Gonzalez Breaks Tight End TD Record

Tony Gonzalez, who admits he "hated football" when he first played as a youngster, has now caught more touchdown passes than any tight end in NFL history. The eight-time Pro Bowler of the Kansas City Chiefs caught a 3-yard pass from Damon Huard in the first quarter against Cincinnati on Sunday, breaking the record of 62 touchdown receptions set by Shannon Sharpe from 1990-03. The sellout crowd in Arrowhead Stadium gave him a standing ovation when his feat was announced a few minutes later. "Breaking the record for touchdown catches is not anything I ever thought I would do," Gonzalez, a two-way football and basketball star at California, has said. "When I first came into the league, all I wanted to do was be the best player I could be." A first-round pick of the Chiefs in 1997, the 31-year-old Gonzalez came into the game ranked second in NFL history for tight ends with 750 receptions and 9,048 yards receiving. While scheming to stop Gonzalez from getting the record against his team last week, Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio two weeks ago paid tribute to his capacity for hard work.
"You're talking about a future Hall of Fame guy," said Del Rio. "You have to have both physical toughness and mental toughness to sustain greatness." Gonzalez ended the day with two touchdown receptions.

Source: ESPN (AP)