If Antonio Gates matches the 12 touchdown catches he had last season, he’ll tie Tony Gonzalez for the most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in the history of the NFL.
Gates said Wednesday that matching Gonzalez’s accomplishments is “somewhat of a motivation” as he prepares for his 13th NFL season, but it’s not his primary one. That would be winning a championship, something he points out Gonzalez failed to do during his career and something that takes primacy over other thoughts about his career.
“As you get older, people say things -- make speculation about what you’re doing and how much you have left in the tank,” Gates said, via ESPN.com. “For me, it’s all about how I feel as a person, and how my body feels, physically and mentally. As of right now I feel great. I feel good physically. I’m in a great place mentally. So I’ll just see how it goes. I have no expectations on how long I will play, or if this is my last year. As of right now, my main focus is just being around the guys, getting acclimated with the new fellas that are here and still winning a championship in San Diego.”
The Chargers practiced without Gates for most of the offseason as the veteran tried to limit the wear and tear on his body to ensure he continues to feel strong deep into the season. That approach worked for him last year and a similar result this time around will certainly boost his chances at besting Gonzalez in the championship department.
