Tried And True, the Way of Kansas City Chiefs GM Carl Peterson

by Direckshun on Oct 15, 2008 12:46 AM CDT in Article Updates

Dear Carl.

What's left to be said. The Chiefs are stuck in the lowest grade of rebuilding that's even possible. And you decided to hold onto a player who, for all his eminent talents and place in history, will ultimately not do this franchise any good.

So let me ask you, general manager Carl Peterson, if you are by any chance reading this. Would you rather have a decent Draft pick(s) that could materialize into cogs of our future championship runs, or would you forfeit taking any of that to hold on to a player that doesn't want to be here, and won't do our future championship runs any good?

I had mentioned in an earlier entry, breaking down Gonzalez's worth, that he was worth about a 3rd at best, or a 4th and an additional low-rounder. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but there are multiple reports out there that that's exactly what you were offered. And you decided that instead of allowing Kuharich and Herm -- the masterminds behind a pretty strong 2008 draft for this team -- a chance at some good talent in the 3rd or to mine for talent in the mid-rounds and low-rounds, that you were going to sit on your hands and let Gonzalez wallow.

For what?

Leadership? What good does that do you when you're a Bottom 5 team? Groom young leaders, don't depend on your old leaders 'til death do you part.

For what? The emotional punch of Tony finishing his career with an arrowhead on his helmet? Why don't we create new legacies instead of depending on beloved, old ones?

To sell tickets? I don't know where you got the idea that Gonzalez was the only Chiefs player that fans love seeing.

The reliable target in the middle of the field? Sure, Tony's presence on the field cannot be replaced, but this team doesn't need to replace him this season. We're not going anywhere this season, Carl.

Your fanbase has accepted that. You can't, and I don't know why.

And you know where we're at because of this stalling pattern? We have a disgruntled star displeased with our youth movement who is blabbing all over any media outlet who will listen to leverage popular opinion against Carl Peterson and the rest of the Chiefs' front office. We're holding him hostage in a high-profile staredown with several other regimes across the NFL, decreasing the chance that anybody anywhere will blink.

If that sounds familiar to us, it's because that was the Trent Green hostage situation from a year and a half ago. You miraculously succeeded there, but that's largely because you were dealing with a completely incompetent administration.

No sir, 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.

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Theoretically

If we can get a 3rd rounder for him in the offseason and continue to utilize his services for the rest of this season, how do the Chiefs not come out winners?

Regardless of what you say, if Tony was out of our lineup our passing game would no longer cease to exist. I know we all joke around about it now but with #88 not on the field for the next 11 games we’d truly see what a non-existent passing game looks like

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 15, 2008 1:01 AM CDT 0 recs

So?

So that’s what happens.

Even with Tony Gonzalez, we have perhaps the worst passing attack in the NFL.

I’m just saying, it doesn’t matter how much pepper you sprinkle into a bowl of excrement, it’s still going to stink.

There’s no coming ahead in this season. We have to look forward.

Holding onto Tony is the exact opposite.

And after this staredown, I’ll be surprised if we even smell a 3rd in the offseason. This thing was bungled.

by Direckshun on Oct 15, 2008 1:04 AM CDT up 0 recs

It does matter

is what I’m saying. We all are looking forward because thats all we have but we can’t throw in the white towel and jump straight into the offseason. Got a bunch of ball games left and in order to move the ball this season on offense we simply need Tony Gonzalez. Don’t care what people say or how they cut it, its the truth

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 15, 2008 1:13 AM CDT up 0 recs

2008 season = super-extended preseason.

The 2008 season is all about one thing: evaluating our talent and grooming our young players and preparing this team for the future.

It’s a season intended to help our future run. Tony has no place in that.

by Direckshun on Oct 15, 2008 1:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

Tell us more

about your crystal ball

A lot can change in a year. A new QB a la JP Losman could do a lot for Tony and our offense, as could 2 new starting lineman from the draft….

What’s the limits w/ a new GM?

Fact is a lot can change with this franchise by the end of this season, and a lot more can by the start of next

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 15, 2008 1:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

2 perspectives.

You and I believe this team is in two completely different stages of rebuilding. I see it as beginning the process, you see it as nearing its fruition.

If that’s the case, we’re not going to see eye-to-eye on this.

by Direckshun on Oct 15, 2008 1:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

Truthfully

I don’t even think the rebuilding has begun. Part of me wants to believe and go w/ the camp that says this thing is in mid U-turn and axing Edwards would only set the process back further. But the better half of me thinks though his intentions are good Herm is incapable of doing the job….or the job needed at least here in KC.

At this point, after Tyler Thigpen, I’m really resigned and left with nothing but hope

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 15, 2008 1:33 AM CDT up 0 recs

This is what I've been saying

“Without Tony, our passing game will suck!”

People! This is it! We are horrible!

Ridiculous Upside: All the "Almost NBA" info you can handle!

by Ridiculous Matt on Oct 15, 2008 1:34 AM CDT up 0 recs

Nice addition with the picture

The caption should read, “Kansas’ City’s Biggest Douche”

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 15, 2008 1:14 AM CDT 0 recs

The PARADE on Carl...

Look, Carl is a D*ck, but he does have some soft spots, I’m glad we didn’t get stiffed in a Tony deal. Perhaps THIS will express my thoughts better (NSFW):

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Oct 15, 2008 1:21 AM CDT 0 recs

A 3rd is a steal for a 32-year-old tight end. Period.

by Direckshun on Oct 15, 2008 1:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

Who replaces him?

Seriously. Who is it that you see us taking in the third round that’ll do us more good in the future than having Tony does right now?

Who is it that’s going to replace him? Who’s going to fill his niche on our team? Who is it that we’ve got that can not only block well, but also is a true threat in the passing game that absolutely demands the attention of our opponents?

Even if you argue that we took Cottam last year to be Tony’s replacement, how is it that we’re not better off actually keeping Tony around to help Cottam learn the position, to train him, to show him how to play with the same heart and commitment that Tony has?

by JacinB on Oct 15, 2008 9:02 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed

I agree that a third rounder and another pick was all the market said Gonzalez was worth to other teams, but it’s unlikely that we would have drafted a player in those rounds who could help us to the degree that Gonzalez will…either in the short term or down the road (because 3rd and 5th round picks are rarely guys who become superstars). All things considered, I’d rather have Gonzalez.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Oct 15, 2008 11:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

Would haven been cool to know

just for gits n’ shiggles, who the one player was that was purportedly offered with a pick

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 15, 2008 1:27 AM CDT 0 recs

My guess is the Bills.

They traded John McCargo to Indy, it’s possible that he could have been part of their package to the Chiefs.

by Direckshun on Oct 15, 2008 1:29 AM CDT up 0 recs

Who?

[sarcasm]

Well, dang. Now that I know who it is we missed out on, I’m horribly disappointed that we didn’t give Tony away. I mean, who here wasn’t hoping to have a John McCargo jersey to wear to games … ?!

[/sarcasm]

by JacinB on Oct 15, 2008 9:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

We are still giving Croyle a look

and he has 11 games (if healthy) to earn a continued job.

Last year we couldn’t evaluate him due to the line. Removing TG would further damage any valid chance Croyle has to be successful.

by NJChiefsFan on Oct 15, 2008 5:44 AM CDT 0 recs

I respectfully disagree.

Tony G is the face of this organization. He means so much more to us than a 3rd rounder. I know we all in the blogging world might think it’s a good idea, but not all Chiefs fans put that much emphasis on the draft. I, for one, know my family would have been pissed off if Tony left Kansas City, and I would have been pretty disappointed myself.

Thank you Carl, for not just “giving” Tony G away to another team.

by Vince D on Oct 15, 2008 6:49 AM CDT 0 recs

+1

Exactly.

by JacinB on Oct 15, 2008 9:02 AM CDT up 0 recs

It's not about giving Tony away

it’s about respecting his wishes, which we didn’t. He deserved better from this organization after what he’s given the team, the organization, and the city.

There is NO trade that would have gotten us a replacement. Because there will never be another Tony Gonzalez.

Ridiculous Upside: All the "Almost NBA" info you can handle!

by Ridiculous Matt on Oct 15, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

recent 3rd round picks

Jamaal Charles, Brad Cottam, Tank Tyler, Brodie Cryole, Dustin Colquitt, Keyaron Fox, Julian Battle, Eric Downing, Snoop Minnis, Greg Wesley.

That’s the level of player to expect if we could’ve got a 3rd rounder. Which we apparently couldn’t. I’d rather have Gonzalez for another two or three years than the average of that group.

Presumably we’ll have a new QB next year and that guy will need someone to throw to. Bowe will get triple teamed if the only other options are a rookie WR and some unproven TE.

The problem with the deadline passing is NOT that TG is still here, it’s that we couldn’t get anything for a bunch of other veterans who will be gone next year and won’t help us much the rest of the way. Gonzalez can likely help us next year and the year after, so it’s not bad to keep a guy that’s likely to be really good for a couple years. It’s bad to have several guys in their 30s who are so bad that they can’t help you even in the present and you literally can’t get anyone to give you anything for them.

by Offense of the 70s on Oct 15, 2008 7:20 AM CDT 0 recs

forgot Will Shields....

and Dustin Colquitt is the only thing that’s keeping us from being completely being blown out every week.

I don’t think that Gonzo is going to be in Chiefs uniform in 2009. The off season doesn’t look very good, Because we never fix anything.

by aPacificChief on Oct 15, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

I Would Have Taken the 3rd

But, I don’t think it was a huge mistake not to. Even at 32, Tony is still one of the best TE’s in the league, both in blocking and receiving. In fact, when you consider both of those aspects, he is probably the best TE hands down. Regardless of age, you don’t just ship that away for a 50/50 chance of a draft pick sticking as a starter. Everyone’s just disappointed because everyone wants to see this organization turned upside down.

by bfos7215 on Oct 15, 2008 8:53 AM CDT 0 recs

Still lots of options.......

Patience people !! K.C. could can still work something in the off-season. Package up Tony w/ a 4th rnd. pick in exchange for a 2nd ?? There ARE still possibilities. Likewise w/ L.J. Once a some of these teams have a chance to see where they are likely to sit in the draft order and what players might be available – a myriad of opportunities await. Whatever we would have gained w/ a trade now (for either player) wouldn’t have positively effected our play this season.

by HankerChief on Oct 15, 2008 9:18 AM CDT 0 recs

Peterson made the right move

For a player of Tony’s caliber, sending him away for a 2nd day pick isn’t worth it to the franchise. And it’s something we can do in the offseason. There’s no reason to basically give the people offering a 3rd round pick maybe the most complete tight end in the league just because he may not be playing for them 3 years from now. They’re making their push now, and if they can’t part with a LOW second rounder(presumably, since they’re making a superbowl push) then we would rather hang on to him.

by JayrodT on Oct 15, 2008 10:34 AM CDT 0 recs

Peterson is a joke...he's lost his touch on reality.

A third round and maybe a 5 would of been reasonable for a 32 yr. old TE. and should of been taken more seriously. But, I’m also of the mind that as a team this might be the best case scenario. Because without him (Tony) we don’t give Croyle a fair shake at QB by taking away all our proven, and consistent weapons. Everyone deserves a fair opportunity not a tainted chance, so in the end if the player or coach fail we could say with all honesty that you had a fair shot, but still couldn’t produce.

But like Tony in the ‘09 season he and Carl should no longer be on the team. I don’t like the history of Herm as a Head Coach, but he deserves a fair chance to prove himself. Just don’t know how he’s gonna do it if Carl’s head ends up rolling after this season.

by aPacificChief on Oct 15, 2008 11:11 AM CDT 0 recs