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Q: What do you think about the team’s dedication to rebuilding?

TONY GONZALEZ: “There’s nothing we can do about it. I think coach has made that decision, you know as far as getting rid of the older guys on the team, to go younger, and that’s fine with me. I think with the guys he brought in here, I’m definitely happy with it. At first I was frustrated – I was a little pissed off to tell the truth – because I’m winding down in my career and I’m thinking ‘this is not what I signed on for last year when I redid my deal’ after seeing the guys that they brought in and after the draft, it’s making a lot more sense. We’re a pretty good football team. There’s no doubt about it.”

Q: Is it kind of Ironic to you that the closest you’ve been to the Super Bowl was your rookie year (in ‘97)?

GONZALEZ: “Well, we had a pretty good team when Dick (Vermeil) was here, too (in 2003). But it weighs on my mind all the time and that’s part of the frustration part, you know? We’re getting rid of all these guys and I’m getting on in my career – I haven’t even won a playoff game. That’s the reality of it. You can look back and say you know, you had a pretty good career, but I want to say I went to the playoffs, I won some playoff games and I went to the Super Bowl.”

Q: How many times have you thought about what would’ve happened had they not taken that touchdown away from you in that Denver playoff game (in ‘97)? Do you ever wonder what would’ve been?

GONZALEZ: “I think about it a lot. But that’s all over now. I’d think about it a lot more, but the older I get, the more I realize that we can’t live in the past. You’ve got to stay right here. We’ve got on opportunity right in front of us and I really do believe that we’re going to be a good football team. We’ll be a lot better than we were last year, that’s for sure.”

Q: Do all the numbers you’ve posted motivate you through the times when the team wins aren’t there?

GONZALEZ: “Yeah. You’ve got to be proud of what you do. I’m not looking at my career like if I don’t ever win a Super Bowl that it’s worthless. I do take a lot of satisfaction knowing that I worked hard and put together a really good career. Like I said, those are my goals right now. It’s really not an individual thing for me anymore. It’s been that way for the last two or three years for me. It’s really about going out there and putting the best team together. I can help that out a lot, not just on the field but in the locker room as well – helping these guys become the best players they can be.”

Q: When you hear the word rebuilding, everyone thinks this team isn’t going to be any good. What do you think of that?

GONZALEZ: “I think it’s more than I can say right now, because most people aren’t going to believe it. People in my own family are like ‘yeah right, whatever.’ I’m proud of them. We’re a lot better than last year and I feel like we’re a lot farther along. We’re still learning the offense, the defense has had a year underneath their belt, but it’s young guys. I think these young guys can play, I mean, they can go. It’s going to be a good year.”

Q: What do you think of the offensive line and how they’ve progressed?

GONZALEZ: “They look good, they’re coming along. It’s still early, like you said. But I think by the time the first game rolls around, we’re going put this thing together. Last year (T Damion) McIntosh got hurt. As long as they stay healthy, we’re going to be good. I think the running game is better for these guys.”

Q: Do you like (Offensive Coordinator) Chan’s (Gailey) offense?

GONZALEZ: “I like it. I feel like a rookie again trying to learn it. I’m in the media room before and staying after trying to get this thing down. It gives us a better advantage, in my opinion, because (QB) Brodie (Croyle) can have freedom at the line of scrimmage. He can come to the line and say the play that’s call is not going to work, so let’s change it and go the other direction. Last year we didn’t have that option at times. That’s going to definitely help and give us an advantage.”

Q: How important is doing what you want to do with your career compared to helping out the younger guys?

GONZALEZ: “Both ways it’s important. It’s important just to help them out. I mean, why not, I’m going out so I better tell them what works for me and tell them how I do it so they can put it in their game. I just got done talking to the defensive end, the seventh-round draft choice (Brian Johnston) about work ethic and doing what it takes to be good. And they ask me those questions, I don’t even have to seek them out most of the time. Also, winding down toward the end of my career, I want them to get better, I want the learning curve shortened so we can go out there and be the best team we can be right away. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to play, I know I’m going to play this year. I’m 95 percent sure I’ll play next year. And then after that, who knows what’s going to happen. So, I’ve got to make sure that over these next few years that we put this thing together.”

Q: Do you think that this year this team can play at a high level?

GONZALEZ: “The thing about this year is that we do have a young team. We’re going to get a good core group of guys together, there’s no doubt about that. By the end of the year, we’re going to have a really good football team, and then going into next year it’s just going to be that much better because we’ll be that much farther ahead. That’s my thinking at this point.”

Q: Do you think people around the league and around the country will appreciate what you’ve done if it doesn’t work out that you get into the playoffs?

