It's All About Universal Trade Chips

by Matt Conner on Apr 24, 2009 9:11 AM CDT Comment 38 comments

From the FanPosts -PT

I'll get right to the point since there are 10 other post-trade FanPosts on TonyGate.

Scott Pioli could only trade Tony Gonzalez to a couple - maybe handful - of teams in the league. There were only so many trade partners when it comes to upping the proper ante for an all-world tight end. And this was a bigger problem than anything else.

It's not Tony's amount of time left in the league. It wasn't his age and that he might start to decline. It's not that he wasn't a Pioli/Haley guy (since guys like Gonzalez are everyone's guys). The answer is really, really simple and it's something we need to learn to get used to:

Pioli is aiming to have as much flexibility and leverage as possible.

While the straight-up value is not as much as the greatest Tight End in the history of the game, that doesn't matter when everyone doesn't need/want one. In real world terms, I can't pony up the money for your Porsche to take it off of your hands because I don't personally have the garage, insurance, etc. to handle it. I can agree that it's a thing of great value, but I am not interested in taking it off of your hands.

And that's the problem Scott & Co. runs into when it comes to LJ or Gonzalez. Limited trade partners. That's the answer. And so, you take the draft pick and all of a sudden you have something that everyone wants. And when everyone wants it, you have a universal trade chip.

And that means you can deal with everybody.

Pioli is at his best when he can barter with anyone and everyone at the table. So he'd rather have something of value to all players involved rather than a limited-interested highly priced object that only a few can afford to think about. Sure, TG is much better than a year-from-now draft choice. But this isn't fantasy sports where no other factors are at play. And Pioli did what he had to do to create the flexible situation.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Good Post

by ChiTownChiefs on Apr 24, 2009 9:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Well said. Connerman’s point will hopefully open some eyes to the bigger picture and nullify a lot of the negative, knee-jerk reactions I read yesterday directed at Pioli.

“The Right 53”

Go Chiefs

by NJ_Chief on Apr 24, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is

the best arguement I have seen for making the trade.

by KCSatchmo on Apr 24, 2009 9:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rec'd

For giving us a unique point of view among a lot of FanPosts. Nice work again, connerman.

by Joel Thorman on Apr 24, 2009 9:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good call

by KCSatchmo on Apr 24, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ya know

I can understand a lot of arguments, but my heart still don’t like it. And I’m terrified that instead of watching one of the real class acts be the face of the Chiefs, I’ll have to watch LJ wear the Arrowhead and be a prick.

by bakerlee on Apr 24, 2009 9:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I still don’t like the trade, but this makes a lot more sense than the mythical 10 year starter so many people seems to think we’ll certainly get for the pick. Tony wanted out and Pioli needs amunition to work his magic. I respect the decision and can live with the deal.

But, I refuse to like it.

by KCSatchmo on Apr 24, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure Gonzalez was "one of the real class acts" any more

last season’s antics started tainting his image for me.

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Apr 24, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Totally agree

He was a shaky leader at best.

Arrowhead Pride

by Chris Thorman on Apr 24, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Remember the Rec button as well

If you like a post, rec it. That way we can keep the ones we like the most at the top since there are so many FanPosts flowing this week.

by Joel Thorman on Apr 24, 2009 9:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Great post

Excellent point.

Arrowhead Pride

by Chris Thorman on Apr 24, 2009 9:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Great Post and Great Point.

It still hurts to see Tony go, but at the same time, it’s going to be exciting to see what Pioli can do with more to work with on Draft day. I don’t think the trades are going to stop after this one.

by GetRight on Apr 24, 2009 9:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Its about the

Team now.
No doubt that TG is one of a kind, and will be missed.
I have listened to closely to the SP conferences and what jumps out to me is the team, its all about the team now, what makes the team better, who wants to be on this team, players who fit the team.
I think we are going to look back in a few years and be amazed at what this team has accomplished in a short amount of time.

by markc on Apr 24, 2009 9:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

very well said and rec'd

Pioli is also known to trade players that are aging but still in their prime for top value, and not let them get so old they have no value. He did this for years at New England, and he has started it here now. Yes, we hate to see Tony go, but for the future, not just next year, this is a good move. We would not have gotten a 2nd pick next year, or two years from now for him.

by dr. kill 4 on Apr 24, 2009 10:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think anyone likes the fact that there was a trade

in the sense that nobody is happy to see Gonzo go. I mean he’s Gonzo – he’s a staple of Chiefs Nation, and as I have said elsewhere – for 10 years or so he’s been the face of the team. Hell for the last few he’s been one of the only bright spots. And to be honest, that’s I believe, one of the real issues here. If we had had an awesome team with many amazing players, people would be bummed but whatever. So be it.

However since we have been so bad for the last 3, and really more than that (even during that great run with Vermeil when we went 13-3 it was obvious how porous our D was) Tony has stood out as the player to watch and enjoy watching, and w/o a doubt he’d play his heart out and do what he could. In other words, for the last decade you could always count on Gonzo to play a helleva game and make some awesome catches. That makes this harder to swallow.

