The Kansas City Chiefs traded perennial Pro Bowl tight end (and future Hall of Famer) Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons today for a second round Draft pick in 2010. In the process, the Falcons address an immediate need by adding one of the NFL’s best pass-catching TEs to their already impressive offensive attack. And I believe they also gave themselves a “big three” with quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner (don’t forget receiver Roddy White). Therefore, if the Falcons weren’t already widely considered to be a force to be reckoned with in the future NFC playoff picture, they …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Here is the AFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Peyton Manning, Colts; Brett Favre, Jets; Jay Cutler, Broncos
RB: Thomas Jones, Jets; Chris Johnson, Titans; Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
FB: Le’Ron McClain, Ravens
WR: Andre Johnson, Texans; Brandon Marshall, Broncos; Reggie Wayne, Colts; Wes Welker, Patriots
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs; Antonio Gates, Chargers
T: Joe Thomas, Browns; Jason Peters, Bills; Michael Roos, Titans
G: Alan Faneca, Jets; Kris Dielman, Chargers; Brian Waters, Chiefs
C: Kevin Mawae, Titans; Nick Mangold, Jets
DEFENSE
DE: Mario Williams, Texans; Dwight Freeney, Colts; Robert Mathis, Colts
DT: Albert Haynesworth, …read more

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Just minutes after the National Football League’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline this afternoon, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards said nine-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez was still with the team:
“He’s going to be at practice tomorrow. That’s what he’s paid to do. He a professional football player ….. Tony’s going to give 100 percent as a professional football player. He always has. That’s one thing you can count on him. He takes a lot of pride in being who he is. If not, he couldn’t have achieved all the goals that …read more

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The Buffalo Bills were on a bye this weekend and the players were probably home watching football or outside enjoying the absolutely stunning fall weather here in Western New York. But the front office folks might still be working hard at dealing for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez before the National Football League’s Tuesday trade deadline.
Not to read too much into this, but as of 9:38 p.m. ET, running back Fred Jackson is not on the BuffaloBills.com roster or depth chart. What gives? Is the Bills webmaster getting a head start on …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
With the NFL’s trade deadline fast approaching (October 14), one potential deal that is gaining momentum is Kansas City Chiefs perennial All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez to the N.Y. Giants. It makes sense. Tony’s not getting any younger. He’s done his time in K.C. and it’s fairly evident the schizophrenic Chiefs are in a rebuilding mode (although Chiefs offensive lineman Adrian Jones and I discussed this as kind of bogus last week). The Giants could use a TE and red zone threat to replace Jeremy Shockey (who was traded to New Orleans, of course) because …read more

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Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
It recently became public knowledge that Kansas City Chiefs nine-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez saved a man’s life last week when he performed the Heimlich maneuver on him at a restaurant in Huntington Beach, California. Apparently Tony was having dinner with his wife, brother and 5-week-old daughter when Ken Hunter, a shipping company manager at a nearby table, began choking on a piece of meat. Ken said:
“Tony saved my life. There’s no doubt. I tried to take a drink of water, but I couldn’t swallow. Then I couldn’t breathe. That’s …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers lead the AFC’s 2008 Pro Bowl squad with a conference-high eight players each. New England’s eight All-Stars equals a franchise high set by the 1985 Pats. The AFC roster includes 18 first-time All-Stars, including Cincinnati WR T.J. Houshmanzadeh, who leads the NFL with 101 receptions.

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
I wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Jason Witten grab a record 15 catches (including the game-winner) against the Detroit Lions yesterday, breaking a Cowboys’ single-game reception total and tying the NFL mark among TEs. This kind of outburst has been brewing for some time. Just take a look at his 2007 season so far. He had nine catches against the Bills (10/8) and 10 against the Vikings (10/21). And he had eight more against Washington just before Thanksgiving. Add ‘em all up and through the first 13 games and you get …read more