Antonio Gates

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Antonio Gates
San Diego Chargers — No. 85
Tight end
Date of birth: June 18, 1980 (1980-06-18) (age 27)
Place of birth: Detroit, Michigan
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Weight: 260 lb (120 kg)
National Football League debut
2003 for the San Diego Chargers
Career history
College: Kent State
Undrafted in 2003
 Teams:
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NFL.com

Antonio D. Gates (born June 18, 1980 in Detroit, Michigan) is a football tight end for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League.

Contents

[edit] College career

Before his rookie season of 2003 Gates had not played organized football since his senior year at Central High School in Detroit. Gates wanted to go to Michigan State under then-coach Nick Saban and assistant coach Kevin C. to play both football and basketball but Saban wanted him to play only football. Basketball was his favorite sport so he transferred to Eastern Michigan University to play basketball. He played there part of a season, subsequently played at two junior colleges and eventually landed at Kent State University in northeast Ohio. Gates spent two seasons as a Golden Flashes power forward where he led the team to the MAC championship and an Elite Eight spot in 2002 and to the MAC championship game the following season, during which he averaged 20.6 points per game, 4.1 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game.

[edit] NFL career

[edit] San Diego Chargers

After being told by scouts that he was too much of a "tweener" (6'4") to make the NBA, Gates arranged a workout in front of NFL scouts. As many as 19 teams were believed to have contacted Gates about a try out. Gates chose to work out first for the San Diego Chargers. Recognizing his enormous potential, the Chargers immediately signed him to a contract as an undrafted free agent.

After finishing a solid 2003 rookie season he caught 24 passes for 389 yards and two scores, he was picked by many experts to have a breakout season in 2004. That year, only his second season in the NFL, Gates became quarterback Drew Brees' favorite target, finishing the season with 81 receptions for 964 yards and 13 touchdowns. On December 19, Gates tied the NFL season record for touchdowns by a tight end (12) in a 21-0 win over the Cleveland Browns, and he went on to break that record in an overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts on December 26. Gates was selected to the 2005 Pro Bowl and caught a TD pass from Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning to help the AFC to a 38-27 victory. Additionally, Gates was on the receiving end of a 33 yard pass from teammate Drew Brees in a flea-flicker play selected by fans online.

On August 23, 2005, after holding out for a contract extension, Gates inked a six-year deal worth up to $24 million with the San Diego Chargers. Because of his holdout, Gates was suspended a total of three games, including the home opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Gates went on to have another stellar season, catching 89 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns, but the Chargers missed the playoffs by a slim margin. Many attributed missing the playoffs to the loss to Dallas. Looking back, many assumed that had Gates played, the Chargers would have beaten the Cowboys and thus ended up 10-6 and likely in the playoffs. While this may have been true, the Chargers played poorly in the second half of the season, losing three of the their last four, and therefore Gates' suspension (and the loss to Dallas) was not the only reason they missed the postseason.

With the departure of Drew Brees during the offseason, it was assumed that Gates would suffer a decline in production in 2006 with first-year starter Philip Rivers at the helm. Gates had a relatively quiet start to the season, but he finished the year strongly and ended up with 924 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He caught two touchdown passes on Dec. 10 against Denver to help the Chargers clinch their division.

[edit] 2008

Gates has said he is leaning toward having surgery to repair a dislocated left big toe that slowed his performance during the playoffs. Gates said he will decide whether to have surgery or not. "There is higher chance I'm going to have surgery." said Gates. Gates also pulled out of the Pro Bowl because of his injuries alongside his teammate LaDainian Tomlinson.

On February 23, 2008, Gates said he will have foot surgery to fix the injury that has hurt him in the final part of the season. He will face a 4-6 month recovery time. He seems questionable for Week 1 and even sounded worried about his status for Opening day.

[edit] Facts and records

  • Since 2004, only Indianapolis Colts wide-receiver Marvin Harrison and New England Patriots wide-receiver Randy Moss have caught more touchdowns than Gates.
  • In 2005 and 2006 Antonio Gates was selected as the NFL's All-Pro TE by the AP. Gates was the AP's only unanimous choice for 2005. [1]
  • Gates has made four consecutive Pro Bowls in his career.
  • Gates also holds the single season touchdown reception record for tight ends with 13.
  • In 2005 Gates became only the second tight end in NFL history, behind Todd Christensen, to gain 1,100 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns in a single season.

[edit] Regular season stats

Receiving
Year Team G Rec Yards Y/R TD
2003 San Diego 15 24 389 16.2 2
2004 San Diego 15 81 964 11.9 13
2005 San Diego 15 89 1101 12.4 10
2006 San Diego 16 71 924 13.0 9
2007 San Diego 13 75 984 13.1 9
Career San Diego 73 332 4,268 13.0 43

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9154598

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Mike Ditka [1961], (12)		 Record for NFL Tight End Receiving Touchdowns in a Single Season
[2004], (13)		 Succeeded by
Current Record Holder
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2007 Pro Bowl AFC starters
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