Anything wrong with Antonio Gates? (1 Viewer)

[Tau837]

As a lifelong Charger fan, Gates is certainly up there, but I don't think he was even the top TE to suit up for San Diego.  That honor goes to Kellen Winslow, who played 25 years before Gates.  I am old enough to have enjoyed watching both throughout their careers, and their styles were quite different.  In basketball terms, Winslow is Karl Malone and Gates is Charles Barkley.  Winslow was only slightly taller, but had a thinner frame.  Still, he was strong enough to not get pushed around, and he used his long arms and athleticism, making his catch radius amazing.  Winslow was arguably the best route runner ever at TE.  Gates knew he was unstoppable with his ability to box out.  If he wanted to catch the ball at a given point on the field, he went to that spot and owned it.

Winslow led the NFL in receptions in both 1980 & 1981.  The only other TE ever to lead the league was Gonzo, who did it once.

P.S.  Ran into an awesome stat while searching.  In the strike-shortened 1982 season, Wes Chandler played 8 games.  He had 49/1032/9.  Pretty impressive.

I disagree. IMO Gates was clearly better than Winslow, who was also elite and a deserving HOFer. IMO Gates is the best receiving TE of all-time, as things stand today. Maybe Kelce will ultimately surpass him, but not yet in my book. There is also an argument for Gronk, whose peak was stronger than Gates, but Gronk only played 131 career games, including postseason... not enough IMO.

ETA: My all-time list is here, and there is some great discussion in that thread about all-time TEs.

 

[wgoldsph]

Interesting.  I can’t put him above Gonzalez...I am curious as to  your reasoning there.

Also, I feel like the HoF tight ends from the early days of the league are just too different to be confident comparing them, so ranking all-time TE is one of the hardest positions for me.

I was going to say this - ranking a TE then is like ranking a tackle.  Now it's like ranking a big wr who blocks occasionally.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Well I guess we can stop telling posters to get Gates.

But the HOF does get him.

 

[TheWinz]

I disagree. IMO Gates was clearly better than Winslow, who was also elite and a deserving HOFer. IMO Gates is the best receiving TE of all-time, as things stand today. Maybe Kelce will ultimately surpass him, but not yet in my book. There is also an argument for Gronk, whose peak was stronger than Gates, but Gronk only played 131 career games, including postseason... not enough IMO.

ETA: My all-time list is here, and there is some great discussion in that thread about all-time TEs.

3 Chargers TE's in your top 7 - me likey!

 

[Faust]

Touchdown-maker Antonio Gates set standard for pass-catching tight ends

 

[loser]

 Where is the Camarillo thread?

 

[Ghost Rider]

I disagree. IMO Gates was clearly better than Winslow, who was also elite and a deserving HOFer. IMO Gates is the best receiving TE of all-time, as things stand today. Maybe Kelce will ultimately surpass him, but not yet in my book. There is also an argument for Gronk, whose peak was stronger than Gates, but Gronk only played 131 career games, including postseason... not enough IMO.

ETA: My all-time list is here, and there is some great discussion in that thread about all-time TEs.

It's a strong argument, but the public perception is that Gronk is better, and what really sucks is that since Gronk and Gates both ended their careers in 2018, they will be eligible for the Hall of Fame at the same time, and unless the voters are willing to put in two tight ends in the same year, Gates may have to wait a year to get in since Gronk will be viewed, fair or not, as more of a first ballot guy than Gates. 

 

[JohnnyU]

First ballot HOFer.  Good luck in your retirement.