Tag: Tony Gonzalez

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce praises Tony Gonzalez after breaking franchise record

#Chiefs TE Travis Kelce praises legend Tony Gonzalez after breaking the franchise’s record for receiving yards

The career of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce continues to rise to new heights, more than his work on the popular podcast series. He became the franchise’s all-time leader in career receiving yards during the team’s Week 9 victory, etching his place in Chiefs history over another legendary tight end.

On the latest episode of his “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason, Kelce reflected on breaking the franchise’s receiving yards record held previously by Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez.

“I should have broken this record like three games ago,” Kelce said. “I’m just sitting here either way. It’s an absolute [expletive] honor ever since I came here to Kansas City to be mentored by the greatest tight end to ever do it in Tony Gonzalez. To try and fill his shoes every single day and try to reach some of the milestones he’s set like [the] receiving yards in the franchise history. It’s just an honor to even be here in K.C. to know greatness has walked [these] halls, and I can be a part of that greatness.”

Kelce is still seeking the Chiefs’ franchise record for receptions as he currently stands at 871, trailing only Gonzales’ 916. The job is far from over, but Kelce has essentially secured his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce surpassed Tony Gonzalez on K.C.’s receiving yards leaderboard

Travis Kelce passed Tony Gonzalez for first place on the #Chiefs’ all-time receiving yards leaderboard with his performance vs. #Dolphins.

The Kansas City Chiefs have hosted two of the most prolific tight ends in NFL history over the last 25 years. First, Hall of Fame pass-catcher Tony Gonzalez took the league by storm from 1997 until his retirement after the 2013 season.

Gonzalez’s departure from Kansas City in 2009 was a controversial moment in Chiefs history, and coincidentally the team would go on to draft his spiritual successor, Travis Kelce, just before the 14-time Pro Bowler retired as a member of the Atlanta Falcons.

Nobody could have known that Kelce would go on to unseat Gonzalez on Kansas City’s all-time receiving yards leaderboard when the Chiefs drafted the University of Cincinnati product in Andy Reid’s first year as the team’s head coach.

Now years later, Kelce has managed to do the unthinkable by surpassing Gonzalez as Kansas City’s all-time leader in receiving yards after helping the Chiefs win their seventh game of the 2023 season against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Building an offense out of the All-Time Saints Villains

Building an offense out of the All-Time Saints Villains: Who makes your list at QB, RB, TE, WR, and along the offensive line?

Who are the biggest villains in New Orleans Saints history? What do we mean by that? We’re talking about the most challenging opponents the Saints have ever faced, who became key fixtures in rivalries with other teams. Not just loudmouths like Roddy White and Mike Evans, or iconic playoff villains like Marshawn Lynch and Vernon Davis — players who showed up and played hard against New Orleans on a regular basis.

We aren’t just highlighting players who were known for their big personalities (though of course that deserves some credit). Pro Bowls matter. All-Pro teams matter. Hall of Fame induction matters. The longevity of a player’s presence in the rivalry is a key part of our process. So with that in mind, here are our picks for the All-Time Saints Villains Offense:

Paul George thinks more NBA players would succeed in the NFL than the other way around

Paul George took a firm stance on the age-old debate on NFL and NBA players switching sports and who would be more successful.

It’s an age-old question in sports. Who would do better playing the other’s sport between NFL and NBA players?

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George let his opinions be known on the subject, and his answer probably won’t surprise you.

Prompted in a podcast-to-podcast question by NFL players Jason and Travis Kelce on the subject, George explained on his own show that he thinks NBA players have a higher likelihood of success in playing professional football than if the situation were reversed.

Whether you agree with George on his points or not, he does make a pretty convincing case here as to why NBA players may have a clear advantage here.

Some NSFW language to follow. 

George points out former NFL players like Julius Peppers and Tony Gonzalez, who played two sports in college before their Hall of Fame careers. Those guys are the exceptions to the rule.

Just speaking in practical terms, George is absolutely right that the game of basketball just requires more of a particular skill set in creating offense. As he alludes, even if the most talented NFL player takes the hardwood, he may not even get guarded by the opponent if he can’t shoot well.

It’s a bit easier in the NFL to get open in coverage and be disruptive on defense than it is in the NBA to create offense, so we’ll give George the advantage in this eternal debate.

Here’s what Chiefs TE Travis Kelce had to say about his latest milestone

#Chiefs TE Travis Kelce revealed his feelings on the latest career milestone, sharing the accomplishment with his teammates and coaches. | from @EdEastonJr

The career of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is expected to eventually end with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This past Sunday’s milestone is just the latest piece of evidence for the argument as to why he belongs.

Kelce eclipsed 10,000 career receiving yards, making him only the fifth tight end to reach that status. He also clinched his seventh straight 1,000-yard season, all on his first reception of Sunday’s victory over the Denver Broncos. The All-Pro tight end addressed the media following the game revealing his feelings on the milestone and sharing the accomplishment with his teammates and coaches.

“Honestly, right now, the win means more than any of those stats,” said Kelce.“Everybody’s kind of been talking about me getting those stats at some point this year, so it was on everybody’s radar, but to come up here and get a win and be a part of the crowd that is the 10,000 crew: [Antonio] Gates, [Jason] Witten, [Tony] Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, Broncos, the main guy who I was chasing today. Obviously, all those guys are unbelievable company, and [I am] very fortunate that I’ve had the coaches and the players around me to be able to have this much success in the NFL as I have.”

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Kelce is only 52 yards behind Sharpe for fourth on the all-time list making it highly likely he will continue to ascend the rankings this season. Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez leads the pack with over 5,000 yards more than Kelce, but at 33 years old, Kelce hit the 10,000 yards mark 37 games quicker than Gonzalez did. It’s just another testament to how Kelce has changed the game for the tight-end position.

