Chiefs trade Pro Bowl tight end to Falcons

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons boosted their hopes for another trip to the playoffs by acquiring tight end Tony Gonzalez from the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday for a draft pick next year.

The Chiefs insisted they also improved their chances for success in 2009 by making the trade.

The Falcons will send a second-round pick in 2010 to Kansas City in exchange for Gonzalez, the only tight end in NFL history selected to 10 Pro Bowls.

Gonzalez caught 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008. He owns NFL career records for tight ends with 916 receptions, 10,940 yards receiving, 76 TDs receiving and 26 100-yard receiving games.

"It's somewhat bittersweet," Gonzalez told FoxSports.com. "I love Kansas City. I grew up in Kansas City. The city means a lot to me. I got there when I turned 21. It will be sad to leave a city I love. But I'm looking forward to making a Super Bowl run in Atlanta every year for the next three or four years."

DELHOMME SIGNS EXTENSION: The Carolina Panthers signed Jake Delhomme to a five-year, $42.5 million extension on Thursday that keeps their quarterback under contract through the 2014 season. The deal includes $20 million in guaranteed money and clears much needed salary-cap space for Carolina. Delhomme was to count for more than $10 million under the cap next season in the final year of his deal.The extension comes just over three months after the 34-year-old Delhomme had the worst game of his career, throwing five interceptions and losing a fumble in Carolina's 33-13 NFC playoff loss to Arizona in the NFC divisional playoffs.

But coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney had expressed strong support in the offseason for Delhomme, who has been the Panthers' starter since 2003.

"Jake Delhomme is incredibly excited to be able to finish his career in Carolina," his agent, Rick Smith, said. "He felt there was unfinished business at the end of last year."