Chiefs Player of the Decade: Will Shields or Tony Gonzalez
by Joel Thorman on Jan 22, 2010 8:29 AM CST
63 comments
Bob Gretz has a nice entry at BobGretz.com regarding the Kansas City Chiefs players of the decade. A few weeks back, Gretz asked his readers to identify their Chiefs of the decade. It came down to two names:
Will Shields and Tony Gonzalez.
No arguments here.
Gretz lays out his own list with Shields at the top.
He made those players around him better and he helped the team achieve a lot of victories over his career, even into the 21st Century. Shields was a smart player and he was an involved individual, he was not the type of professional athlete that was ever a threat to turn-up in the daily crime report. In the 2000s, he was the best player on the Chiefs and he'll be the next K.C. player to reach enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's eligible for the Class of 2012.
I think you can make a case for either one being the player of the decade (although one of Gretz's readers did nominate Eric Hicks...).
On a slow Friday morning, here's a poll to see if you agree.
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Eddie Kennison
duh
"The way this works is you string together some good games, some good practices and you get momentum and you gain confidence," linebacker Mike Vrabel said. "It can be a real positive for your team. It builds on itself."
Aren't we missing some names here?
Trent Green?
Priest Holmes?
Dante Hall?
"The way this works is you string together some good games, some good practices and you get momentum and you gain confidence," linebacker Mike Vrabel said. "It can be a real positive for your team. It builds on itself."
thing is, those three played a very few years ... Shields played what, every game for 12 or 14 yrs? TonyG still playing after 11 or whatever
"I shall conquer untruth by truth" - Mahatma Gandhi
Whilock Rocks!
hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!
Johnnie Morton
NFL Conference Championship predictions:
Vikings 31 Saints 30 ~ Colts 23 Jets 17
by craig in calgary on Jan 22, 2010 10:25 AM CST up reply actions
Its between Snoop Minnis and R-Kal Truluck
duh
Predictions as of 06.24.2009.
Larry Johnson will be a top 3 fantasy pick once again in 2010 (after a monster season in 2009.)
Dwayne Bowe will be a 2009 Pro Bowl selection.
Brandon Flowers will have at least 6 INTs in 2009 season.
Todd Haley will have a sideline shouting match caught on TV yelling at one of his asst. coaches.
by 58 was my friend on Jan 22, 2010 11:03 AM CST up reply actions
Uh, excuse me but...
Tony Gonzalez is the greatest TE ever to play the game. He changed the position. No disrespect to Mr. Shields, but my vote goes to Gonzo.
We are building a fighting force of extwaordinary magnitude.
Does anyone remember Kellen Winslow with Air Fouts??
Kellen was a hell of a TE now. Stupid thorn in our side.
I'd disagree that he changed the position
and he is most certainly the greatest TE ever in terms of catches and TDs … but there’s more to TE position than just being a “large/tall WR”
then too, in defense of Shields … he was with the team his entire career … TonyG opted out, and in my mind that’s a “strike” against him
both WILL go to HoF, no question
"I shall conquer untruth by truth" - Mahatma Gandhi
Whilock Rocks!
hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!
Agree with this post
Love Tony G. and he will be remembered as the greastest TE of all time; however, I still chose Will Shields as the greatest Chief of the Decade…
Tony G. ended the decade as a Falcon, so its tough for me to give him the greatest Chief of the decade award. I might feel differently if he is inducted into the HoF as a Chief, but there’s no telling that will happen. It still stings to me that he wanted out of KC…
Elmo, thanks for the props ... one thing, be assured that TonyG will indeed go into the HoF as a Chief
he’s already said that, I believe … and I know he wants to “officially retire” as a Chief as well, that much I know he’s said (might be coming back for a year or two at most down the road, might be signing a contract JUST to retire … either way, it’ll happen)
"I shall conquer untruth by truth" - Mahatma Gandhi
Whilock Rocks!
hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!
I'm 100% in agreement with you. There is more to the TE position than catches and TD's.
TG was a supreme blocking TE as well. However, I tend to feel that Kellen Winslow was a bigger threat overall.
AMEN!!!!!!!!!
I dont care what tony did to the position. Im staying LOYAL to Will Shields.
Toby J. Neal
this is a nice problem to have...
did Will Shield’s consistent outstanding play on the line help Tony G more than Tony G’s outstanding play in the field help Will Shields?
Tony was awesome, but man, dominant line play, unsung and classy, retired as a Chief, still in KC and contributing to the community, it’s got to be Will Shields.
Both are world class players and individuals.
But I need to give it to Will Shields. He showed the loyalty to the team and franchise. But I wont be dissapointed which of these guys gets it.
Cry Havoc! And let slip the Chiefs Defense of War!!!
