Belichick captured Gates’ brilliance
San Diego’s enduring strengths go beyond sunshine and beaches.
There is Mexican food. If you know an ex-San Diegan, I’ll wager you an enchilada platter that she or he craves our carne asada.
Bill Belichick wasn’t in a touristy mode during his recent visit to San Diego, but the New England Patriots coach nonetheless identified one of San Diego’s enduring strengths.
The Great Hoodie was speaking of the local football team’s tight end, Antonio Gates. Three memorable words followed.
Gates seems timeless.
Indeed, Gates is 34 but not acting his age.
In Saturday night’s pie fight with the 49ers, there was Gates, running away from defenders, clearing space for Chargers receivers and catching two more scoring passes from Philip Rivers, who does a Vulcan mind meld with him before every game.
Touchdown maker
The two touchdowns gave him 12 this year, most on the team.
In fact only two other NFL players, frisky receivers Dez Bryant (Cowboys) and Jordy Nelson (Packers), each shy of his 30th birthday, have more TD receptions than Gates.
While we’re singing his praises, let’s also give the old man bonus points for making Fantasy Football gurus look foolish. (He was the 20th tight end drafted, for instance, in a Yahoo Sports “expert” league. )
Timeless?
Gates was 24 -- the same age as his understudy Ladarius Green, who can’t steal his playing time -- the last and only other time he was such a prolific point man.
Catching 13 touchdown passes from Drew Brees in 2004, Gates made his first of eight Pro Bowls.
Lots of folks this year pegged Brees, 35, to have a big season. The Saints were loaded with playmakers, and other elite quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have aged so well.
Gates is having the better season than Brees, whose Saints are 6-9.
Saturday night, he filled many roles. He was a teacher to the rookie cornerback the 49ers put on him, Dontae Johnson, from whom Gates ran away for a 28-yard catch that jumpstarted the offense. Other times, he was a decoy, such as when he stayed home to block as the Niners sent seven rushers while Rivers, glad to see a safety on Eddie Royal, floated a perfect pass.
All told, Gates shouldered a young man’s workload. The 77 snaps he played were the most he’s worked in two years, reflecting what coaches thought of his importance to a cause that had to be won.
He’ll need to be spry again this week. It’s win or go golf. If Gates is to make a seventh postseason, the Chargers may have to lean on him again.
