FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. --- Tony Gonzalez is the Zen master of tight ends, a guy with Hall of Fame credentials still seeking ultimate perfection.
"It's all about the mind," he said Wednesday, standing in front of his locker at the Atlanta Falcons' training complex. "I love studying the mind, the hidden determinant in human behavior, that type of thing."
If that doesn't sound like your typical football player, well, it doesn't take long to realize Gonzalez isn't just another guy in helmet and shoulder pads.
He's revolutionized the tight end position, a large man with hands as soft as the tiniest of receivers. He caught 102 passes one season, more than 90 three other times. He's been to the Pro Bowl every year for the past decade, and there's surely a spot reserved for him in Canton at the end of his career.
But even at age 33, Gonzalez shows no signs of slowing down. Last week, in his debut with the Falcons after spending a dozen years with the Kansas City Chiefs, he led the way with five catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in a 19-7 victory over Miami.
Still, no amount of visualization can substitute for the ultimate prize -- a Super Bowl ring. Gonzalez never made it to the big game in Kansas City. When it became apparent the Chiefs were years away from contending for a championship, he asked to be traded by the only team he'd ever played for in the NFL.
Which is how he ended up in Atlanta.
"That the only reason I wanted out of Kansas City. The only reason," he repeated, with emphasis. "The window is closing. I'm not going to play too much longer. "
Gonzalez's single-minded pursuit of a championship and his rookie-like passion each time he steps on a field have already worn off on a young team that seems to sense it might be poised to do something special.
"He wants to win," third receiver Brian Finneran said. "You can see that in the way he works and applies himself. He's always working on getting better. He's the consummate pro."
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