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Chiefs’ Travis Kelce shares thoughts on climbing NFL’s all-time tight end leaderboards

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. recently sat down with #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, who shared his thoughts on his ascent up the tight end receiving yards leaderboard.

The NFL records books are being written with new chapters weekly as today’s players challenge the standards set by legends. The rapid ascent of Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce has changed the perception of the position that was once known for blocking instead of receptions.

After Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kelce has now entered the top five all-time in receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history. He joins only former Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, and Shannon Sharpe after passing Rob Gronkowski during last Sunday’s victory over the Bucs. Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. recently sat down with Kelce, who shared his thoughts on joining the elite company in the top five.

“Oh, man. Honestly, it was an honor to be in sixth place. Man, to be on a list with all those greats is pretty epic is pretty, pretty cool. I can’t really put it into words,” said Kelce. “But I know that, you know, being on that list and seeing how much further down the road Tony Gonzalez is. It seems like he’s a lifetime away from me catching him, and I’ve been trying to fill his shoes my entire career. So I still got a long, long way to go before I’m anywhere near him. But it is unbelievable company, and I’m definitely honored to be a part of that.”

Gonzalez leads the receiving yards category by a significant margin with 15,127. Kelce is one of two players in the top five who is under 10,000 yards receiving alongside Shannon Sharpe. He’ll have a chance to pass Sharpe this season with plenty of ground to gain on the others in the next few years.

NFL fans couldn’t believe the astronomically high standards Tony Gonzalez set for Tua Tagovailoa

Gonzalez is a really tough critic!

In his third NFL season, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been no stranger to criticism. Before Miami started the 2022 season, many in the NFL world felt the former Alabama product didn’t have the arm strength to last as a pro.

Now that the Dolphins have started 3-0, buoyed by a blossoming Tagovailoa no less, they’ve begun to open some eyes. One person, Thursday Night Football analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, still isn’t quite a fan of Tagovailoa’s play. That might be an understatement.

In the pregame of Miami’s “darling” matchup with the Bengals (-3.5), the NFL legend said that the Dolphins’ passer essentially has to have a perfect, sparkling game every single time he plays.

Uh, alright?

“That’s what the great ones do now.”

No. No, they do not. Not every game, anyway.

Look, I’m not sold on Tagovailoa long-term just yet, either. But to expect the young quarterback to throw for 400-plus yards and six scores in every game is ludicrous and hyperbolic. I’d settle for a clean sheet and more than a few big plays downfield, but that’s just me. Though, I’m not the one setting the impossible bar for a young player trying to mature.

Here’s who’s joining Richard Sherman on Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football studio show

Who’s joining Richard Sherman as a TNF analyst? We go over it.

One of the more significant changes to the NFL broadcasting schedule this year is that Thursday Night Football games will now be broadcast on Amazon Prime. (Be sure to check with your local bar or restaurant on whether they will show these games!)

It is the first time a pro football broadcast series will be primarily shown over a streaming service. And with a loaded slate of games, TNF certainly appears to be quite interesting moving forward.

Aside from Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit calling matchups in the booth, a bunch of familiar faces will also analyze TNF games in the studio.

Let’s dive into who will be breaking down the respective Thursday night matchups every week on Amazon Prime.

Charissa Thompson targeted as Amazon ‘Thursday Night Football’ pregame show host

Charissa Thompson looks set to add Amazon’s NFL TNF pregame show to her resume

The Amazon ‘Thursday Night Football’ pregame show is going to have a FOX-type feel. Tony Gonzalez apparently will be working with Charissa Thompson, who the New York Post revealed is expected to be named as the pregame host.

Thompson and Gonzalez worked together on FOX’s NFL programming in the past.

Gonzalez missed last season on the air after his contract ran out and he was deemed to be headed toward Amazon if it was to win the rights for Thursday games, which it did.

Per the Post:

Amazon, according to sources, also had talks with Kay Adams, who recently left NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” about hosting the pregame, but the sides failed to come to an agreement.

Thompson does a fine job hosting “Fox NFL Kickoff” each Sunday at 11 a.m. She will continue in that Fox role, while adding Amazon Prime on Thursdays.

Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez to announce Chiefs’ Round 2 draft picks

Former #Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez is set to announce Round 2 draft picks for Kansas City.

NFL Legends announcing draft picks has become the new norm for the second day of the draft.

In the past, the Kansas City Chiefs have had Willie Lanier, Priest Holmes, Carlos Carson, Will Shields and others announce draft picks in the second round. Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez, one of the greatest draft picks in franchise history, is set to announce picks in Round 2 of the 2022 NFL draft according to a recent NFL press release. It’s unclear if Gonzalez will announce both of the Chiefs’ picks (No. 50 and No. 62), but we’re going to work under the assumption that he is.

A former first-round draft pick out of Cal in 1997, Gonzalez played with the Chiefs through the 2008 season and played 17 seasons in the league. He is known as one of the most prolific tight ends in NFL history, earning recognition in the Chiefs’ Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his accomplishment. He made the Pro Bowl 14 times and holds many NFL records, including for career receiving yards by a tight end (15,127). Gonzalez owned the Chiefs’ single-season record for receiving yards and receptions, but those records are now owned by Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill respectively.

This should be an exciting experience for the newest players coming to Kansas City. It’ll be encouraging and exciting to hear their names called by one of the all-time great Chiefs players who etched their greatness in both franchise and league annals.

A few other former Chiefs, RB Marcus Allen and CB Darrelle Revis, will be announcing picks for the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets.

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