While Kansas City general manager John Dorsey may be pining for a reunion between the Chiefs and veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez, the Atlanta Falcons have pumped the breaks on any speculation regarding moving him.
Falcons head coach Mike Smith told the media following rampant rumors of Dorsey being willing to part with draft picks to get Gonzalez back in a Kansas City uniform that there was no way Atlanta was going to send Gonzalez packing.
"That's preposterous that Tony would be traded,'' Smith told ESPN. "He's an integral part of our offense and has been since he's been here. And he's having another Hall of Fame season."
Gonzalez, 37, started his career in Kansas City in 1997 and became a cult figure there during his 12 year stint with the Chiefs, but he was traded to the Falcons in 2009 for a second-round draft pick. Gonzalez is off to a tremendous start to the year in his fifth year in Atlanta, having caught 33 passes for 339 yards and adding three touchdowns through the first five weeks of the season.
"In my mind, the last two weeks have been maybe his best two games since he's been here. So he's an integral part -- and will continue to be -- to the success we're going to have," Smith said per ESPN.
Gonzalez has had a solid last two weeks, putting up two touchdowns on 12 catches and 149 yards Week 4 against New England and then following it up last Monday against the New York Jets in Week 5 with a 97 yard game on 10 receptions without reaching the end zone.
With the NFL trade deadline looming on Oct. 29, rumors started to heat up about a possible reunion between the Chiefs and Gonzalez following a radio appearance by Dorsey, who was asked what Gonzalez's trade value would be to him.
"I'd give him a spot up in that stadium one day," Dorsey said, according to the Kansas City Star.
When asked whether or not he'd give up picks for Gonzalez, Dorsey said that picks are valuable to him and he's frugal with them. When the radio hosts pressed to see whether or not that was a definite no, Dorsey wouldn't put it out of the question.
"No, it's not a no. We have to analyze each situation. That's kind of what that is," he said, according to the paper.
Gonzalez decided to come back and play one more season this year in hopes of winning a Super Bowl, but the Falcons are off to a 1-4 start and have suffered some key injuries, most recently losing wide receiver Julio Jones for the entire season. The Chiefs, on the other hand, are off to a dazzling 5-0 start, but despite this, Fox News reported that Gonzalez doesn't feel any desire to be traded.
Even though the team is 1-4, Smith insists the Falcons and Gonzalez can turn it around and aren't giving up on the season.
"We are still in this,'' Smith said via ESPN. "There are still 11 games to be played, a lot of football to be played. We're focusing on us and focusing on what we have to do to get a win."
Atlanta has its bye week this week, so it won't return to the field until Week 7 against Tampa Bay at home.
While fans, players and even the general manager of Kansas City would like to see a reunion with Gonzalez, Atlanta is not willing to part with a tight end that will step into a bigger role in the offense now that Jones is out.
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