Reaction to Tony Gonzalez trade

You know something is a pretty big deal when two columnists at one paper write different takes on the same subject. Such was the case today at the Kansas City Star.

Joe Posnanski (bottom left) and Jason Whitlock took vastly different approaches and — as the nation’s top 1-2 punch usually does — both hit their mark on the Tony Gonzalez-to-Atlanta story. (Both photos from kcstar.com)

Whitlock wrote that this was a deal the Chiefs couldn’t pass up, and he got to his point quickly and without any doubt where he stood:

“A 2010 second-round pick for a 33-year-old, high-priced tight end who plans to retire in two years and wants out of Kansas City is the perfect predraft gift,” writes Whitlock.

Posnanski, playing to his strengths, took the more sentimental route. Wrote Posnanski:

“Jerry Rice finished his career with the Seattle Seahawks. John Unitas threw his last pass for the San Diego Chargers. Emmitt Smith gained his last yards for the Arizona Cardinals. Reggie White made his last sack for the Carolina Panthers.

“And so Gonzalez, the greatest pass-catching tight end in football history, will probably catch his last pass for the Atlanta Falcons. No, it doesn’t seem right. But football rarely has proper endings.”

Equally as uplifted was Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Thomas Dimitroff, the man in charge of personnel for the Falcons, knocked it out of the park.

Wrote Bradley:

“In 43 years of operation, the Falcons haven’t managed consecutive winning seasons because they never had the man with the plan. They have him now. They have their (John) Schuerholz.”

The trade gave us a chance to see ESPN’s blogging component at its best. The addition of NFL bloggers-by-division, at least in my mind, is one of ESPN’s most subtle and effective moves of the last serveral years. I read them weekly, if not sometimes more.

The Gonzalez coverage was throrough and entertaining.

AFC West writer Bill Williamson took a stance opposite Whitlock’s. “Chiefs will regret trading Gonzalez,” read the headline.

Pat Yasinskas, ESPN’s NFC South blogger, liked the move from the Falcons’ end for one reason in particular: “Giving up a pick in this year’s draft — when the Falcons have needs all over on defense — made no sense. Giving it up for next year is a whole different story,” he wrote.

For the record, Pro Football Weekly’s Mike Florio liked the move for the same reason as Whitlock.

– David Schwartz