ony Gonzaloz's first touchdown this season

WaS ClaSSiC GOnzo.

He hauled in another one-

handed, highlight-reel catch during the Falcons'

\feek 2 win over the

Eagles. There was the over-

the-shoulder backward glance while splitting rwo

defenders... the slight tip sending the ball further

skyward... then the grand finale as he pinned it

to his chest before falling out of bounds. Two feet down in the back of the end zone? \fe're talking
about the five-time All-Pro here.

I rln [11 T rsr YilN$

by Lisa Altobelli
FEBRUARYzOI2

sil11 G 0il10

All good.

On his way to the Hall of Fame, "Low-key Tony G" stops by to tell us how he did it.

::

NFLr:lro,rrzZII{E 7I

hilc it's tluc that Gonzalez,

inches and
blessed

at

reet 5 been

catch 50 extra bal1s and wont call

it

a day

until he catches another

with Hulk-sized hands, has

50 after the rest ofthe team is heading to the locker room.

with a liberal catch radius, it's his leaping ability honed while playing college hoops at Cal that makes such receptions look like he could be going for the rim. Teams have taken note and have since signed former ballers as tight ends, with the likes of Antonio Gates and Jimmy
Graham (page 46) also dunking bar
as

it over the

cross-

Gonzalez did before them. So does years

of

palming a basketball factor into clutch receptions? "Maybel" laughs Gonzalez. "l'm a firm believer that I wouldnt have the success I've had if I didnt play basketball, and thatt why I still play at least once a week in the oflseason, but I think it mainly to do with repetitiveness. "I ve caught so many balls thrown at me every which way since Pop \7arner, so now it's automatic, like driving a car. I dont consciously think about catching it one-handed or behind the back or anything, but I'm able to adjust ifneeded from all that repetition." \Mhile this sounds like a prime example of Malcolm Gladwellt
has

"Hes the best pro I've ever been around, and I'm not exaggerating," says third-year Falcons defensive back Chris Owens. "tVhen I first got here and saw him catching a.ll those extra passes, I realized that he real1y works at it, and that I'11 have to put in the extra mileage, too, in order to be great-and thats what he is. Het the best tight end in the league." That's an opinion backed up by facts: This season Gonzalez climbed over some of the most prolific wide receivers ever to play, includingTim Brown, Cris Carter, and Marvin Harrison. Now only Jerry fuce stands ahead of Gonzil,ez on the career receptions list. Not that you'll ever hear him talk about it. "\7e had no idea until they announced it in the team meeting," says Owens. "lt just shows you what rype of guy he is. Het not one

to brag about anything, but quietiy goes about his work. \7e call him 'Low-key Tony G."'
It's an apt nickname considering the perennial team-flrst player

turns down interview requests focused on his individual accomplishments the week after
keep
a 1oss, even

when those accomplishments

Outliers principle that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to master a skill, whats remarkable is that Gonzalez is well past the 10,000-hour mark at age 35 and is still ardently at it. The embodiment of a coach's dream in terms of work ethic and setting an example for younger players, Gonzalez still gets to practice early to

piling up. 'Vhen he decides to walk a'way, Gonzalez will hold the highest sratistics for a tight end in virtually every measurable category and will likely be on the first ballot into Canton.
For the majority of his career, Gonzalez rarely had an elite quarterback (Elvis Grbac, anyone?) throwing to him, which only makes

his reception numbers that much more remarkable. Couple that with the fact that he spent half his downs helping to clear lanes for

72

NFLutalo,f,izrttE

rr: FEBRUARvz0l2

,000-yard rushers such as Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson during his 12

years

population, espouses

plant-based food regimen

as

the besr way to health.)

with the Chiefs, and for Michael Turner now in Atlanta, and youve got
Fame r6sume for srrre

a Hal1

of
if

"(Jf course," Gonzalez

says.

"I

te11

the younger guys that they have to block otherwise you're just a receiver.

in my life, but you need a ton of protein to play in the NFL, and it was hard to make it work," Gonzalez says. 'And to be honest. I missed meat. Not red meat, but theret really nothing wrong with chicken or fish."
was the best I've ever felt

"It

they want to call themselves a tight

end

iove

But something that did come out of his vegan experiment is his now four-year-

watching guys like Heath Miller, Jason riTitten, and Vernon Davis. They may not catch as many balls, but they're out there handling both responsibilities, and that
makes them great

old company, All-Pro Science, which produces all-natural sports supplemenrs rhat
have recently been added to the shelves of\W4role Foods. He also wrote a book called
The

tight ends."

All-Pro Diet. Falcons coach Mike Smith

passes

out copies in the locker room.

1I l'ue caught s0 many [alls thrown

at me euGly whicn way sinGe P0[ WarueL s0 now it's automaliG,

I tninfi a[out Galcning it onc-naniled

fi [ehind

t[G [aG[ 0] anytning, [ut l'm

ailc

lile ilriuing a Ga[ I don't consci0usly t0 adiust iI nccded f]om ail mat te[etition.

II

Many of the greatest tight ends, such as Mike Ditka and Kellen \Winslow, were forced to call it quits around the decade mark due to injuries, so rhe inevitable
retirement question is posed to Gonzalez, who has played 15 seasons. "Everyone I ve talked to says age doesnt mean anJ'thing," says Gonzalez, who has
consulted legends including \Tarren Moon, Marcus Allen, and Rod -Woodson about

Nutrition is such a big deal for Gonzalez that het a regular lecturer on the
school assembly circuit and has said that when he does eventually retire, he wont
necessarily go straight i11q been
a

judge on her reality show,

lslsyi516n-het already been Oprah-approved, having 7he Big Giue-but wants ro explore more avenues

how they knew it when it was their time to go. "Your mind is going to tell you that you can keep going forever, but itt your body thatt going to say, 'Okay, you just cant do this anymore.' But right now I just dont feel like that, nor even close."
Gonzalez credits Lady Luck for never having any major injuries and only iniss-

ofhealth and wellness. He most likely has a few more one-handed grabs and rungs ro climb in the record books before that happens, though. So dont ask him to sme11 the roses
quite yet.

ing rwo starts in the past 14 seasons, but it's also his meticulous diet and workout regimen that have contributed to his longevity. After reading Dr. Colin Campbell's 7he China Study three years ago, the 247-potnder became the first pro football player on record to attempr a strict vegan diet, though he only lasted a month. (The popular 2005 book, based on a long-term study of diet among a Chinese

and-dont get me wrong, I'm happy for the accomplishments-but I don't think about them yet because I'm afraid ir will take away from my game," Gonzalez says. "Every year I go out there and try to prove something, so I'm not going to resr at rhis point. I wanr to see what I can accomplish while I'm still playing. I'11 enjoy all that stuffwhen I'm done on the 6e1d-whenever that day comes." I
"People keep asking me about the records

Harrison

Cris
1

Garter

Tim

Brown

Terrell Owens
1,078

,101

1,094

lsaac 1,024

Bruce

,4

RECEPTIONS: ALL.TIME LEADERS

/e* \