Die Hard Sports Fan

I broke a story a little less than a week ago why Tony Gonzalez would be a great fit for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills front office thought the same thing and went after him hard, only to get rejected by Gonzalez himself.

Gonzalez has now turned himself from possible hero to public enemy #1 in Buffalo.

Gonzalez would have come to a 4-1 team that has a very good chance of making the playoffs with a wide open AFC this season.  The Bills are indeed a young team, but they are defiantly on the rise and will be able to compete in the NFL for years to come.

Now I am realistic and are the Bills a Super Bowl contender this season?  To be honest, no they are not BUT they will be in the playoffs and you have to be in it to win it.  Something that the Kansas City Chiefs won’t be a part of.  

On deadline day, the Bills offered the Chiefs a 3^rd rounder (which is what they were looking for) and some change.  Gonzalez was just so eager to get out of town, but did not want to go to Buffalo to play.

My question to him is why?  He had the chance to come to a team that will be a playoff contender for years to come.  Yes his career is ending soon but he made the big deal about being traded and then balked on the move to come to the Bills.  He would have been made a hero here, but instead he wanted the Giants or nothing. Now he is stuck on the same crappy, rebuilding team he started with. 

Buffalo is a great football city to come to play for and their fans make their players into heroes.  However, Buffalo does not like to be crossed by players.

It is just a shame that on November 23^rd when the Bills take on the Chiefs that the game will not be played in Ralph Wilson Stadium so he can here just how much Buffalo cares about its football team.  Let’s see how Tony feels when a playoff team comes to Kansas City and destroys a Chief team not trying to win the game, but eyeing a #1 overall pick in the draft.

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It is being reported by multiple sources that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez is being shopped around in the NFL trade market.  The Chiefs are talking to multiple teams about their star tight end, although no one team has been mentioned yet.

My question is why don’t the Buffalo Bills try to take a run at him?  So I am here to list my reasons why they should.

1. They have the Cap Room

Tony Gonzalez does come over with a pretty nice contract (in the Bills eyes).  He did sign a five year, $35 million deal back in 2006 but $17.75 million of that is guaranteed.  The rest of Gonzalez’s contract calls for him to make $1 million in 2008, $4 million in 2009, $4.5 million in 2010 and $5.75 million in 2011. 

Now the number isn’t exact, but the Bills have about $20 million in cap space that they can still work with.  The Bills have plenty of room to add Gonzalez’s contract. 

2.  The Bills Need a Good Tight End

Sorry Robert Royal but you just aren’t getting the job done.  You are a very mediocre tight end that really shouldn’t be starting in the NFL.  You are a good run blocker but are not really a threat in the passing game which is a shame for your QB. 

Trent Edwards loves throwing to the guys underneath, like his running backs and tight ends but he doesn’t really have a tight end to throw to.  The 6 foot 5, 251 pound Gonzalez would give Edwards a huge target to throw to and also another red zone target.  Let’s be honest the Bills need another target on offense.  Marshawn Lynch is in a little bit of a slump, and Lee Evans is still drawing double teams with the Bills lack of a true #2 wide receiver (Josh Reed is more of a slot guy, rookie James Hardy still is learning the game, and Roscoe Parrish is out for the next few weeks due to a thumb injury).       

3. The Bills have been looking for a Good TE

Not sure if any of you guys out their remember it or not, but the Bills were taking a hard look at now Tennessee Titans TE Alge Crumpler during the off season but were unable to sign him.  They then went after guys like Courtney Anderson and Tim Massaquoi and even drafted Derek Fine in the NFL Draft this year (Anderson and Massaquoi were cut, and Fine has not been activated yet because of a thumb injury).  

They know they need a tight end and hopefully they are still looking for one right now.

4.  Sure Tony is Getting Older, but He is Still an Elite TE

Sure people take a look at his number this year, 21 receptions for 193 yards and 2 TDs, and say the 32 year old is done but that is mostly because he is on such a bad team and hasn’t had one QB throwing to him this season.  The Chiefs are just throwing random QBs in there each week and Tony’s numbers are really hurting because of it. 

Remember this is a guy coming off a great 2007 campaign when he caught 99 passes for 1172 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

He is just off to a slow start and has plenty left in the tank to be elite in the next few years.

5. The Bills Could Use a Vet

The Bills are a young team just learning how to win games in this league.  Why not bring in a 12 year vet that has been there before?  The Bills oldest player on the offense is 30 year old Robert Royal who never been on a playoff team.  

The Bills could really use a smart veteran like Gonzalez that would not only open up the offense more, but also provide some leadership to the young guys in the locker room.

6.  He is a High Character Guy

The Bills love their players to be character guys, who are not only good at football but also stay out of trouble.  Gonzalez is very active in charitable organizations like the Tony Gonzalez Foundation, the United Way, and the Boys and Girls club just to name a few. 

Not only is he a great player, but a great person too. This is a guy that the Bills organization would love to have.

7.  All of This Could Be Yours for a Draft Pick

It is being reported that all the Chiefs are looking for is a decent draft pick (or picks) in exchange for their star TE.  Earlier in the off-season, Saints TE Jeremy Shockey was traded for a 2^nd round and 5^th round pick, something the Bills could easily muster up (also keep in mind that Shockey is four years younger at the age of 28).  The Bills already have their young, core players on the squad.  This season they can afford to give up a couple picks to better themselves for the next few years with a star TE in their offense.  

Gonzalez is still an elite tight end who currently holds the NFL tight end record for receptions, touchdown catches and yards receiving.  He has also gone to 9 pro bowls in his career and could still make the trip for a few more.  I would love to see the Bills go after him in an attempt to make a run for the playoffs, something the team hasn’t done for over a decade.  

Don’t agree at all?  Think I am nuts?  Want the Bills to try to get this guy today?  Please write your reactions in the comment box below or send over an email to buffbillsfan517@yahoo.com.  Your feedback is gr

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