“With the 13th pick in the 1997 NFL draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select from California, tight end Tony Gonzalez.” With the end of that statement, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted not only a pro bowl tight end, but also more importantly a true professional.  The number 13 in this case was very lucky for the Chiefs and that city.  Tony Gonzalez now holds the record for touchdown catches for tight ends and will eventually be enshrined in the Hall Of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

  Look at his lifetime statistics and they speak for volumes about the smart choice Kansas City chose.  These are lifetime statistics he has averaged since 1997.  (All of these statistics are on the NFL Statistics site, if you want to read more.)  For his career, here are some notable items.

64 touchdowns;

12.1 yards per catch;

4.1 yards after catch;

55.8 yards per game;

  In addition, seven times Pro-Bowler!  In 2004, he had a career high of 102 receptions and 1258 yards, averaged 78.6 yards per game and 12.3 yards per catch.  In the years after being drafted in the first round, do you know how many games he has missed.  He has missed a total amount of zero, nada, zip, zilch- zero.  He is a tight end, not a punter that plays every so often, such as the punter from Indianapolis’ punter that many could not name.  The statistic that I find more impressive then his push towards an Ironman Award is his fumbles.  During his career, his fumbles are incredible. He has a career 6 fumbles.  That is six for a tight end that has not missed a game in his career during the regular season equaling less than one a year.  He crosses the middle of the field with reckless abandon without regard for the inevitable hit and has only amassed a miniscule six fumbles.

  Let us put this into perspective. For the season beginning in 2000 carrying through the seasons 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, he had zero fumbles.  Over the past seven seasons, he has only had one fumble.  That itself is a phenomenal achievement.  He is the Chiefs “go to” receiver when times are in a bind on a touchdown drive.  Here is something also to be impressed about.  Of his 759 career receptions, 383 come in the second half; 368 are when his team is behind; 147 were across the middle of the field; and 272 were on third down.  On second down with 8-10 yards to pick up to sustain the drive, he has had the ball thrown to him 138 times; on third down with 3-7 yards to pick up, it was 104 times and when the goal line situation exists, they went to him 39 times.  Nothing says, “Guard this guy in the crunch times” like Tony Gonzalez.

  He is always one or two in fantasy league points at the end of the year for his position.  Like many professionals, he performs community service such as “Habitat for Humanities” and makes the mandatory appearances as requested by the NFLPA.  However, there is another side of him, which he prefers to stay in out of the limelight.  It is his foundation called, “Shadow Buddies.”  He also works with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.  Shadow Buddies is more of a caterer to sick children and the elderly who give smiling dolls to those that receive them as a gift.  Those gifts are not in the Kansas City area alone, they also are given in the states of California, Missouri, Kansas, New York, Texas, Washington DC and Hawaii.  In addition, he gives out books about disabilities to school kids to help them understand those, which are disabled.  He has assisted in a national “Buckle Up” campaign in honor of his fallen teammate Derrick Thomas.  Has also spoken or participated in breast cancer awareness.  Participated in Organ Donors associations; donated over 200 flag football uniforms to youth leagues; matched 2 for 1 every dollar of a $75,000 park renovation project to construct a football field for inner city youths, and also provides 10 season tickets to the Chiefs games to the Boys and Girls clubs as an incentive to its members.  He also started an “Elite 88” program in July that as an incentive to its members receive personal emails from him twice a month.

   Although the Chiefs were winners in the draft of 1997, their organization and fans were the biggest winners.  He is not a chest thumper or rah-rah player on the field.  He does not make headlines when he is not playing football in the off-season.  He is the consummate leader not only on the field, but also off the field.  He is a credit to the NFLPA and truly exemplifies the title - “Professional.”

There really is an Indianapolis Punter!!!