Gates sets career highs
Antonio Gates has set new career highs this season with 86 catches and 1,076 yards.
Gates is the team’s leading receiver with 86 catches and 1,076 yards. He leads the team with ten touchdown catches. He is the NFL’s leading tight end in all three categories. Gates has his work cut out for him this coming Saturday if he is to equal his career high 13 touchdown catches from the 2004 season. Gates has had two games in his career when he has scored three touchdowns, once against Kansas City Oct. 30, 2005 and once against New Orleans Nov. 7, 2004.
He’s the first Charger since Curtis Conway in 2001 to surpass 1,000 yards receiving for the season. He’s the first tight end to go over 1,000 yards since Kellen Winslow had 1,172 yards in 1983.
Gates will be attending the pro bowl in Hawaii for the second consecutive year.
Listen to Drew Brees' 18-yard TD pass to Antonio Gates last Saturday:
Radio call courtesy Chargers Broadcast Josh Lewin and Hank Bauer.
A look at the top 10 NFL Tight End
Player Team G Rec Yds Yds/G Lng Avg TDs 20+ 40+
Antonio Gates SD 14 86 1078 77.0 38 12.5 10 16 0
Tony Gonzalez KC 15 73 846 56.4 39 11.6 2 8 0
Todd Heap BAL 14 69 803 57.4 48 11.6 6 12 1
Chris Cooley WAS 15 69 766 51.1 32 11.1 7 6 0
Jeremy Shockey NYG 15 65 891 59.4 59 13.7 7 12 1
Jason Witten DAL 15 62 707 47.1 34 11.4 5 7 0
Alge Crumpler ATL 15 62 856 57.1 48 13.8 5 15 1
Jermaine Wiggins MIN 14 59 509 36.4 24 8.6 0 2 0
L.J. Smith PHI 15 58 609 40.6 27 10.5 3 6 0
Randy McMichael MIA 15 55 547 36.5 30 9.9 5 4 0
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Comments
Simply the best tight end in Chargers history and will go down as the NFL’s best when all said and done. If he played 16 games this season he would bust Kellen Winslow’s record and he still might we have one game to go.
Jake (December 26, 2005 08:36 AM)
antonio gates is just a receiver I don’t know why everyone is so in love with this guy. I must be the only guy in san diego that doesn’t worship him. aj should trade him to the lions and get mike williams now we would have a down the field threat. i do want to congratulate him on a good stats but this is average for a wide receiver
Stan (December 26, 2005 08:46 AM)
Please tell me this guy is joking. Antonio Gates for Mike Williams….. pleeeease!
Kevin (December 26, 2005 09:09 AM)
I’m a new Chargers fan and I’m impressed with Antonio Gates almost weekly. I started playing Fantasy football for the first time this year and really started to get into the game. Not sure why but the Chargers are a team I started to follow. I don’t think I have ever seen a Chargers game on in Maine until this year. It was fun to watch, as they say we always have next year. All I can say is I’m very impressed with this up and coming team.
The lone Maine fan!
Sincerely, James Paggiano
James Paggiano (December 26, 2005 11:46 AM)
"antonio gates is just a receiver I don’t know why everyone is so in love with this guy. I must be the only guy in san diego that doesn’t worship him. aj should trade him to the lions and get mike williams now we would have a down the field threat. i do want to congratulate him on a good stats but this is average for a wide receiver"
Dude, get a life!! He's 6'4" weighs 260 pounds, and he can block. The only thing that makes him resemble a receiver is his speed and ability to get open. He's the best TE in Football!! Don't fight it.
Ron Kline (December 26, 2005 12:32 PM)
Jake, if you're a Charger fan, how could you say something like that about Gates?? He's one of the main reasons we have such a great offense!! Best "tight end" in the league..period!! Thank God we have him on our team.
