Gonzalez leaning strongly toward retirement
 

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -- Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez is close to retiring from the NFL.
How close is up in the air.

Gonzalez said Friday that he's 95 percent sure the upcoming season will be his last, but he wasn't ready to completely rule out a return in 2013.
''I've had a great run,'' he said. ''I don't want to be one of those players toward the end of their careers - and nothing against guys that have done it like that in the past - but I want to make sure that I'm at the top of my game when I do go out.''

After the Atlanta Falcons finished their second day of training camp Friday, Gonzalez said offseason discussions with family members and friends helped him understand that the end is near.
He's accomplished quite a bit in 15 seasons and last year surpassed Terrell Owens, Tim Brown, Cris Carter and Marvin Harrison to become No. 2 on the league's career receptions list with 1,149 catches.





Gonzalez leaning strongly toward retirement - Yahoo! Sports

He's lost a couple steps, but Gonzo can still play. That said, he's already the most productive TE to ever play the game, he's got nothing else to prove.

Ouch, like it already isn't hard enough being a Falcon fan without having to anticipate losing Gonzalez.

I think he is just letting people know he is a free agent in 2013, and maybe that "95% sure" means he may try and milk the Falcons for an extension for one or two more years, for them to avoid the insult of him retiring as a player for another team. Good business strategy to almost-retire-but-not-quite-and-maybe-I-will-take-an-offer-someplace-else-if-they-want-me-so-let's-talk-again-in-January.

A player would never "phone it in" just for the money!!!!!! Would they #4?

Well if he does, then he does.

He's an excellent flopper that's for sure.

Well, everyone, it looks like it's the end of the world for the Falcons.

Did the Falcons even draft or sign his replacement this offseason?

We will in the 2013 draft. Not saying we wont miss him, but it's not like we can't have success without him. In Matt Ryan's rookie year, we went 11-5 when he was stilll with the Cheifs.

If your thinking about it your already there.

Well, you have to think about thingslike that if you want a solution.