Expect
more propaganda from Peterson and Condon
5/13/02
by CK Rairden
Landmark columnist
Let the propaganda begin.
Chiefs’ president, general manager and all around
grand pubah Carl Peterson is mailing letters to Joe Posnanski,
resident homer and a columnist for the KC Star.
According to a piece authored by JoPo, Peterson is pissed.
(Loved the Quentin Tarantino reference and the Three Stooges
references in the column, by the way.) He wanted the fans
of the KC Chiefs to understand that franchise-tagged TE
Tony Gonzalez has turned down a bunch of cash. According
to Peterson it was more money than had ever been offered
to any Chiefs player. More than has been offered to any
TE….ever.
Peterson’s clear message—Mounds of cash were
offered and it was turned down. It’s not his fault
Gonzo is not in mini-camp. It’s not his fault he
remains unsigned.
Whew, it’s only May and we are already posturing.
******
Gonzo’s agent is KC based Tom Condon and has yet
to answer Peterson’s week old salvo. Then again,
after his inept handling of the union refs bluff last
season that may be a wise decision. He came out looking
ridiculous on that situation, and without the cancellation
of week two and NFL media and fan base concerned with
post September 11th real problems, Condon would have been
ridiculed from the way he handled that debacle.
I’ve yet to witness Condon handling the media very
well.
As bad as Peterson comes across in the press at times,
his strength here is agent Condon. Few Chiefs’ fans
will want to turn on an all-world TE, but none will have
any problem cursing Condon if this drags on.
******
Gonzo’s response: Silence. Why should he get involved?
The comments about not getting the ball enough at the
end of last season came across as selfish. Gonzo is smart
and learned from that mistake.
His best bet is to just remain silent hang out enjoying
the weather of California playing hoops and staying in
shape. Where do you want him to be, dodging tornadoes
in KC?
He spoke to James Brown of The Sporting News radio network
on Monday and said all the right things. "I'm working
out, I want to be a Kansas City Chief, and I want to get
this deal done." He specifically said that he understood
that you can't take any of the negotiations personal and
referred any specifics on the negotiations to guess who?
His new agent Tom Condon.
It would benefit the team if he were at mini-camp building
a better rapport with QB Trent Green. He could meet newly
acquired WR’s Johnny Morton and Marc Boerigter. It
would give the Chiefs’ more time to figure out a
way to get him more involved in the offense.
*******
But don’t expect it. Gonzo will not be in KC, or
any camp for sometime. It’s becoming clear Condon
will make sure of that. Condon is the subject of Peterson’s
ire and Gonzalez will continue to hang out, stay in shape
and shoot some hoops.
If there becomes a war of words and propaganda, it will
be carried out between Condon and Peterson.
Propaganda is a fine tool when used correctly and it
helps when you have a member of the press willing to advance
it for you.
Peterson has done just that and did a fine job by putting
Condon on the defensive.
The initial salvo has been fired. The propaganda war
is underway. You’re up next, Mr. Condon——who
will your letter be addressed to?
(CK Rairden can be reached at ckden11@msn.com)
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