Ranking NFL teams by Age

[Beerman]

I was thinking that he might retire too after the season he had, but then heard about his sister so.... Having had a sibling with a potentially life threatening illness, I can see how some of the stuff that may have worn him down last year might not be as big an issue this season. Not saying he won't, just wait and see.

The other thing will be to see how he responds to a new position coach. Metzelaars has only been a TE coach for teams that used their TE mostly as blockers (he was an OL coach for Indy). In the 49ers preseasosn game, we had Gates in doing a lot of inline blocking, which may convince him to reconsider playing for us again.

Lol. Yea, less inline blocking by Gates please. It was hard to watch. Gotta know his limitations.

I don't think Gates retires though. Maybe if we win a ring. I actually think he'll have a great year.

[Formula 21]

Lol. Yea, less inline blocking by Gates please. It was hard to watch. Gotta know his limitations.

I don't think Gates retires though. Maybe if we win a ring. I actually think he'll have a great year.

Gotta go for the ring. We're close.

[TTK]

I don't know if it's just high expectations or what but people who are really down on Gates is just like with Rivers in 2012. They didn't have bad years, they just didn't have the crazy good years they normally do.

His TDs went down but 872 yards and 4 TDs is still pretty damn good (3rd most yards for TEs). Most teams would kill to have a TE with that kind of production.

[Formula 21]

Still looking for Gate on 3 rd down.

[Boltjolt]

Losing JJ, Freeney and Hardwick after the year will cut about .6 off of that.

And Floyd

[Panama]

Still looking for Gate on 3 rd down.

Yup. And in the red zone.

[Grinners]

The F-ing Raiders!!!!! LOL....how the F can u suck for 13 straight years and somehow still have the oldest team in the league?

They must be reaching for talent.................LOL

[Steve]

The F-ing Raiders!!!!! LOL....how the F can u suck for 13 straight years and somehow still have the oldest team in the league?

That is what happens if you draft badly year after year.

93 Freeney, Dwight OLB 6-1 268 34 13 Syracuse
85 Gates, Antonio TE 6-4 255 34 12 Kent State
96 Johnson, Jarret OLB 6-3 260 33 12 Alabama
5 Scifres, Mike P 6-2 215 33 12 Western Illinois
61 Hardwick, Nick C 6-4 305 32 11 Purdue
17 Rivers, Philip QB 6-5 228 32 11 North Carolina State
10 Clemens, Kellen QB 6-2 220 31 9 Oregon
80 Floyd, Malcom WR 6-5 225 32 9 Wyoming
31 Marshall, Richard CB 5-11 198 29 9 Fresno State

I could see everyone of those guys coming back next year if they play well enough and their price is right. But the good thing is, with the exception of QB, and P, we have younger options at every single spot. Time will tell if they all pan out, but if we can keep plugging away at upgrading the roster with draft picks and key udfa, we will be in great shape for the future, no matter what happens with most of those players.