As Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez prepares for the final game of his Hall of Fame career, he attributes some of his success to something that drives opposing players nuts: Pushing off.
Defensive players routinely complain that big, physical receivers like Gonzalez get away with offensive pass interference. Gonzalez admitted to ESPN.com that pushing off is a part of his game.
“I think I’ve always done that, and I still do it,” he said. “If you ask any defender in the league, they say I’m the ‘Push-off King,’ but it’s just creating leverage.”
Smart players figure out where the lines are between what the officials will allow and what will draw a flag, and keep their play on the legal side of the line. Gonzalez has always been a smart player, and that’s part of what has made him a great player.