Tony G
Greatest TE ever. No question.
"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius
With all due respect to the accolades TG has and will certainly be a future HOF candidate...
I have to go with Will Shields. Will did retire as a Chief and you never heard any rumors that I know of him wanting a chance at a ring before he retired with another team. But I want to take it one step further. Will Shields retired not only as a Chief, but as a member of an elite group known as “NFL Man of the Year”, 2003.
The award is given annually by the National Football League honoring a player’s volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. So with that alone, I think it embodies the true spirit of what we want to see out of every player who wears a Chiefs uniform, knowing that not everything is only done on the playing field, but within the community also.
Winning begins with Attitude - Haley and Pioli will be winners in KC!
I'll forever be a Chiefs fan! Only God himself could take that away from me, but when I get to my great reward, I'll rejoin two bigger fans, my Mom and Dad.
by Lanier63 on Jan 22, 2010 9:40 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
I thing Tony G.
Will Shields was a great player and a future Hall od Famer, but Tony Gonzalez is perhaps the best Tight End to ever play the game.
Dude, the decade has only just started
but in anticipation of our ten back to back SB wins to come, I nominate:
Cassel
Charles
Succup
Blame my wife!
Waiting until August 2010
Which one of these players is a first ballot Hall of Famer?
I get the whole “loyalty” thing you guys are coming up with, but Tony is hands down, the best TE to play the game. Shields was a great player and a great man, and I’d easily place him in the top three, but Tony was a game-changer.
It’s like 49ers fans saying that Jerry Rice wasn’t that good of a player because he went to the Raiders. He’s still one of the best receivers ever, and deserves all the accolades he gets. Same with Tony.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Priest Holmes dominated like no other player I have seen in a Chiefs Uni
I can’t get myself to vote for either of these guys…sorry.
Gonzo is dead to me.
Priest
Priest dominated because of that O-line. They turned holes into chasms. Heck they even made Larry Johnson look good.
I say Shields, he did so much for the community and the team. Plus you never heard on complaint out of his mouth even when we was wobbling around on his cane in between games.
Shields is a man’s man.
I hate the loyalty BS.
It works both ways. Hope you chior boys are ready to trash the Cheifs for not being loyal to people like Neil Smith, T Rich, and Marty.
+1
It’s a business. It sucks sometimes, but just because a guy wanted out doesn’t mean he wasn’t a great player.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
by KaloPhoenix on Jan 22, 2010 10:25 AM CST up reply actions
Tony wanted out
Those guys didn’t. Still you have to go with Tony for the vote. He’s the vest ever at his position, Will is a great, but he disn change the OG position.
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by Scaryclouds on Jan 22, 2010 10:31 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
That's his point.
The organization kicks undeserving people out, exhibiting their lack of “loyalty” to great players. It goes both ways.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
by KaloPhoenix on Jan 22, 2010 10:35 AM CST up reply actions
Oops I misread his post
I thought he meant that we can’t like T. Rich et al if we don’t like Tony.
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by Scaryclouds on Jan 22, 2010 1:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
+88
Its not like he whined and cried and stomped his feet out of town either. He simply said that he only has a couple of years left and didn’t have the time to see the Chiefs rebuild. Plus by handling it professionally, the Chiefs are getting a Top 50 pick from a 34 year old player.
I’m still a huge Tony G fan.
NFL Conference Championship predictions:
Vikings 31 Saints 30 ~ Colts 23 Jets 17
by craig in calgary on Jan 22, 2010 10:37 AM CST up reply actions
Damn straight HIV...I do it all the time.
The Chiefs should have kept all those guys…other than Marty maybe. But, I will always get pissed when the Chiefs get rid of good players still in their prime and trade them off to other teams only to have successful careers on other teams.
T-Rich, N Smith, Fujita, Fox, K Mitchell, Boerigter, Weigman, the list goes on and on.
That shit is stupid, no matter how loyal you are to the Chiefs.
by Chiefsfan1970 on Jan 22, 2010 11:25 AM CST up reply actions
I couldn't agree more.
Why is there all this talk about Shields retired as a Chief. Bottom line, they are both no longer Chiefs and TG was/is a more dominant player.
by Pioliforprez on Jan 22, 2010 11:26 AM CST up reply actions
My thoughts on Shields
He was a perennial all-pro who never got his due. If he played in a major market he’d be ranked with the best ever. He played, his track record for being available at a position like his was amazing. One thing I recall, in the midst of another miserable season the line was racked with injuries and for the final 4-5 games or so Shields was moved to Left Tackle, were he had never played before in his life. He never gave up a sack and was outstanding.
by FrankPitts on Jan 22, 2010 11:05 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
+1
don’t forget that Shields hit the starting lineup on 9/12/93 (he failed to only start ONE game, his first as a rookie) and he started every game until his retirement…230 straight games, second only to Favre.
he was 12 time Pro Bowl selection from 1995-2006, 9 time All Pro, 2005 Ed Block Courage Award Winner, and 2003 Walter Payton Man Of The Year.