That being said, Connerman you hit the nail on the head. This is a business and as much value as Tonay has been to us… he’s worth less to the market as a whole. A 2nd rounder regardless of the 2010 date on it – now that’s something that can be parlayed (yup I just used the word parlayed) into something else. That has universal value. So in my head, I have the unseen asian lady that speaks over the mike in Dude Where’s My Car… ,“And thehhnn? And thehhhnnnn, andthenandthenandthenadntheandthenandthenandthen?” So where’s this go? What’s next up the sleaves?

by Eastcoastransplant on Apr 24, 2009 10:04 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Yep. No one should like the trade as a fan. I saw someone else put up the fact that it’s a good thing that Pioli isn’t a fan, and he is able to make tough decisions like this.

by EyePod on Apr 24, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pioli said they wanted an early 3 for TG

A late second next year has the same value as an early third this year and I expect we will use the pick this year to either gain a pick this year or move up and select someone they like.

It is too bad TG got traded, but we need to remember that if Tony really wanted to be a cheif he would be here.

by saskwatch on Apr 24, 2009 10:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well said...

I actually started gettin kinda pumped up. LOL.

by ChiefsFootSoldier on Apr 24, 2009 10:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Take out the emotion...

and it is absolutely the right deal. A friend of mine who is from Cleveland (totally indifferent to the Chiefs) and I were talking draft scenarios this past weekend and I just mentioned TG, and he interupted me by saying “Trade him. He’s old and he wants to win. Get what you can for him and move on.” I bet the fans of the other 30 teams not involved in this deal think this is a smart move… for both teams.

by sandpro on Apr 24, 2009 10:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Out of the emotion...

I’m not sure what I think about the trade…My head says smart move ..my heart says UGH!.. I was talking with someone today who is not a Chiefs fan..and he thought the Chiefs did not get as much as they should have… I talked with a couple other people who are not Chiefs fans and they said something similiar. I told them this was the best value I thought we could get for him…

…Smart move… we’ll see…but

Dayton Moore says “Pitchers are currency in baseball”

I think that “Draft Picks are the currency in the NFL.”

by Cowboynchrist on Apr 24, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The right move

Does anyone remember when Tony was upset last year because Peterson didn’t pull the trigger on a trade for a third round pick? Even Gonzo was aware of his potential value on the trade market. Now, with another 11 games under his belt, we got a 2nd round pick for him. Awesome job Pioli. Tony, you will be missed. Good luck in ATL.

by Fourstrike89 on Apr 24, 2009 10:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What if Pioli traded...

Next year’s second he just picked up and our 4th or 3rd to get back into the second round this year.

"...Said he couldn't go on the American way"

by Jux on Apr 24, 2009 10:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Longest Tendered Chief

Now the Tony is gone, is Waters the longest running Chief?

by Vanilla Guerilla on Apr 24, 2009 10:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ll take this a step further, seems to me some of us havn’t looked at the way Haley/Pioli view a tight end! In Arizona, the TE made 11 catches in ‘08, and 22 in ’07! In New England, the TE wasn’t thrown to that much either!

If you look at how Haley has this offense set up, #1WR(6’2-6’3), #2WR(6’1), #3WR(5’11-6’0)slot, 2 RB’s with speed & power, and BLOCKING TE’S!!

Arizona has Leonard Pope(6’8 260), we hav Cottam(6’8 270) and a few more blocking TE’s! Kurt Warner threw 30 TD’s, 14 INT’s, and had 26 sacks in 19 games(1.4/game) WOW!! I think Cassel can have the same numbers if not better because he’s more mobile!!

I hated to see TG go, but by the time Pioli finishes wheelin’ & dealin’ that 2010 pick he got, maybe then people would start to see the vision he sees!!

by T MO 5 on Apr 24, 2009 10:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think

Some of us have considered this arguement and rejected it. It’s a “chicken or the egg” arguement. Did the AZ/NE offenses not feature the TE by choice or because they didn’t have a top TE talent?

It’s not like NE didn’t draft TEs to fill the role. Graham and Watson were both 1st round picks and they have been rumored to have interest in Pettigrew this year.

by KCSatchmo on Apr 24, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anybody have a feeling

that another bomb is going to drop soon. One in our favor?

Paddy

by Patrick Allen on Apr 24, 2009 12:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It better

I thought this site would explode yesterday.

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

by Buck'O on Apr 24, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another trade with NE

My sources tell me that Pioli is about to right one of the great wrongs in Chiefs history. In 2004 the Chiefs were in position to move up in the draft and acquire Vince Wilfork late in the 1st round. Instead we traded down and got Junior Siavii.

Wilfork will be traded to KC for the rights to Siavii and Kris Wilson. (the player drafted with the pick it would have taken to move up) Although the Chiefs no longer hold the rights to these players, the trade will be approved. It will be speculated that the approval was due to a Pioli threat to release “the other spygate” tapes. As most of you know, these tapes are believed to contain footage of inappropriate interactions between Roger Goodell and Buffalo Bills mascot “Billy Buffalo”.

Please keep in mind that my sources are mostly drunk.

by KCSatchmo on Apr 24, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs