick...next year. Typically I take my date out for dinner, kiss her and tell her I love her before attempting to violate her. This sucks. Good luck T-Gonz, but I don't have great expectations for Atlanta this year or next.
posted by Tinman at 03:56 PM on April 23, 2009
I think I've heard similar stories before. You can easily detect the Patriots' method here, as Scott Pioli begins to pile up the draft picks. It will be a few years, but you can bet that the system will eventually pay off for Pioli in KC as it did for him and Belichick in New England.
posted by Howard_T at 04:15 PM on April 23, 2009
Well, whether or not you have high expectations for them, they definitely just got better. Also, they are a lot closer to winning it all than the Chiefs are right now, and, even though I'm crying inside, I have to wish TG good luck as well.
posted by hellapuckboy at 04:18 PM on April 23, 2009
...
posted by yerfatma at 04:47 PM on April 23, 2009
All I know is that I've received a number of excited texts from my Falcon-following friend over the last few hours. I think he probably has another year or so in the tank yet, so he'll be a big improvement over what the Falcons had there.
posted by trox at 05:13 PM on April 23, 2009
One of the most dominating running backs in the game, a good young quarterback, a really good receiver in Roddy White. I'm happy for Gonzalez. He did his time in KC, and getting out of there has to feel good, regardless of where he wound up. He's a great athlete, and had a excellent season last year. He'll help the Falcons, big-time (health permitting, of course).
posted by dyams at 05:50 PM on April 23, 2009
Oh hell yes!!!Oh hell yes!!!
posted by outonleave at 06:07 PM on April 23, 2009
Will this be in the list of greatest steals of all time? Definitely if Atlanta wins the Super Bowl while he's there! Matt Ryan gets another target to whom he can throw. It may just be a matter of time, maybe next year!
posted by jjzucal at 08:56 PM on April 23, 2009
You know, as someone who has watched TG throughout his career i find it hard to believe that is all he is worth. Surely he is still worth more than that.
At the same time, i also find it equally hard to believe that Pioli doesn't have a good reason behind this move. Maybe TG is closer to being done than we would like to believe.
So, i don't know how to take it. Either way, good luck TG.
posted by brainofdtrain at 10:31 PM on April 23, 2009
brain, my first thought about this deal was that it screams of early-season injury. I hope I'm wrong, as I have always enjoyed watching TG play. And on top of his ability on the field, he has always been a superstar off it.
posted by BoKnows at 10:42 PM on April 23, 2009
Bo,
That's definitely a possibility. That said, many great players have a year where they just lose the edge. They still want to compete, but for many their body just all of the sudden quits working as well. At that point, they never really get it back. For most backs this happens around 30, but i am not sure if this drop off is as dramatic for tight ends.
I wouldn't be surprised if Pioli just saw the writing on the wall. That said, if anybody can be a pro-bowler in their late 30's it is TG. No one at his position takes care of himself better.
Really, in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter a ton. The Chiefs aren't going anywhere for a year or two, so it is not like the deal will come back to haunt them when TG blisters KC in the Superbowl. Further, even if TG's production drops a ton at least the Chiefs have somewhat respected his wishes to send him to a contender to finish out his career. In my mind, everyone wins (except probably Cassell, assuming TG would still produce well this year).
posted by brainofdtrain at 11:57 PM on April 23, 2009
Typically I take my date out for dinner, kiss her and tell her I love her before attempting to violate her. This sucks.
Not really. This is pretty good value for someone whose upside is largely behind him. Age, in addition to the erosion of skills, also makes one more likely to get injured and to be injured for longer.
It's an opportunity for both parties (TG and KC) to get what they want at this point. TG gets a shot at the playoffs; KC gets an impact pick for the future. Good deal.
posted by dfleming at 09:24 AM on April 24, 2009
This is pretty good value for someone whose upside is largely behind him.
Agreed. I don't see this as a steal. If Gonzalez puts up his mid-career averages for 4 years, sure, but they didn't trade for the best years of "the best tight end in football history". Heck, I'll take a 7th round pick for the best running back in NFL history.
posted by yerfatma at 09:59 AM on April 24, 2009
If Pioli is stockpiling picks, his Pats experience is telling him that a second round pick is more in his comfort zone than a first rounder, so he's probably happy.
Sometimes, a second round pick to the Pats is as good as a first rounder to another team that isn't as adept at judging talent and managing their cap strategies. They can find quality players who can contribute without having to jump over the moon for them.
posted by beaverboard at 01:22 PM on April 24, 2009
You know, as someone who has watched TG throughout his career i find it hard to believe that is all he is worth. Surely he is still worth more than that.
That sounds alot like what Raiders fans said when Randy Moss was traded to the Patriots for a 4th-Round Pick.
This is pretty good value for someone whose upside is largely behind him. Age, in addition to the erosion of skills, also makes one more likely to get injured and to be injured for longer.
For someone on the downside, Gonzalez still caught 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008. I don't really see his production taking a huge dip considering it seems as if the Falcons do have a solid Quarterback running their system. I wish Tony all the best of luck with the Falcons since he has been been nothing but a class act while with the Chiefs. Any one with his type of career and with no Super Bowl rings would want to win at least one time..or at least the possibily of winning which the Chiefs haven't had in a long, long time.
posted by BornIcon at 11:37 AM on April 28, 2009
I'd love to post something about how I hope everything works out well for TG. Or that I understand wanting to leave this place for a contender. Or how lucky I feel just to have been able to watch, in person, the greatest Tight End of all time play the game.......but I'm just sick to my stomach at the thought of what I'll be watching next season.