Monday, July 29, 2002
Chiefs withdraw offer until Gonzalez drops hoops
By DOUG TUCKER
AP Sports Writer
RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Kansas City Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson said Sunday he is rescinding his long-term contract offer to tight end Tony Gonzalez until Gonzalez gives up his dream of playing in the NFL and NBA.
This is something Gonzalez has said he would not do.
“I always believed if you're going to make a commitment to one sport, you have to make it completely,” said Peterson, who for years has bitten his tongue while Gonzalez played in summer basketball leagues.
“And that means year-round and everything you're doing.”
Gonzalez, who suffered an ankle injury while playing for the Miami Heat's summer- league team, is holding out for wide receiver-type money. He turned down a long-term deal that included a signing bonus of about $8 million.
Peterson said he advised Gonzalez's agent that the only contract option is a one-year tender for a little more than $3 million, which labels Gonzalez the Chiefs' franchise player.
He added the long-term offer is no longer an option “unless Tony is willing to say, 'Hey, I have chased my dream. I've got my answer on my dream. I know how good I am and can be in the NBA, but that's not for me any longer.”'
Gonzalez could not be reached for comment Sunday.
As the franchise player, Gonzalez has no choice but to sign the one-year tender if he doesn't want to retire. Then the Chiefs could hold him to the same condition next season.
“I don't think it's fair to (owner) Lamar Hunt to ask him to invest the guaranteed dollars and potential dollars for the future in regard to salaries and other compensation and then allow that individual to each offseason continue to go and pursue his dream in the NBA at risk of injury,” Peterson said.
“So that's why I said the simplest solution, to allow Tony to do what he would like to do and certainly what we would be comfortable with, would be to sign the one-year tender for this year, although it costs us more cap money. And he can go do this next spring if he wants, a 10-day tryout and go back to the Miami Heat or wherever it is, and try out for their summer league team and pursue his dream.”
The 6-foot-5 Gonzalez, who played college basketball at California, has said that basketball enhances his football skills.
He and first-round draft pick Ryan Sims are the team's only holdouts as the Chiefs completed their third day in camp Sunday.
Gonzalez has been named to the Pro Bowl three straight years and drawn comparisons with Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow and has said football is his best sport.
“As the 10th, 11th or 12th player on an NBA squad as a rookie the salary is about $335,000,” Peterson said. “At one time, we had a lot more on the table for Tony than that. At some point, common sense steps in and says, 'Maybe it's not my first love. But I like football and, wow, I can make a lot of money.”'
Peterson has insisted on similar contract clauses for other stars. The late Derrick Thomas, who died in a car crash in 2000, was prohibited from skydiving or scuba diving.
Nobody would be surprised to see Gonzalez miss the entire three-week camp in River Falls. But the Chiefs are hoping something can be worked out soon with Sims, a 6-foot-4, 315-pounder who is the projected starter at defensive tackle.
“They're still asking too much,” Peterson said. “We thought we had him locked in a week ago.”
Quarterback Trent Green is waiting to start contract talks of his own. He's in the final year of a two-year deal.
“The contract will take care of itself,” Green said. “I've talked with everybody. We're all on the same page. They've got to get Tony done and they've got to get Ryan done. I know I want to be here. They know I want to be here. It will get done at some point.”
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Chiefs withdraw offer until Gonzalez drops hoops