He never whined, he was tough, and he cared about his community, a community he is still a part of.
Will Shields, yes
Without a great offensive line to protect the QB who throws to Tony and to make the running game work for balance, Tony may not have been near as great. Great but not as great.
I Like Will Shields And Think He's A Hall Of Famer, But
You’re comparing a very good-to-great guard to the best TE ever to play the game of football.
An offensive lineman’s contribution to the offense is not so easily measured, is highly dependent on the rest of the line and is, frankly, largely an anonymous position. Not to mention that guards are generally the most replaceable members of the offensive line (not saying that Shields is easy to replace…just that it would be tougher to find a replacement for a guy performing at Gonzalez’ level than at Shields’).
In addition to being a draw because he plays a “skill” position at a very high level, what Gonzalez accomplished for the Chiefs was nothing short of remarkable…he made himself into the best TE in football history with a cornucopia of mediocre and bad QBs throwing to him on a team that wasn’t all that good. Got to be Gonzalez.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Eff Gonzalez!
I hope the Falcons continue to lose and NEVER get into a playoff game as long as he’s there. At the same time, I hope he’s still playing when the Chiefs get to the big dance so he can watch in anguish as we bring the Lombardi trophy home to it’s rightful owner.
Moreso, if he is still playing next time we play the Falcons, I hope we stomp their guts out and send him home with 0 catches for 0 yards.
He left his longtime team because he thought the Falcons would be a contender, now, here they are watching the playoffs on TV along with everyone in KC. By next year, the Chiefs will be just as good as Atlanta AND play in a division that makes it more condusive for KC to go to the playoffs than Atlanta. I hope he NEVER get’s his ring. My loyalty is to the Chiefs…NOT Gonzo.
In my mind, Priest Holmes and Trent Green should be the players of this decade. They made the Chiefs fun to watch again and that was by far the best offense the Chiefs have ever had.
While Priest and Green both deserve recognition
they wouldn’t have been the same behind a different o-line, a line that Shields anchored. As we see with the current state of the Chiefs, you need an o-line in order to get something going.
Agree
I have no respect for what TG did. No way he gets my vote!
"Its going to be a challenge, its going to feel like forever, and there will be difficulties. But we will emerge on the other side of it stronger than we were when we entered." ~ Sudden
by Matt_Grbac on Jan 22, 2010 12:20 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Man, how do you decide that one?
I guess Ol’Willy got the edge from me. Tony was a beast, but Will did his part protecting the QB, providing great run blocking, pulling, blocking mutiple defenders on runs. He was a MONSTER on the line. Ask any back that played with him. Now T.G. was also good, but how much of that came from The Old Regime? How often do you see a tight end with yards like a receiver, year in and year out. You dont. I personally think their primary job should be to block and like a back on a pass play, release only after you block so your QB can have an outlet. He shouldnt be the star receiver on your team. This is what made the Chiefs unique as a NFL team.
There's no WRONG answer. It's a psychological evaluation tool. Now look at the ink blot
and tell me what you see….focus…..relax….breathe…whadda ya’ got?
is this a level?
anyone who voted for anyone but gonzales is not much of a fan.
by riverhorse_2000 on Jan 22, 2010 4:56 PM CST reply actions
you need your head examined
Winning begins with Attitude - Haley and Pioli will be winners in KC!
I'll forever be a Chiefs fan! Only God himself could take that away from me, but when I get to my great reward, I'll rejoin two bigger fans, my Mom and Dad.
Tony G is dead to me
I hate to say it. But honestly, I don’t give two shits about what Tony Gonzalez does anymore. I don’t care that he was a great TE here for a long time, he still wanted to leave. He put himself going to the playoffs as a priority to the greatest fans in the NFL that adored him. Screw Tony G.
Im in the minority with voting for Shields...
But he was a Chief and always will be a Chief, you can’t say that about Tony G.
Pitchers and Catchers report February 17th... And so begins my masochistic addiction.
personally
I would have tossed Casey Weigmanns name in the hat also.
All in all, I couldn’t have 3 votes, it’s that close for me.
In the end, I voted Will Shields. I got to go with my O line boys. Plays are made on the line, and even taking into consideration TG’s incredible talent and team spirit, Will Shields, I beleive all around was .0000001 % over the edge by never having left the team and retiring with an unbroken time line. to me, that’s giving over 100 % to your team.
and I don’t hold a grudge against TG for trying to grab his brass ring. I believe him when he says he will retire a Chief.
Big Bear
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