Thank you LORD.

Comment by Arkansas Chief Fan — October 14, 2008 @ 4:14 pm

I love the Chiefs, but Poor Tony…. He deserves a shot at a championship—or even a playoff win. Carl really screwed him on this one.

Comment by Carl P. Needs to die — October 14, 2008 @ 4:28 pm

What’s upsetting is that he wanted to be traded. If he wants to leave I wish the deal would have got done. If a player doesn’t want to play for the Chiefs, then I don’t want that player playing for the Chiefs.

Comment by Chief Tom — October 14, 2008 @ 4:41 pm

He will be gone by the begining of next year, if he wants out he’ll find a way to make it happen.

Comment by KC111110 — October 14, 2008 @ 4:45 pm

Tony got screwed plain and simple

Comment by kcchiefs19692003 — October 14, 2008 @ 4:51 pm

I really think Gonzo will retire after this year, if he sees himself wearing red and gold next year or if the Chiefs have no chance at the postseason. It sux to say it but I’m sure it’ll happen.

Comment by bryan — October 14, 2008 @ 5:00 pm

Nap Harris is gone. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

Comment by J-Rock in Texas — October 14, 2008 @ 5:54 pm

I think Tony will be traded during next years draft when teams dont get a player they need. The stakes will be a lot higher for players then so we should get a higher pick than teams were offering.

Comment by J-Rock in Texas — October 14, 2008 @ 5:55 pm

interesting article from espn.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs rookie tight end Brad Cottam couldn’t see a difference in his teammate, starting tight end Tony Gonzalez, during practice Monday. Gonzalez still hustled through drills as he normally does. He still worked on his routes meticulously and caught every ball thrown his way. What he didn’t do was give his teammates a reason to think this might be his last day with them. “It was just like nothing had happened,” Cottam said later.

The reality is that something extremely big had happened over the weekend and it will play a major role in how the first season of the Chiefs’ rebuilding process is defined. After 12 years in Kansas City — the most recent of which has featured a painful 1-4 start — Gonzalez asked the team to trade him to a contender. It was his first public admission that he wanted no part of a franchise that might be lucky to win three or four games this season. It also was the first major test for a Chiefs team hoping to create faith for its future.

The problem here is apparent. Gonzalez is the face of the Chiefs franchise, a nine-time Pro Bowler who holds every major NFL receiving record for tight ends and also happened to be unavailable for comment Monday. If he’s not dealt before Tuesday’s NFL trading deadline (4 p.m. ET), then you have to wonder how that plays in a locker room filled with players coping with a difficult season.

“We’re tough-skinned people in here,” said Chiefs guard Brian Waters. “We realize Tony Gonzalez is a great player and if he’s still here, we’re going to need him. But the idea that there will be some resentment in here is something that is brought up by [the media]. This is a business and we all understand that.”

As much as the NFL is a business, it’s impossible to think the Chiefs weren’t rocked when news of Gonzalez’s demands and the team’s willingness to deal him broke Saturday night. The Chiefs need to find as many positives as they can in the face of their weekly struggles and Gonzalez is one of the few players on that roster who can be a difference-maker on game days. If he’s gone — and Cottam moves into a starting role — the offense will take another step back in a season in which there hasn’t been much to smile about in the first place.

But let’s also be honest here: Gonzalez was dropping more clues about his unhappiness than you’d probably find in an episode of “CSI.” The most glaring indication came in a 33-19 win over Denver on Sept. 28, when he was closing in on the league’s record for receiving yards by a tight end. Gonzalez was so aware of the mark late in that game that he begged coach Herm Edwards and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey to get him the three yards necessary to break the record in front of his home fans. When that didn’t happen, Gonzalez openly pouted and complained about a decision that came in Kansas City’s only victory this season.

That moment said plenty about how Gonzalez was approaching this season. He may have wanted to help his younger teammates go through their growing pains, but he also wanted his individual rewards as well. By the time Carolina pummeled the Chiefs in a 34-0 beatdown a week later, Gonzalez was reaching the point of no return. He called that defeat the worst loss of his career, and his comments carried the scent of a player who had swallowed his frustration for far too long.

