http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/1961 Recent articles about Antonio Gates en-us More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP Browse more photos » I wanted to take a look at just how historically poor the Pittsburgh Steelers have been covering kickoffs so far in 2009. I did so by first checking the numbers generated by Football Outsiders special teams metrics. You can read an explanation of their system for special teams formula(s) here. You don't have to though to understand just how bad the Steel... Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:03:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Just_How_Bad_Has_The_Pittsburgh_Steelers_Special_Teams_Been_Even_Worse_Than_You_Think/1628696 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Just_How_Bad_Has_The_Pittsburgh_Steelers_Special_Teams_Been_Even_Worse_Than_You_Think/1628696 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Just_How_Bad_Has_The_Pittsburgh_Steelers_Special_Teams_Been_Even_Worse_Than_You_Think/1628696 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/0/d0086adfcb359b7c1c112498541e5eaa06e19c56/small/Red_Byron_c0b6.jpg Chargers TE Antonio Gates said that the 32-3 rout of the Broncos re-established his team as the best of the AFC West.The Chargers offensive line paved the way to 203 rushing yards and kept QB Philip Rivers from getting touched... Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:31:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Chargers_Broncos_one_liners/1617774 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Chargers_Broncos_one_liners/1617774 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Chargers_Broncos_one_liners/1617774 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/0/d0086adfcb359b7c1c112498541e5eaa06e19c56/small/Red_Byron_c0b6.jpg I'll give it this: The League has been funnier than expected. Thursday night's was pretty strong. It was also the first episode to feature a cameo from an actual NFL player. The FX comedy is available on Hulu, but last night's episode won't be there until next Friday. Have you been watching the show? What do you think? Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:33:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Antonio_Gates_Cameo_on_FXs_The_League/1602910 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Antonio_Gates_Cameo_on_FXs_The_League/1602910 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Antonio_Gates_Cameo_on_FXs_The_League/1602910 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/7/b7f3b7470131b6d13ea80454743b47ae49474f65/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90534008.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D00B017EE888E98F826E6E0AF21B0A8808BE7CBAADE732C10D.jpg The Chargers have 6-foot-5 Vincent Jackson, just about the hottest receiver around, plus 6-foot-5 Malcom Floyd and 6-foot-4 Antonio Gates. The Eagles start a pair of 5-foot-10 cornerbacks, plus a 5-10 nickel back. Somewhere in there should be an advantage for the Chargers. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:56:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Five_things_to_watch_Eagles_at_Chargers/1568404 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Five_things_to_watch_Eagles_at_Chargers/1568404 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Five_things_to_watch_Eagles_at_Chargers/1568404 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/8/38d2b13b53a06ab191ec8f67a80f0ba15f089093/small/Denver_Broncos_v_c638.jpg View full size photo » This is the next part in our series of previews of the Eagles 2009 opponents. Joining us for this feature is Dave Schwab, who writes about the Eagles at his site Eagles Lincs.One of the more crazy/entertaining endings in recent Eagles memory came when the last time the Eagles played the Chargers in 2005. The Chargers were up 17-13 and lining up for a fourth quarter FG that would seal the game... Stunningly, the F... Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:02:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Philadelphia_Eagles_Opponents_Preview_San_Diego_Chargers/1564864 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Philadelphia_Eagles_Opponents_Preview_San_Diego_Chargers/1564864 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Philadelphia_Eagles_Opponents_Preview_San_Diego_Chargers/1564864 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/c/2c9b76af066a9fa464b3ee7a5b4f0a4060e71be9/small/San_Diego_Chargers_282c.jpg LaDainian Tomlinson may not be in San Diego for long, but he should be on the field this Sunday.Tomlinson returned to practice Thursday after missing work Wednesday with a hip injury. Antonio Gates, who often takes Wednesdays off, was also... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:30:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Tomlinson_Gates_return_to_practice/1553368 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Tomlinson_Gates_return_to_practice/1553368 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Tomlinson_Gates_return_to_practice/1553368 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/6/a61e00e092e768abb0f2c6fdc0d1768fde65ae01/small/Seattle_Seahawks_v_c7ce.jpg Running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates were among six San Diego Chargers missing practice due to injuries. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:02:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/LaDainian_Tomlinson_Antonio_Gates_among_six_to_miss_Chargers_practice/1548819 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/LaDainian_Tomlinson_Antonio_Gates_among_six_to_miss_Chargers_practice/1548819 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/LaDainian_Tomlinson_Antonio_Gates_among_six_to_miss_Chargers_practice/1548819 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/2/d264b2aa42422fedc0bbc2c8134d735291f75986/small/San_Diego_Chargers_4030.jpg TE Antonio Gates was the intended target on the play that resulted in QB Philip Rivers's touchdown pass to WR Vincent Jackson and a 21-20 Chargers victory.Said Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson, "I don't want to say I'm coming to the... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:49:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Chargers_Giants_one_liners/1529438 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Chargers_Giants_one_liners/1529438 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Chargers_Giants_one_liners/1529438 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/9/d9c9f5241a964c7d7bd723e78ae75f2214b40ffb/small/San_Diego_Chargers_6c34.jpg ATLANTA (AP) -- Running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates were held out of the San Diego Chargers' preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:45:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Tomlinson_Gates_held_out_of_preseason_game/1081027 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Tomlinson_Gates_held_out_of_preseason_game/1081027 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Tomlinson_Gates_held_out_of_preseason_game/1081027 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/4/14844ccd7d0a4496c7cf1c38a0bef4a15e088966/small/San_Diego_Chargers_071f.jpg When you think of tight end and the Chargers, rightfully the first name that comes to mind is five-time Pro Bowler Antonio Gates. But that's not... Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:20:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Theres_more_to_Chargers_at_tight_end_than_Gates/1051591 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Theres_more_to_Chargers_at_tight_end_than_Gates/1051591 When you think of tight end and the Chargers, rightfully the first name that comes to mind is five-time Pro Bowler Antonio Gates. But that's not... Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:20:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Theres_more_to_Chargers_at_tight_end_than_Gates/1051595 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Theres_more_to_Chargers_at_tight_end_than_Gates/1051595 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Theres_more_to_Chargers_at_tight_end_than_Gates/1051595 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/3/a3b8e7c6c90f00b1ecce2604819f2a03169801bc/small/New_York_Jets_26d0.jpg When you think of tight end and the Chargers, rightfully the first name that comes to mind is five-time Pro Bowler Antonio Gates. But that's not where the discussion stops. Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:55:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Theres_more_to_Chargers_at_tight_end_than_Gates/1051377 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Theres_more_to_Chargers_at_tight_end_than_Gates/1051377 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Theres_more_to_Chargers_at_tight_end_than_Gates/1051377 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/4/f4f9738571775cad90f02349f31f5e5e814c418e/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f81966297.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193B7AACB11502DBF3387B71784F0D64954.jpg The Chargers are thinking Super Bowl in the 2009 season, and one player that is key to that type of run is tight end Antonio Gates, who finally appears healthy. “Anything less than a Super Bowl championship, it doesn’t exist for us,” Gates said. It was a tough year in 2008 for Gates, as the five-time Pro [...] Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:33:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Chargers_TE_Gates_Healthy_and_Ready_For_a_Big_2009/924532 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Chargers_TE_Gates_Healthy_and_Ready_For_a_Big_2009/924532 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Chargers_TE_Gates_Healthy_and_Ready_For_a_Big_2009/924532 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/0/b003077db8af756a1c3c9dbc4e80ac94aeab2299/small/AFC_Wild_Card_74ce.jpg Antonio Gates, who has more touchdowns than any player at his position through the first 93 games of his career and could well be headed to the Hall... Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:41:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Chiseled_Gates_hit_the_weights/921956 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Chiseled_Gates_hit_the_weights/921956 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Chiseled_Gates_hit_the_weights/921956 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/a/9a5d670c641479fcf5db069ba633d82eb8d54ea0/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f84165625.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193307E2C13F1C6096221853960B750B7AF.jpg Source: Associated Press SAN DIEGO (AP)—Chargers tight end Antonio Gates(notes) isn’t holding back, and he predicts his team won’t either. “Anything less than a Super Bowl championship, it doesn’t exist for us,” Gates said. Among the reasons the Chargers enter the year as a Super Bowl contender is that Gates is healthy, and he’s running and cutting in [...] Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:54:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Gates_health_has_Chargers_eyeing_the_Super_Bowl/920582 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Gates_health_has_Chargers_eyeing_the_Super_Bowl/920582 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Gates_health_has_Chargers_eyeing_the_Super_Bowl/920582 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/e/0ef3b9109d7087ca1f874f6e72c9cefbb32d7be9/small/95.jpg