Trade deadline passes without Gonzalez trade

If Tony Gonzalez is going to get his first career win in the playoffs and have a chance to play in the Super Bowl in 2008, it’ll have to be with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Huntington Beach graduate and All-Pro tight end was not dealt by Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, despite strong speculation that the 32-year-old could get moved to a playoff contender. Instead, Gonzalez — who’s nearing the end of his career and reportedly asked for a trade to a title hopeful — will remain with the 1-4 Chiefs, who are struggling and in a rebuilding phase.

Kansas City selected Gonzalez in the first round in 1997 out of Cal, and he’s spent his entire 12-year career with the Chiefs. However, he’s played in just three playoff games with the organization, losing all of them.

The New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers were among several teams rumored to have interest, but neither could meet the Chiefs’ asking price.

— Hamlet Nalbandyan