But this situation is not something that can be remedied easily. As accomplished as Gonzalez is, there is no guarantee that he’ll find another employer by the end of Tuesday. He has three years left on a contract extension he signed in 2007 and he’s also 32 years old, which are all major factors for any potential suitor to consider for a player who has reportedly been shopped for a second- or third-round pick. There’s also the fact that most of the contenders — aside from teams such as Tampa Bay, Buffalo and the New York Giants — already have legitimate talents playing tight end.

In other words, it’s quite possible that Gonzalez will remain in Kansas City this year. If that is the case, he’ll have to eventually explain why his patience dissolved so quickly after he publicly claimed he was willing to accept the Chiefs’ rebuilding process.

“He’s been here for 10 years and I’m only a rookie so I’m not in a position to judge,” Cottam said. “But you can look at the kind of guy he is and know he’s not going to do anything to mess up this team.”

That much is worth believing. Though Gonzalez is unhappy, he has too much pride to not give his best for the Chiefs. He’s also way too concerned about his image, which is one reason why he put a happy face on his frustration for as long as he did. The idea that he’ll become as combustible as Chiefs running back Larry Johnson just doesn’t fit the classy reputation Gonzalez has carved out during his career.

What Gonzalez probably will have to do is swallow the idea that his chances of playing for a contender are dwindling a little more. That, by the way, isn’t as sad a situation as it sounds. While it has become trendy to talk about how certain star players deserve the chance to play for a championship, that isn’t a privilege that comes with life in the NFL. The Chiefs have paid Gonzalez handsomely for his services and he has given them their money’s worth. Anything that comes after that is gravy.

So we’ll see how this plays out in the next few hours. As Chiefs offensive tackle Damion McIntosh said, “If Tony’s not here, we’re losing a leader, the face of the organization and a big part of our offense.”

On the other hand, if Gonzalez is there, the Chiefs face a different kind of challenge. They have to find a way to believe in a future that one of their most prominent players just openly questioned via his recent actions.

Senior writer Jeffri Chadiha covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

Comment by dennis — October 14, 2008 @ 6:43 pm

I just don’t understand why you do it in the middle of a season. Why do you say you want out when you KNEW at the begining of the season that it was goin to be bad. I just hate that it came so soon after he broke the record. I can understand him being pissed that he didn’t get to do it against Sharp’s old team at home, but why do you want out now that you have the record? I guess I am to blind to belive that it does happen and frankly I am sick of it. From all over the league. If you don’t think that you would not want to finish the season, for any reason, then DON’T START THE DAMN SEASON.

Comment by general zyker — October 14, 2008 @ 7:04 pm

I honestly think teams were lowballing KC to desperately trade Tony G. I give Carl Peterson some credit for not getting rid of him for nothing. I’m sure at the end of the year, if Tony isn’t traded then, he could possibly retire. But then again, Tony still has a few years left I think, I don’t see him retiring for at least 2 more years.

Comment by Marques — October 14, 2008 @ 9:06 pm

listen to all u fuckers now…hahaha…u all make me laugh

Comment by Nick — October 14, 2008 @ 9:30 pm

We need to deal Tony in the off-season. He deserves an opportunity to play for a contender. As long as King Carl is around, this franchise is going nowhere and he knows that. Our biggest obstacle? Getting rid of Domestic Assault Larry’s contract. What an embarrassment.

Comment by Big Booms — October 14, 2008 @ 9:56 pm

Hey Big Booms, what we need to do is GET RID OF THE DOMESTIC ASSULT GUY IN THE FIRST PLACE!

If Carl Peterson had spent half as much time on LJ’s contract whoe’s as he did ripping Jared Allen in the media, LJ would be gone today and maybe Allen would still be a Chief!

