Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wednesday Whining: They're In a Mad Bundle

I'm exhausted. We're halfway through the week, and it feels like the Monday leading up to bye week. I want very badly to make sense of everything that has transpired in the last six weeks, with special focus on the most recent two of those, but at this point I doubt my own lucidity. I will, nevertheless, attempt to suss out some of this serious-yet-sensationalist ado, after the jump. Or a nap. Actually, both...

It would be one thing if the Kansas City Chiefs were a good football team right now. It would be one thing if they were decent. The latest polls show that they are neither, yet they're drumming up more attention for themselves than any other franchise to which I pay due attention (Editor's Note: For the record, I don't pay any attention to any other franchises.).

The bottom line is that the Chiefs didn't get a deal done for tight end Tony Gonzalez, and he has expressed to the media his frustrations, but has also added that it will not affect his future play as a Chief. The main bit of legitimate information comes from Jay Glazer over at FOX Sports.

"I know teams offered a third and in the end, Carl made the asking price a second. I'm very disappointed that he didn't go through with it after he told me he was going to try to make it happen. I've been around this league a long time, it's a business. There's nothing I can do about it. I was pissed off about it, but I'll get over it. I won't let it affect my play and my preparation...But you know what? I can't cry about it. If anything, this has motivated me even more. I'm a Chief, will be happy to be a Chief and will bust my butt for the Chiefs. I was never not happy being a Chief. I just wanted the chance to spend my last couple of years winning a title, not rebuilding. But I'm here to help rebuild, I'll work with all our young guys and get after it like I always have."


Direckshun at Arrowhead Pride levies all blame and failure at Carl Peterson.

"...in this situation, asking for a 2nd for a 32-year-old who can't help us makes you the incompetent administration. And you are becoming increasingly exposed.

In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a monumental mistake, but it is significant because it illustrates your consistent modus operandi that has punished this franchise far more frequently than not.

Your time with this team, and the NFL, is running out."

A long-time figure with the Chiefs organization points out that (what remains of) Gonzalez's contract was part of the negotiations, a part that some fans might not recognize, or understand.

And again, courtesy of Arrowhead Pride, Gonzalez has spoken with his teammates, as well as with the press (Note: If ever there was a must read, this is it.).

Apparently, this issue is now a dead one. Kind of. The fact remains that for all Peterson-bashers -- and in this case I will join them -- that the non-occurrence of this transaction only goes in stride with Peterson's history of dealing with personnel. He's hard-nosed, and selfish, the latter a question mark as to whether it applies to the franchise as a whole or his personal success/integrity with regard to his 20 years of service for the Hunt family.

In notes of random, it kind of sucks that Tony assumes that "everyone knows" a second-rounder would never happen for a 32-year-old tight end. I have to believe that a team one slice of the ultimate pie short of real intimidating contention for a championship would part with such a pick for such a player. But it didn't happen. There is the salary factor to consider, as well as the possibility that perhaps certain teams don't figure such a player to be such a massive need. It also sucks that Peterson wouldn't bend to get it done, solely for Gonzalez's sake. Having said that, there are (again) the contract details that might've put KC behind the eight ball in terms of the salary cap, and there is the unspoken (perhaps) reality that the Chiefs players might now have if Gonzalez had been dealt, and that is this: "now the season's really over," or "now we're officially terribler than we were." Further, and perhaps most important, it appears that there was deception along the communication lines in that Gonzalez was told what was necessary for the deal to come to fruition, it seemed attainable, but didn't happen, and that is the second-most-important part of the suckiness.

The largest, though, is the reputation that this gives the franchise. Actually, I'm not sure if it gives the Chiefs any particular reputation, but at very least it leaves me with a sour taste. I'm always thinking in utopianesque fashion; in this case there's some sliver of a chance that the Chiefs could with Gonzalez on the roster, win a championship before he retires. Given that at this moment that seems wholly unlikely, it really bums me out and embarrasses me that upper management is too proud to just admit that there is still a lot of work to be done with this team, more than can conceivably be accomplished before Tony hangs them up.

For some strange reason, I was really looking forward to this Sunday's game against Tennessee. Now, with everything that's transpired, I'm a little down, sensing that still more poor decisions await.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

I can't believe this, but I think Carl was right.

I wouldn't give up Gonzalez for anything less than a second. Why give another team a shot at a championship and get a third-round pick in return?

I expected it would never happen with Carl at the helm, but I would have been very disappointed with a third rounder. Tony is a better player than that.

I just don't see an extra 3rd rounder making a big difference for us next year.

-- TLR

P.S. Hey, Banky, at least we'll get to see your boy Brody in action. If he avoids injury, it could be exciting.

Cecil said...

You wouldn't give up Tony G. for less than a second, and you, like CP, would be laughed out of the room.

First and second round picks are gold. They are building blocks that successful franchises use to keep that ol' success coming.

Dealing one away for a 30something tight end is not how you do that. I know this hurts y'all, but you're living in 2001. You can get The Semi-Vegan's stats at a much cheaper price without mortgaging your team's future.

Cecil said...

Also: fuck, if *any team in this league* needs an extra pick in next year's draft, even if it's in the 7th round, it's the Chefs.

blairjjohnson said...

The point, though, was a combination of Tony's overall value and his value to the Chiefs. Yes, he's 32, but he's also "the most prolific tight end in NFL history." And he's in phenomenal shape. If a second-round pick all but slam dunks your SB championship chances, you do it.

Since one wasn't offered, you eliminate the reality of making this team -- unpossible as it sounds -- awfuller than they are, and keep #88 on the payroll.

blairjjohnson said...

And dude, it's "Brodie." Didn't you use to be the EiC of a newspaper? Christ...

Cecil said...

I dunno. I can't imagine many Super Bowl contenders feel they are but an old tight end away from a championship.

It sucks, but a smart front office knows they have treat players like stocks, and Tony's value is only going to go down. King Carl should have taken the third.

blairjjohnson said...

Steve Tasker and Gus Johnson: "You see Dallas get a first, a third, and a sixth for Roy Williams, and he's a guy who hasn't really done anything in three years. Considering that, there's no way you take a conditional third for Tony Gonzalez. It's an insult to your franchise and to him if you do."

For the record, the conditional third offered from Green Bay allegedly said that Gonzalez would have to start for three years, and if he didn't, Kansas City would have to give up picks and cash.

No-brainer for Carl to pass on that.

Cecil said...

Ok--hold on: the deal would have been, if he doesn't start for three years, you have to GIVE US picks?

I call bullshit. There isn't a GM in sports that would say that to another GM.

And the Dallas deal was retarded. There is no way that should be used as a comparison to anything, deal-wise; but still, who in their right mind believes a team is going to get more out of an ancient tight end with very little left than they would out of a guy like Roy Williams, who should still have 3 or 4 good seasons in him?

blairjjohnson said...

I'm just quoting what the man said, dude. Apparently, there was contract dollars at stake too, regarding performance, etc. Don't know why they would make shit up.

Ancient's a stretch. Very little left in him's a stretch.

In the Cowboys' and Chiefs' losses yesterday, Williams was thrown at twice, and netted zero catches. Gonazlez? Six grabs for 97 yards.