Saturday, June 22, 2002
With no contract, Chiefs TE Gonzalez sets sights on NBA
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez plans to work out with the NBA's Miami Heat next month, but he isn't giving up football despite an inability to work out a new contract.
About 15 players are expected at the tryout camp, from which 12 will be chosen by Miami coach Pat Riley to attend a training camp in Orlando, Fla., set to start July 9.
“It's a pretty big deal,” Gonzalez told the Kansas City Star. “I've got to go there and not get cut.”
Heat spokesman Rob Wilson said the team could not comment on or verify Gonzalez's presence at the camp. The summer league in Orlando could overlap with the beginning of Kansas City's training camp, which starts July 25.
“My situation with the Chiefs right now, I really don't know what's going on,” said Gonzalez, who recently backed out of a tryout with the Toronto Raptors. “It's time to stay busy and stay in shape so when I do hit the field, I can hit it flying and be in shape.”
Gonzalez, a three-time All-Pro, is demanding to be paid as if he were a wide receiver and not a tight end, which is one of the lowest-paid positions in the NFL.
Gonzalez, 6-feet-4 and 250 pounds, played college basketball at California and averaged 6.4 points and 4.3 rebounds a game over three seasons as a forward. But he is adamant that football comes first.
“There's no way I'm going to give up football,” Gonzalez said. “Football is my thing. That's what I do well. That's what I enjoy doing. I would never give up.”
“But (trying out for the Heat) is something I'm definitely killing two birds with one stone. Not only am I staying in shape, which is preparing for football, but I'm out there doing something I love to do, playing basketball, and I'm also exploring the possibility of trying to play both sports and be the first person to do it.
“I'm not going to let basketball interfere with football. If I happen to get a contract signed, I would leave the Heat right away and show up and get football started.”
Gonzalez said his left knee, injured in the Chiefs regular-season finale at Seattle, is totally recovered. Surgery was not required to repair his medial collateral ligament.
“The fact that he's a fine basketball player is one of his great attributes as a football player,” Vermeil said. “He's an NFL football player. He's not kidding himself. He knows that. He and I have talked about that.
“He likes to play basketball. Some guys like to play golf. I don't get upset about that. There's too many other things to get upset about.”
BILLS: Buffalo agreed to terms with wide receiver Charles Johnson, who was released by New England in February. Johnson, a veteran of eight NFL seasons, had 14 catches for 133 yards and one touchdown in two starts last season, all career lows.
BRONCOS: Free-agent offensive tackle Blake Brockermeyer signed with Denver. Terms were not disclosed, but sources earlier indicated it would be a seven-year deal.
Brockermeyer, 29, who had offseason surgery on his left knee and right shoulder, will compete with Ephraim Salaam for the starting job at left tackle. Brockermeyer spent the last three seasons with Chicago after playing four with Carolina.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville acquired cornerback Ike Charlton from Seattle for an undisclosed draft choice. Charlton, a second-round pick of the Seahawks in 2000, started one game for Seattle.
Jacksonville was looking for depth at cornerback. Jason Craft is set to start on the opposite side of Fernando Bryant, who has been fighting foot and ankle injuries the past two seasons.
PATRIOTS: Linebackers Roman Phifer and Kole Ayi re-signed with the team.
Phifer, 34, signed as a free agent in August and started every game last season at outside linebacker. He had 92 tackles, second-most on the team.
Ayi, 24, played one game on special teams with the Patriots and spent most of last season on injured reserve.
RAMS: St. Louis agreed to terms with second-round draft pick Travis Fisher on a five-year contract. Fisher, a cornerback who had a career-high 61 tackles for Central Florida last season, was the 64th overall choice. UCLA linebacker Robert Thomas, the Rams' first-round selection, is still unsigned.
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With no contract, Chiefs TE Gonzalez sets sights on NBA
