FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 9/14/2009 12:20am et

The Associated Press reports Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez caught five passes for 73 yards and one touchdown in the team's Week 1 game. During the game, he became the 21st player in NFL history with 11,000 yards receiving.

The Huddle Take: Incredible feat for a player destined to be a hall of famer at the earliest possible time. Gonzalez should continue to give QB Matt Ryan another solid target on a young offense that continues to develop and improve into a solid contender.

Posted: 8/22/2009 12:24pm et

CBSSports.com reports Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez had three receptions for 32 yards and one touchdown in the team's preseason game Friday, Aug. 21.

The Huddle Take: This great news since other earlier reports had Gonzalez struggling a bit to learn the new offense. Gonzo could add a deadly new facet to the Falcons attack and showing up well in a preseason game makes drafting him a little easier this summer.

Posted: 7/7/2009 1:13pm et

AtlantaFalcons.com, reports Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez will catch his share of passes in the Falcons offense this season. However, with the offense built around RB Michael Turner, Gonzalez will be relied upon to be a productive blocking tight end. 'Tony will help our offense in a number of ways,' offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey said. 'One thing he's going to do is that he's a productive blocker and that's important in our offense ... As successful as he's been as a receiver, he's a good blocker too and he really doesn't get the credit that he should.'

The Huddle Take: This sounds alarming, but don't downgrade Gonzalez in your draft because of this news. Gonzalez will still put up strong numbers in the Atlanta offense as long as he stays healthy. With defenses having to key on Turner and WR Roddy White, Gonzalez should have ample opportunity to catch a lot of passes.

Posted: 6/20/2009 12:16am et

J. Michael Moore, of AtlantaFalcons.com, reports Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey said TE Tony Gonzalez will help the offense not only as a receiver but also as a blocker. "Tony will help our offense in a number of ways. One thing he's going to do is that he's a productive blocker and that's important in our offense. As successful as he's been as a receiver, he's a good blocker too and he really doesn't get the credit that he should," Mularkey said.

The Huddle Take: Gonzo has played in run-oriented offenses before (the Priest Holmes heyday in KC), so he's familiar with the concept of blocking. But it's his pass-catching skills that will put him in the Hall of Fame, and that's the reason the Falcons added him to Matt Ryan's roster of receivers. The blocking is a bonus.

Posted: 5/11/2009 11:01am et

D. Orlando Ledbetter, of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports Falcons RB Michael Turner is happy with the addition of TE Tony Gonzalez. He said defenses will have to play the Falcons honest this year, as they are not a one-dimensional team any longer. Turner led the league with 376 carries last season and was second in the league with 1,699 yards rushing. With a more diversified passing attack, his rushing attempts could go down. He said he will prepare as if he is going to get the same amount of work but said it would be great for him if he doesn't have to carry the ball as much.

The Huddle Take: Fantasy folks don't want to see Turner's workload diminished too dramatically, but enough of a scaling back to keep him fresh all year long—combined with defenses forced to respect Gonzo and the passing game rather than ganging up to stop Turner and the rushing attack—sounds like a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Posted: 4/23/2009 11:59pm et

FOXSports.com, reports the Kansas City Chiefs have traded TE Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2010 second-round draft choice, according to sources.

The Huddle Take: Gonzalez going to the Falcons is a huge acquisition for a team on the rise like Atlanta who have an up and coming quarterback in Matt Ryan and also some other solid playmakers on offense. The future Hall of Famer Gonzalez will make a solid redzone target that the Falcons are likely to utilize extensively in 2009.

Posted: 3/25/2009 11:22pm et

The Associated Press reports Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez wants to be traded if the right deal can be made, a person close to Gonzalez said Tuesday, March 24. Asking not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject, the person said Gonzalez was surprised that owner Clark Hunt had said the Chiefs were definitely not going to trade Gonzalez. 'If the right deal can be made, Tony very much wants the Chiefs to trade him,' the person said. 'Tony is not demanding a trade. Tony cherishes the time he's spent with the Chiefs and he loves the way he's always been treated by the fans there. But he knows of some other teams that would be interested in him and if the right deal can be made, he wants it to be made.'

The Huddle Take: Rumors involving a potential trade for Tony Gonzalez have been swirling since last season with little action taken by the Chiefs up to this point. It would not be a surprise to see Gonzalez with another team before the start of the regular season but don't expect Kansas City to give him up unless they get plenty in return for their future Hall of Famer.

Posted: 2/9/2009 2:36pm et

The Kansas City Star reports Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez said he would "have no problems staying with the Chiefs," depending on what moves the team makes in the offseason. Gonzalez said during an interview with NBC at the Pro Bowl that he spoke with new general manager Scott Pioli to dispel some reports concerning his future. "I spoke to Pioli last week because there were some trade rumors out there saying I wanted to have a trade, and that wasn't the case," Gonzalez said. "There is no doubt in my mind that Scott Pioli is going to come in there and do an amazing job and so is Todd Haley, the new head coach. ... Just looking at the Super Bowl this year, it would be so great to get that opportunity to play for that. I'm not saying the Chiefs can't do that. They will eventually turn that corner; it's how soon can they do that. Once free agency comes, and they're wheeling and dealing, and they're making trades, and it looks good, then I have no problem staying with the Chiefs."

The Huddle Take: A shrewd veteran move: Gonzo isn't asking for a trade, but if the team won't be competitive—and his comments are gently goosing them to expedite the process—then he's opening the door to a move elsewhere.

Posted: 1/2/2009 2:22pm et

The Kansas City Star reports Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez said he plans to return to the team next season, as long as the team is not going to rebuild. "As far as I know, I'll be a Chief next year," Gonzalez said. "Depending on what Clark (Hunt) wants to do, if he wants to blow this whole thing up and bring in a new coaching staff and bring in a new coordinator with that and bring in a new quarterback in the draft, that all weighs into whether or not I want to be a Chief next year. As far as I'm concerned, as a veteran on this team going into my 13th year next year, the last thing I want to hear is 'rebuild.' I'm not into it. If they come in here and they want to blow it all up, I'll be frustrated and I'll be a little (ticked) off."

The Huddle Take: Wait... Gonzo wants to stay in KC but doesn't want them to rebuild? He wants them to trot out the same guys that won two games last year? Gonzalez proved this year he can still play, and you'd think a trade that sent Gonzo to a contender for a couple of picks the Chiefs could use to... um... 'reload' would be a win-win-win situation. Kansas City's new GM can certainly expect to hear some offers for his Hall of Fame tight end prior to draft day.