Reality is setting in. There are only two games left in the career of future Hall of Fame tight end, Tony Gonzalez. The Atlanta Falcons veteran continues to stress that is the case no matter how well he appears to be playing this year. 2013 did not go as planned for the Falcons and Gonzalez, but the tight end will leave with no regrets.
Gonzalez reached yet another milestone in his storied career. After putting up a touchdown in the win against the Washington Redskins, Gonzalez became the fifth player in NFL history to record 15,000 receiving yards. The elite category includes Jerry Rice, Terell Owens, Randy Moss and Isaac Bruce. Gonzalez put up a 13-yard touchdown in the first quarter marking his third-straight game with a touchdown catch as his stats pile up this season.
"That was cool," Gonzalez said, via the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "It's special. Every time I get a catch now, it seems like they're saying something like that's this or that's another milestone. I guess that's what happens when you get old, when you're playing as long as I am. But I'll take it."
Despite the strong numbers on the year which includes 209 games with a catch, Gonzalez confirms his plans remain the same. In two weeks he will return following the Falcons' home game against the Carolina Panthers. There are certainly plenty of teammates trying to convince Gonzalez to stick around for another year as the Falcons try and rebound after an unexpected disappointing 2013. Quarterback Matt Ryan has nothing but praise for the veteran, but believes he really will call it a career this time around.
"He's unbelievable. He really is," Ryan said. "His consistency for 17 years in this league is incredibly impressive. There's no shortcut to it. There's no mystery to it. Tony works as hard as anybody I've ever been around, and he's blessed with a lot of talent as well. He could definitely do it, if he wanted to, that's for sure. But, no, I think we all know it's coming to an end. But it's been a great ride."
The Falcons will begin to rebuild once Gonzalez is gone. Rookie Levine Toilolo is being groomed as Gonzalez's replacement. The 6-foot-8 tight end was drafted in the fourth round back in 2013 and looks every bit the part of a star in the making. Gonzalez has taken the rookie under his wings and is busy teaching him the best way to develop. He is stressing routine and technique as the keys to success.
"It's working on your footwork. It's being obsessed with the fundamentals and the small details that go into being the best football player that you can be," Gonzalez said. "Everybody has talent at this level. And what separates you is consistency and doing it well day in and day out. And it starts every single day. I mean, you can't take one day off. Hopefully, that's something that they've figured out. It's what's worked for me. And I know it can work for them.''
