Antonio Gates Wants To Play Less Snaps

By MH
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Updated: April 16, 2015

(Photo via Twitter User @chargers_fanly)

Antonio Gates understands that his career is winding down. The 35-year old future first ballot Hall of Famer is one of the best tight ends to ever play the game. But as he gets older he understands the limitations and grind of a full NFL season.

Gates sat down with Emily Kaplan of Sports Illustrated/ The MMQB and talked about life after football. For many us who follow an array of sports have fixed feelings when athletes talk about life after their pro career. We heard Derrick Rose talk about life after basketball after his numerous injuries and that upset many people including myself. We’ve heard Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant begin to talk about his life after basketball with his investments in Body Armour and people are okay with that.

For me as a MBA student it’s refreshing to see players look at their life after their professional careers are over but it’s all about the timing. Would I want Kobe talking about his Body Armour investments in the middle of his prime? Certainly not.

Gates is at the twilight of his career and he understands that. He’s starting to explore options as a boxing promoter in his hometown of Detroit. I applaud that. On the field he spoke to Kaplan about the snaps situation.

“With injuries and whatnot, I played a little bit more than they expected me to play last season,” he says. “I was playing the whole game. How I feel next year, it depends on how much volume they have me doing. I’d like to come in on third-and-7s, red zones, those situations. That’s what my contribution is at anyway.”

That quote to me shows that he understands where he is most beneficial on the field. He knows that in crunch time he knows how to get the job done and his experience in that is where his value comes in.

Charger fans what do you think about Gates desire to play less snaps?

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