I understood Carl Peterson and the Chiefs stance on the Allen contract deal, but, lets face it, they are treating LJ in a whole different way because of two things, one because of offense vs. defense, second is because LJ has yet to be suspended, and thirdly, and I may get B.B.Q’d for saying this, but, it is the whole race card issue that the Chiefs need to be careful of…I am not saying that because he is African American that makes him a bad guy, because there are plenty of lazy no good scum white people out there too!

All that being said, it is time for the Chiefs to move LJ, if Jared Allen was so bad that he had to have some conditional clauses put into his contract in order to stay a Kansas City Chief, then why shouldn’t LJ? Don’t give me that B.S. about offense selling tickets either, because it sure doesn’t win Championships, does it, Marv Levy? Frank Ganz? Marty Schottenheimer? Dick Vermeil (While with the Chiefs)?

Comment by Mike N — October 14, 2008 @ 11:27 pm

THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU GOD THANK THANK YOU GOD YOU GOD

Comment by Michael Diedrich — October 15, 2008 @ 1:15 am

At first I was angry at the fact the Chiefs were going to trade THE BEST TIGHT END IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL, but after reading this story on Foxnews.com I felt bad for Tony. Sure we all want him to stay, but the guy said,”he will always be a Chief” and we all know he would retire as a Chiefs, so we should have let him go to “rebuild”. Herm and King Carl have destroyed this team. If we keep losing at Arrowhead that would be worse than trading Tony. We have a reputation to uphold in this league and it is being run into the ground with these 2 knuckleheads running this show. We should never have stood for this. 4 years ago we were easily Superbowl contenders and it all started when we let Trent Green go, and let Herm Edwards come in.

Comment by Dom — October 15, 2008 @ 2:35 am

We will get through this my Chiefs Brothers.

Comment by Chief Tom — October 16, 2008 @ 1:47 am

herm should have given tg his 3 yards, i want to see hin get a ring just like i wanted to see marino do it (only not against montana)but if he deserves any thing for what he has done for KC and its community,… it was 3 fucking yards against denver. herm is an asshole!!

Comment by chris b — October 16, 2008 @ 11:22 am

Mike N, remember: BBQ is a noun, not a verb.

Also, LJ is impossible to trade. Nobody wants his spoiled ass in the locker room and $19 million per doesn’t help, either. I fear we will have to cut him eventually and get nothing for him. But who is going to give a first day pick for LJ who brings his contract and a criminal record with him?

And yes, Herm should have given Tony his 3 yards.

Comment by Big Booms — October 16, 2008 @ 1:51 pm

First off Tony G has done more for the Chiefs and the city of KC than Herm Edwards will ever do. He’s been classy, clean cut, positive, a consistent leader, and an OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTER. He deserves to be pissed off at “Fire Sale” Edwards, and “No offence” Gailey. For all he’s done, Tony deserved a few favors. I think everyone remembers 4 years ago when Tony led the league in receptions. He did so because Vermeil and Saunders knew that he was close in years past but never quite got over the hump. So they called plays to get Tony 14 (I think it was 14) receptions so he could break the record. Why? Because he deserved it, not only for being an outstanding player, but for being a class guy.

Now, according to Tony, Queen Carl was offered a 3rd round pick for a trade, which was what he was asking, but then turned it down insisting on a 2nd round pick instead. This gets me as much as anything. I’ve said for years that Carl’s prime motivation is not winning games and building a championship franchise, but being known (and feared) as a “tough ass negotiator.” He’s used this ridiculous statement several times throughout his career in KC. What’s the result? He pisses off 1st round picks on a regular basis, and when the chance comes they bolt as quickly as they can. He’s also famous for crying and whining to the media when a player wants to be paid at or right below their production level. He’s publicly run down Will Shields, Tony G, Priest Holmes, John Tait, and Trent Green when he doesn’t get them to accept lowball contracts. I ask how does this benefit the team? It doesn’t. All it does is allow Queen Carl to continue to posture and brag to his inner circle on how he continues to be a “tough ass negotiator.” Now he’s done it again with Tony G, for nothing more than a pathetic attempt to show the Chiefs players his relenting machismo.

Comment by ohmixmaster — October 16, 2008 @ 10:12 pm