GONZALEZ: “Yeah. I think so. I hope so. I can’t really worry about that, though. Maybe when I was younger I used to worry a lot about what other people thought, but for me, like I said before, I can’t dwell on the past, there’s nothing I can do about it. Hey, we didn’t go to the playoffs, we didn’t win the Super Bowl – if that’s the way I end my career, it’s not going to take away anything as far as my feeling proud for what I’ve done,. The friendships that I’ve established while I’ve been in the league, I mean, guys that were in my wedding, guys that are like brothers. You know I still talk to JD (Jason Dunn) all the time, Tony Richardson, Kevin Lockett, it goes back. It’s been an unbelievable experience here with the Chiefs. But I’d love to get to a Super Bowl. I think the city deserves it. The organization deserves it. Coach Herm (Edwards) has been busting his tail. It’s something that I think we can get to. There’s no doubt about it. With the players that they’ve drafted and the guys that they’ve brought in, with the veteran leadership that we have on this team, it’s the first time in a long time that I feel like everybody is on the same page at this point.”

Q: Your numbers were generally better last year when Damon (Huard) was quarterback. Is there a reason for that?

GONZALEZ: “Getting Brodie comfortable with me is big. That’s what this camp is for, I guess, for him and I to get on the same page. So far so good.”

Q: Are you feeling better about that?

GONZALEZ: “I do. I mean, Brodie’s got a cannon, he likes to throw that thing in there. Damon’s more of a touch guy, so you get used to different speeds. During the Jets game last year, me and Brodie sometimes, it wasn’t working. When I was open it wouldn’t be where I like it, and I think he’s going to figure it out and I’m going to figure out where he likes it too. It’s all about getting that experience together and we’ll make sweet music when it’s all said and done.”

Q: Have any of your teammates faked choking after your lifesaving episode?

GONZALEZ: “Yeah they did last night. We went over to the Copper Kettle along with Jay Glazer. All of a sudden, I think they had it timed out, that all four of them started choking at the same time.”

Q: Who would you have saved first?

GONZALEZ: “Who would I save first? None of them. I hope they all choke (Laughs).”

Q: Who were the culprits?

GONZALEZ: “Jay (Glazer), Brodie (Croyle), Damon (Huard) and Donnie (Edwards).”

Q: Do you look at these kids and see a generational gap? Is it weird?

GONZALEZ: “It is a little weird. I was talking to my brother about that and he said, you know what, the best thing for you to do is to get even more involved. Go sit down, instead of sitting with Donnie (Edwards) or someone that you know already, go sit with some of these young guys. Talk to them, get to know them. That’s what I’m going to do this year. I hope they ask me questions. I’m going to ask them questions about their lives. I want to get to know them. I want to enjoy this, especially these last few years. I was talking with Michael Strahan, you know about his year this year, and from what I saw on television, he just enjoys himself. He’s like, I’m not going to worry about going out there in front of the cameras and the press, saying the right thing, saying the wrong thing. Just go out there, enjoy yourself, stay in the moment. Last year is over, it’s a new year, a fresh start. Nobody’s won any games, nobody’s lost any games and that’s refreshing to me.”

Q: Is he trying to tell you to be young again?

GONZALEZ: It keeps me focused, too. One of the first questions I was asked was ‘does it ever become a little too routine for you?’ and I said no, I keep tweaking it. Keep changing things, and I’m going to keep trying to grow I guess.”

Q: Can you listen to their music or they listen to yours?

GONZALEZ: “Actually Tank (Tyler) has his own CD that he plays in the locker room of him rapping. So it’s all right.”

Q: Larry (Johnson) is making that transition going from young guy to older guy. You went through that a few years ago. What’s that going to be like for him do you think?

GONZALEZ: “Everybody handles it differently. I think he’ll handle it right. He’s still pretty young at heart, likes to go out. He’s not married yet.”

Q: Is that tough on players when you start seeing the end of the line?

GONZALEZ: “It just depends on how you think of it. I mean, for me it just keeps getting better and better. I really am enjoying myself a lot more than usual. This is fun. I wish I would have had this mentality earlier. I really do. But, it’s a little too late.

Q: Have you thought about a career beyond football? Something in television or movies? You’re still a young man for that.

GONZALEZ: “We’ll see. I have certain businesses that I’m already a part of. Finding something that I really have a passion for that I can get excited about and love doing, I haven’t figured that one out yet. I will, as soon as this thing is all said and done. In the meantime, this is it, this is my passion. This is what I love to do. I love being around the guys. Even, you know, staying in the media room – I haven’t done that a long time. Going there early and staying late trying to learn plays and getting frustrated out on the field because I forget the plays. It’s a whole new thing for me, I’m in the same boat as these guys. It’s no better and no worse. I think that’s what we have to have on this team. There is nobody who’s up here on this level and nobody who’s down on this level. It’s all a team thing, and once we adopt that mentality we’ll be a good football team.”

Q: Can Brad Cottam be your heir apparent?

GONZALEZ: “He definitely can. I think his thing right now is not realizing how good he is. He’s like Neo from the Matrix, he just has to realize that he can be the one. He definitely can play. He’s fast, he’s got good hands.”