Tony Gonzalez is allowed to change his mind. In August, he told Alex Marvel of FoxSports.com there was a "50-50" chance this season would be his last. However, in a recent interview with D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Gonzalez said he was only joking.
From the AJC:
"When I said that, it was in jest," Gonzalez said. "I really don't know. I'm just trying to concentrate on Pittsburgh. I'm not even worried about next year. It might cross my mind every once in a while, but I'm not focusing on it."
He concluded that he was leaving the door open to playing in 2012.
"I feel good right now, and that's something that I'm really going to have to figure out in the offseason," Gonzalez said. "We've got a great football team and a great group of guys. I love coming to work still. That's something that we'll have to see next year. I can't say a yes or a no at this point."
It's not uncommon for NFL veterans to reconsider their choice of profession during the heat of August two-a-days, so this is not a shocking revelation. The real question is whether a lockout in 2011 will help or hurt his chances of playing a 15th season. Will the year off re-charge his batteries allowing him another year or will he decide it's the perfect time to call it quits on the greatest tight end career ever?