The great Mike Garafolo has proposed a different solution for how the New York Giants can replace Plaxico Burress.
Get Tony Gonzalez, the future Hall of Fame tight end, from the Kansas City Chiefs.
MG speculates that the arrival of a new GM (Scott Pioli) in Kansas City, and Gonzalez' well-known desire not to play for a rebuilding team, could make this a match.
Tony Gonzalez So here's a guy (Gonzalez) that wanted out a few months ago and nearly forced his way to the Giants. Now, add in a change of GM with a looming coaching change and suddenly you've got a guy that really wants out and could cause a stink if he doesn't get his way. Would Pioli want this kind of a headache right out of the gate? Or would he, having come from the ultimate team system in New England, want to come in and establish that no player is above the whole? I'm guessing the latter. ...
Now, we know the Giants showed at least mild interest in Gonzalez at the trading deadline. And that was before they lost Plaxico Burress. GM Jerry Reese has talked about what a presence Burress was on the field, though to be fair he did indicate he thinks can get by without one. Still, this passing game needs help. Burress could provide that help by returning to the fold with a new, improved mindset. But the Giants won't know if he's available to return until after his court date on March 31 - a full month and a day after the start of the free agency and trading period. That means they'd have to proceed with adding a receiver without knowing for sure if Burress will be behind bars. ...
I know what everybody's saying about Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but does anybody really think Arizona is going to trade Boldin? And Houshmandzadeh, if he comes free, would be a fine addition to any team. But he's not a Burress-type presence. And adding a receiver in the draft means you're looking for a guy to develop into a stud receiver in a few years, not immediately. So what's the best way to create a big impact on your passing game?
Add one of the best receiving tight ends in league history. ...
Also, I know Gonzalez will be 33 next month, but he had 96 catches for 1,058 yards and 10 TDs this year. Oh, and after the trading deadline when he ripped the team for not trading him, he had 75 receptions for 865 yards and 8 TDs in 11 games. That's an average of almost seven catches for 88 yards per game. Imagine what he'll provide when he's doing what he wants to do - play for a winner.
Personally, I love this idea. The Giants are a team built to win now, and Gonzalez obviously still has plenty left in the tank to be a major force for another year or two. A two tight-end set with Kevin Boss would cause nightmares for defensive coordinators. It would also be a huge help to the Giants in what Tom Coughlin calls the 'Green Zone.' Plus, this would likely cost the Giants a lot less in terms of draft picks than a trade for either Boldin or Calvin Johnson -- if those are even possible.
Gonzalez stats from the just-completed season are below. His career numbers can be found here.
Your thoughts?