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The reluctant superstar

The reluctant superstar

There’s a real sense of irony that the tight end with the most touchdowns in NFL history never liked playing football as a youngster.

In fact, Tony Gonzalez fondly remembers having to be dragged out to play the game by his older brother, Chris.

But on Sunday, the elder Gonzalez was in attendance when his younger brother put his name into the NFL record book.

Tony Gonzalez caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Damon Huard in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals that was the 63rd of his illustrious career, breaking the record of 62 set by Shannon Sharpe (1990 to ‘03). Then in the fourth quarter, Gonzalez caught Huard’s 26-yard scoring strike to put the Chiefs ahead 27-10 en route to a 27-20 victory over the Bengals before a sellout crowd at Arrowhead Stadium.

The six-foot-four, 250-pound Gonzalez finished the game with 102 yards receiving as Kansas City (3-3) reached the .500 level and handed Cincinnati (1-4) its fourth straight loss.

And Tony Gonzalez, 31, kept the record-setting ball, saying he’d give it to his older brother, who was visiting Sunday from California.

“He was the first person to throw me the football when I was younger,” Gonzalez said. “I remember we were at the house and he said to come play with him across the street.

``I remember I hated football and he dragged me by my shirt, literally. Ever since then, I kind of liked the sport and thought it was something I was good at.”

Good enough to be the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick in ‘97. And good enough to be the No. 2-ranked tight end in NFL history with 759 catches for 9,150 yards behind Sharpe (815 catches, 10,060 yards).

But the eight-time Pro Bowl player was a very slow starter with the Chiefs, scoring just four touchdowns in his first two seasons in the NFL. There were plenty of questions early whether the former two-sport star (football and basketball) from Cal was destined for greatness in pro football.

Now, though, Gonzalez deserves to be mentioned among the NFL’s greatest tight ends ever, joining a select group that would include Sharpe, John Mackey, Kellen Winslow, Ozzie Newsome and Dave Casper, to name but a few.

Sharpe might have the best stats of any NFL tight end, but many football experts place Winslow at the top of the tight end fraternity, and with good reason. The former San Diego Charger revolutionized the position, providing the deft combination of soft hands, speed and size that hadn’t really been seen in the NFL to that point.

Despite being plagued by knee injuries, Winslow still registered 541 catches for 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns over nine NFL seasons. He was an All-Pro in 1980, ’81 and ’82.

But it was Winslow’s performance in the 1981 playoffs that went down as one for the ages.

Winslow had 13 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown in San Diego’s 41-38 overtime playoff victory over Miami in 1981. He played despite being treated for a pinched nerve in his shoulder, dehydration, severe cramps and a cut in his lip that required three stitches.

Then, with Miami setting up for a game-winning field goal with four seconds left in regulation, Winslow broke through and blocked the kick to force overtime.

After San Diego secured the win, an exhausted Winslow had to be helped off the field by two teammates in one of the most enduring images in NFL history.

Gonzalez hasn’t quite yet matched Winslow’s career performance _ at least not yet _ but once Gonzalez retires he can expect to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and take his place with Winslow and Sharpe among the game‘s other great tight ends.