Antonio Gates - Healthy rebound or continued decline?

[Miller]

Thank you. That is the point I was trying to make when I began addressing the fact that it was not Gates decline as Miller now wants to re-define in fantasy reference subterfuge.

huh?? Gates has declined.....his numbers are in decline, only thing you are pointing out is why.....his situation. Not sure I think that is the whole story, but that is a reason for decline.

You are arguing that his skills have not declined. I have never argued with you on that. But last I checked this is a FANTASY FOOTBALL message board...so when your talking about decline, I don't care why...be it skills or situation, or injury....it's DECLINE.

Now back to the question at hand, will it continue? Or will he bounce back? you keep waffling....first you said he'd be back, now that someone pointed out the situation has changed you state he won't get back to the top, but will still be damn good.....which is it, I can't follow you. All you seem to want to do is put words in my mouth and argue about things I have not stated why failing to make arguments of your own that make sense.....

I think Gates can rebound in a BIG way. I blame the injuries....but not for one second can you argue, or has anyone besides yourself argued, that his numbers did not decline over the last 5 years:
So again, since you keep bringing it back up:
04&05 - ELITE TE, heads and shoulders above the rest
06&07 - Numbers came back to earth, still great, but no seperation and no longer alone at the top of the mt
08 - Another decline....all injury? Situation? Can he get it back?

That is what the point is to be about....you seem to think he still has the skills, but the situation is not as favorable as it was in 04 & 05...so i assume you think 06&07 numbers? I have to assume, b/c all you have wanted to do is argue about something I have not stated....

I have never stated, not do I believe his skills are declined....i have posted a question asking if he can reverse the decline in his production which is OBVIOUS!!! He has declined, you can not argue this....I'm not saying his skills have, but his NUMBERS have!!!

So let's get back to the questions instead of you continuing this crap. What will he do from a number standpoint?

 

[Miller]

I can't join in here. I have to pick my battles. I'm saving up for a future debate with Miller.

lol, it's b/c you don't disagree with me here....you are pointing out the reason that gates numbers have declined....yet someone can't see past you need to pick arguments today.

I'm just waiting for someone to answer the question in the post. Is he going to bounce back to the top or not?

 

[eaglechick]

he was injured in 07 as well as last year (he played through it--i seem to remember a nagging back injury? and perhaps the turf toe as well?). i can't remember 06.

in any case, if he's truly healthy again, i think he can return to elite status. i would rank him just behind witten in the first tier, and the next group is a bit behind

 

[ExperiencedRookie]

lol, it's b/c you don't disagree with me here....

Don't tempt me Miller. I can flip flop just for the sake of engaging you in debate!

On topic... I don't see Gates returning to those ridiculous numbers of a few years ago. He's not the only sheriff in the passing game anymore. Doesn't mean he's going to be bad, I just don't see him on the same level as Witten.

 

[Cooley Cadets]

Will he once again rise to the top, or will he continue his gradual slide?

Sounds like you are saying HE declined and not just his numbers as you later claim once you realized you either mistyped or misspoke.

I don't know if I would state he is in a gradual slide. When healthy he has continued to be able to dominate at the position. If healthy and able to remain so I would expect him to continue to be a top producing TE.

That said, I do not think he is going to pass Witten. It is my impression that the team does not have to rely on him as heavily as it has in the past. Granted Chambers is past his prime and Jackson may not ever become a legitimate #1 WR the position has been upgraded over what they had earlier in Gates career.

Who other than Witten would you rank ahead of him? Clark? Olsen (say it ain't so)? A rejuvenated Gonzo?

I stated HE did not decline - please point out where I claimed his #'s did not.

I then went on and answered your question stating he would remain at the top of the TE rankings but that I would not move him ahead of Witten. That puts him at #2 and explained to you why. It was not because of any decline on his part but because the team dynamics have changed.

I made it as clear as possible for you that I was distinguishing his "fantasy" #'s from your generic comment about him declining way back in the 5th post. Seems to me it would be important to know if a players recent "decline" was due to situation or skill in fantasy football but that just may be me.

 

[Miller]

Don't tempt me Miller. I can flip flop just for the sake of engaging you in debate!

lol, oh I know you can....your like me, you can debate just about anything. It's all good.

I actually like days like this on the forum. Even with Cooley, I would like to not have words put in my mouth, but I love that he's taking a stance and debating it vigorously! That's what the forum is about, bring your opinions, and back them up!

Been a good day!

 

[Miller]

Sounds like you are saying HE declined and not just his numbers as you later claim once you realized you either mistyped or misspoke.




I stated HE did not decline - please point out where I claimed his #'s did not.

I then went on and answered your question stating he would remain at the top of the TE rankings but that I would not move him ahead of Witten. That puts him at #2 and explained to you why. It was not because of any decline on his part but because the team dynamics have changed.

I made it as clear as possible for you that I was distinguishing his "fantasy" #'s from your generic comment about him declining way back in the 5th post. Seems to me it would be important to know if a players recent "decline" was due to situation or skill in fantasy football but that just may be me.

Guess that's where our misunderstanding/disagreement comes in. HE DID decline....his numbers state that. Now there are various reasons for a decline:

• Skill
• Situation
• Motivation
• Injury
• Many other variables

Your misunderstanding me saying "will he continue "his" decline for me saying his skills have declined. I did not, and am sorry you read into that. That would be an assumption on your end that I can not control. But I would not write it any differently if I would do it now. I did not mis-speak, you made assumed I was meaning one of the various underlying reasons for his decline.

We can agree we all believe it's not his skills. So let's just have a :cheers: and move on bigger and better subjects. I have went above and beyond to try to clarify what the sentence means.

So it looks like our opinions are the same on Gates....we don't even have to agree to disagree here. We just have to stop bickering about agreeing

 

[Coachnorm]

:cheers:

What's that I smell cooking on the grill?

 

[Cooley Cadets]

:cheers:

What's that I smell cooking on the grill?

Miller's pride.

 

[Miller]

Miller's pride.

:nannie:

 

[Coachnorm]

he was injured in 07 as well as last year (he played through it--i seem to remember a nagging back injury? and perhaps the turf toe as well?). i can't remember 06.

in any case, if he's truly healthy again, i think he can return to elite status. i would rank him just behind witten in the first tier, and the next group is a bit behind

Good Point EC! It has been a couple of years with nagging injuries. It did elevate my estimation of Gates as a real warrior. He got his turf toe wrapped and shot up a lot last year. It has to be much harder to run when you can't feel your foot. There was a few games where you could see he was hampered and still answered the bell. He was very often a Game Day Decision but didn't miss a start. Tough Guy, in my book.

He had 0 catches in week 14. One catch in week 5. Two catches in weeks 3 and 11. Healthy, good back, no turf toes turns those weeks into more typical 3-6 catch days. That's 10 more catches or so just based on good health alone.

 

[Mustang Jones]

...
I'm just waiting for someone to answer the question in the post. Is he going to bounce back to the top or not?

I'll go...

1. He never left the top
b. His toe probably saw more needles than Courtney Love
Four. Hells Yeah!

Gonzo and Gates are men among boys. There, I said it.

The real question is at what point do you pull the trigger? Is there someone of lesser but almost equal value? etc...

Is Gates worth taking after you have your number one RB and WR? Probably.