Chiefs sign Gonzalez to extension

[broadwayjoe]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/01/12/bc.fbn.chiefsgonzalez.ap/index.html

Good move by the Chiefs Tony Gonzalez has been the passing game for years.

 

[unoriginal]

And with that Daniel Graham goes to the top of the free agent TE list.

Gonzalez, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, turned 30 this season and was an unrestricted free agent who said he would take a chance to get to the Super Bowl over extra money.

Is he stupid? He thinks playing another five years for Carl and Herm will get him to the Super Bowl?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

And with that Daniel Graham goes to the top of the free agent TE list.



Is he stupid? He thinks playing another five years for Carl and Herm will get him to the Super Bowl?

He's talking positive knowing this is it, and unless he's cut, any move away from KC kills the commercial opportunities a career in KC created. Give him a break, the guy can only hope since he doesn't get to pick the HC and GM. I feel sad for his Super Bowl hopes, but I'd be pretty comfortable with the dollars he'll be worth in that advertising market.

 

[unoriginal]

The commercial opportunities available in the Kansas Cities can't possibly be something to mortgage a Super Bowl for. Gonzalez could have gone absolutely anywhere else not named Jacksonville and gotten more media exposure. And if money really was the issue Daniel Synder and Joe Gibbs in particular would have thrown preposterous sums of money at him in free agency. If he wanted to go somewhere to win a Super Bowl, why not Chicago? You can still find people wearing Jim McMahon jerseys there. Gonzalez wins a Super Bowl in Chicago and he'd never have to pay for anything less expensive than his federal taxes ever again.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

The commercial opportunities available in the Kansas Cities can't possibly be something to mortgage a Super Bowl for. Gonzalez could have gone absolutely anywhere else not named Jacksonville and gotten more media exposure. And if money really was the issue Daniel Synder and Joe Gibbs in particular would have thrown preposterous sums of money at him in free agency. If he wanted to go somewhere to win a Super Bowl, why not Chicago? You can still find people wearing Jim McMahon jerseys there. Gonzalez wins a Super Bowl in Chicago and he'd never have to pay for anything less expensive than his federal taxes ever again.

Lets not get too provincial here, we respect the Bruschis and Browns who make New England their home, Tony gets respect from me for that. He may delude himself with Herm & Carl, who knows how clearly he sees that picture? Going to Chicago for a Superbowl shot would put him in the Vinatieri class, if Herm were to cut him and he was picked up by Chicago, that would be forgiven, we Pats' fans know how we'd vote in those situations. Good luck Tony, whup them donkeys good.

 

[The Dude]

Why so critical? Tony is LOYAL to his team. They made the playoffs last year and with some defensive tweaking and a nice dose of Huard instead of Green I see them being a playoff team next year.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Gosh Tony, I almost forgot - whup them Bolts and Faiders too!

 

[DougGabriel2007]

Surprised nobody mentioned this but I'm sure Tony and his agent were well aware. The franchise tag for a TE is very low (around 4mill) and the Chiefs wouldve had no problem slapping him with it, then he would've possibly had to holdout and its doubtful anyones giving a 1st round pick for a 30 year old TE....

So he pretty much avoided an offseason of uncertainty and possibly longer by just signing the deal....

 

[unoriginal]

Lets not get too provincial here, we respect the Bruschis and Browns who make New England their home, Tony gets respect from me for that. He may delude himself with Herm & Carl, who knows how clearly he sees that picture? Going to Chicago for a Superbowl shot would put him in the Vinatieri class, if Herm were to cut him and he was picked up by Chicago, that would be forgiven, we Pats' fans know how we'd vote in those situations. Good luck Tony, whup them donkeys good.

I have no problem seeing a UFA go somewhere for a shot at winning a Super Bowl. Adam Vinatieri already WON Super Bowls. He did not go anywhere for his chance, he went for $$$ and his stats. That's a little less romantic but I still won't fault him for that, he did too much good in New England.

Why so critical? Tony is LOYAL to his team. They made the playoffs last year and with some defensive tweaking and a nice dose of Huard instead of Green I see them being a playoff team next year.

I see that team on the decline. The Broncos gave up the ghost this year to let the Chiefs into the playoffs and you could make the same argument for them... "with a full dose of Cutler instead of Plummer..." and Tennessee "with a full year of Young..." which IMHO are teams with a better defensive foundation than the Chiefs. Those are some piss-poor defensive tackles and cornerbacks, and the second group is aging terribly, and both are difficult to fix, especially both at once. We'll also see how LJ bounces back from his death march of a season. He should do okay since he hasn't had many carries in his career to this point, but another year of Edwards shoveling him the ball and he'll be running on all fours.

Surprised nobody mentioned this but I'm sure Tony and his agent were well aware. The franchise tag for a TE is very low (around 4mill) and the Chiefs wouldve had no problem slapping him with it, then he would've possibly had to holdout and its doubtful anyones giving a 1st round pick for a 30 year old TE....

So he pretty much avoided an offseason of uncertainty and possibly longer by just signing the deal....

The franchise tag for TE's, according to this recent article in the Kansas City Star about Gonzalez, is between 7.8 and 11 million, I imagine depending on whether we're talking non-exclusive or exclusive rights. Still, I guess you're basically right that Kansas got him with the tag threat. IMHO if he was serious about his Super Bowl comment, and had a free hand, he would be in Chicago, Seattle, or Philadelphia by March.

 

[IcyPatriot]

$17 Million Guaranteed $$$$$$$$$$

 

[SeanBruschi54]

He'll retire a Chief. Thats good to see. I hate seeing big name players that put so much into the team you associate that person with their organization just one day leave and play for someone else.

I love Seau but its still awkward seeing him out of the Charger uniform.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The franchise tag for TE's, according to this recent article in the Kansas City Star about Gonzalez, is between 7.8 and 11 million, I imagine depending on whether we're talking non-exclusive or exclusive rights. Still, I guess you're basically right that Kansas got him with the tag threat. IMHO if he was serious about his Super Bowl comment, and had a free hand, he would be in Chicago, Seattle, or Philadelphia by March.

The franchise for Tony Gonzalez is different from the franchise for genericTE's because he has apparently been the highest paid TE for some time and was likely a huge cap hit in backloaded salary plus amortized bonus for 2006 in the final year of his 2002 deal. So for him the tag would be 120% of what he made last year. And as was the case with Edge in 2005 there can be incentives due that are added on top of the tag figure.