Gonzalez signs one-year extension with Falcons

ATLANTA The Atlanta Falcons have numerous difficult decisions to make in the coming offseason regarding free agents, but they made what must have been an easy one with Sunday's announcement that future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez had agreed to a one-year contract extension. FOX's Jay Glazer reported that the deal was worth 7 million. The Falcons have among the least amount of salary cap space this season so to award Gonzalez such a lucrative deal indicates what the team believes his importance is to the offense. In the offseason, veterans such as defensive end John Abraham and center Todd McClure will hit free agency, as will some young players such as starting safety Thomas DeCoud. Gonzalez was the Falcons' only Pro-Bowler this season in what has been a 9-6, playoff-qualifying season entering Sunday's finale with Tampa Bay. Last season the Falcons sent seven players to the Pro-Bowl in a 13-3 regular season in which they were the top seed in the NFC for the playoffs. The Falcons have made the playoffs now in two of Gonzalez's three seasons with the team. He has never won a playoff game in his 15-year career, but has made it his stated goal to win the Super Bowl before he retires. Evidently, he believes the Falcons still provide with a good chance to do so. This season Gonzalez, 35, has 79 receptions for 867 yards and seven touchdowns. His 1,143 catches rank second in league history and first among active players. With the Falcons trading up in April's draft for wide receiver Julio Jones to become more explosive, Gonzalez is a key component in the team's ability to stretch the field. In addition, the Falcons have no heir apparent at tight end. Along wide receiver Roddy White, an All-Pro last season, and running back Michael Turner, a top MVP vote-getter in 2008, the Falcons present difficult match-ups for opposing defenses. They rank 11th in points-per-game, 10th in total offense and seventh in passing yards at 267.7 per game. Gonzalez has often complimented Falcons' fourth-year quarterback Matt Ryan, saying he believes Ryan belongs among the league's elite.