Falcons will not trade Tony Gonzalez
Future Hall of Fame tight end was traded once, but it does not look like he will be traded again.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith addressed speculation of a Gonzalez trade after practice today, via ESPN:
"That’s preposterous that Tony would be traded. 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.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.’"
Indeed, it would be an odd move for the Falcons to trade Gonzalez after they were willing to wait for the tight end all offseason to see if he would retire. After loosing quarterback Matt Ryan’s other favorite target Julio Jones for the season, this move in unlikely, unless the Falcons are planning on giving up on the season already after a disappointing 1-4 start, but Smith has indicated this is not the case:
"We are still in this. 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. We can’t look beyond our next opponent. And right now, our opponent is the Atlanta Falcons this week. And next week, we’ll start focusing on Tampa Bay."
Speculation of the trade started when Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey, who traded Gonzalez to the Falcons in the first place, did not outright refuse that he would trade for Gonzalez in a recent radio interview.
“No, it’s not a no. We have to analyze each situation. That’s kind of what that is,” said Dorsey.
The 5-0 Chiefs are certainly in a better position for a championship run than the Falcons at this point, which is why the 37-year-old Gonzalez decided to play another year. However, Gonzalez reportedly had told Fox Sports that he did not wish to be traded.
This season, Gonzalez is the Falcons’ second-leading receiver with 33 catches for 339 yards. He leads the team in touchdowns with three.