Daryl (December 26, 2005 01:50 PM)
yeah no doubt....he's a freakin giant that makes plays for this team period! does it better than those that came before him and dominates his peers...and to that guy on the mike williams trade...check ur stats...1 td thats a joke mike vrable has more than that and hes a LB...get a life gatees has more td's than both the williams from detroit....period nuff said hes the best!
zatch (December 27, 2005 12:04 AM)
Oh OK...Antonio Gates for Mike Williams. Be serious, what did Mike do this year? FYI Stan, Antonio is a TE not a WR. What TEs out there come close to Gates' stats? I'm not knocking you, I want a down the field threat also, but not Mike Williams and not at the expense of Gates. If you want Mike, then be a Lion fan.
Not A Stan Fan (December 27, 2005 10:50 AM)
Antonio Gates for Mike Williams? I wouldn't even trade the best TE in the game for Roy Williams!! What did Mike Williams do this year? Gates will probably retire as the best TE to ever play the game. Mike Williams will retire as a TE. He's too slow to play WR. So I get it know I see why you would trade for him. It makes sense TE for TE.
what's up stanley (December 27, 2005 11:01 AM)
Gates is one of the best Receivers in the game. I just don't know why the Chargers don't throw to him vertically down the field more often or throw him the jump ball fade route at the goal line (like in the Miami game when it was basically outta reach). Nobody in the NFL can cover this guy one on one. Also why don't the Chargers use Vincent Jackson vertically down the field. He's fast and he's going to win most jump balls...
Craig O. (December 27, 2005 11:49 AM)
Stan, you would trade Gates for Mike Williams? You're saying these are "average" stats for a wide receiver...I guess I didn't realize Gates was a wide receiver. I didn't see many Mike Williams highlights, so I'm not sure how he's doing, but haven't they made him a TE already? I agree they need a strong receiver to compliment Gates (Keenan gives us that, but it would be good to have a speed guy on the other side).
Brad (December 27, 2005 03:21 PM)
Gates is that man what tight end can do what he do?none tony G is pretty good but he don't have the speeed and the body movement like that.homeboy i understand chargers need a down the feild threat,i know that but T.O gonna be out there eric moulds from the bills,i think eric moulds would fit in good cause i'm from new york and yes i'm a charger fan from they was 2-11.eric moulds can do big things for that offense cause he's still a top ten WR he breaks tackles.you see what galloway doing for tampa eric moulds can be that for SD.
Young chris (December 27, 2005 04:33 PM)
Mike Williams?...Good in USC because he had a QB that can get him the ball, besides why get rid of the best TE( not WR) since Kellen Winslow? Besides Stan, if anyone should be traded to Detroit for a WR, it should be Rivers, or maybe Stan is one of those people that think we should keep Rivers over Brees?
mike (December 27, 2005 05:29 PM)
First off, Gates is great (probably the greatest), second, no one can cover him, third, what in the world is a Mike Williams? I agree with mike, if anyone should be traded to the Lions it's Philip. Keenan Mcardell is still doing good, but who knows how much gas he's got left? Vincent Jackson and Eric Parker may very well be the starters next season.
Heya (December 28, 2005 06:49 PM)
I think you have to start Keenan. Sure, he's 35, but he's still one of the top receivers. What he may have lost in speed, he's got incredible knowledge of the game and position. I was glad when we got him last year. Jackson should be good. Parker and Caldwell are good complimentary players as well. If they have the chance to get a deep threat in free agency or the draft, I think they'll look at it, but the line will probably be top priority.
Brad (December 29, 2005 08:21 AM)
Hey guys, what's wrong with Eric Parker being a deep threat on the other side? I think Eric has done a great job this year and he's getting better. I say keep Parker and Keenan and develop Jackson as an "occasional surprise" to throw off defenses. This way, you have a veteran, a good star player, and a rising star player. I like Reche, but sadly, he did cost us a game in Philly, which might have made a difference this year. I say we trade Caldwell for a good CB.
ben chavez (December 31, 2005 09:18 AM)
Mike williams is not a down field threat any way, hes slow as fuck, gates is faster than he is, and im from detroit, lol
Dave (January 17, 2006 10:50 AM)
Gates is the best TE in the NFL. That's says a lot when you have Tony Gonzales in the same league and division to say the least. I hope that Stan guy is just playing when he said trade Gates for Williams. The Chargers already have two threats in Parker and Keenan, if Gates and L.T. are not enough.
209 kid (January 17, 2006 07:17 PM)