Quotes from Tony Gonzalez

I didn't start my whole rookie year.

The first thing I do after I wake up is a morning meditation. It's just as I awake and before I open my eyes. It's where I'm feeding my gratitude and the love in my heart and opening my heart. A good morning meditation is key. It lasts about 10 to 15 minutes. Then I get out of bed.

It's great because growing up, especially being a Raiders fan and then playing with Marcus, I was like, 'Holy smokes, that's Marcus Allen' when I first walked in and saw him.

For me, I'm really tired of living and dying with the game. Every game. I've tried to turn it off. I'm still trying. I can't. It sucks. Believe me, it sucks.

Of course I want to win a Super Bowl, but at the same time I'm very happy with what I've accomplished and the relationships I've made over the years.

The Super Bowl obviously wasn't in my cards, and I'm OK with that.

I always wanted to play in the Super Bowl. That never happened. It hurts. I'm not going to lie about it. It's reality. You deal with it.

If I can't win a Super Bowl, so what? What would it do for me?

I want to go to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl.

I've seen guys retire and then say they don't feel their career was complete without a Super Bowl. They play that woulda-coulda game in their heads. Not me.

Chiefs fans know how I feel about them and so do the Atlanta Falcons fans.

I'm so proud to have been a part of the Chiefs for 12 seasons and will always feel like a part of their family.

I'm my own biggest critic. I'm the one who has to go home and look at myself in the mirror.

It's about getting hot, playing good football come playoff time.

I usually wake up around 7:30 A.M. without an alarm clock. I wake up naturally because I'm huge on sleep. I believe it's the No. 1 thing you can do if you're trying to create a better life.

Salaries should be set based on production and contributions, not positions.

Leadership doesn't come from age.

Whether it's in the weight room or extra stretching, you never know when you're going to need that little extra oomph.

I love a sleep mask, havin' total darkness is essential for good sleep, you know, cuttin' that light out of your eyes.

I accept the cards that were dealt to me.

There were guys from different parts of the country, and absolutely I heard, 'Why are you playing football?' You just didn't see a Gonzalez out there or any kind of Latin name.

Don't tell me that the rules prohibit you from hitting a guy up top. You have a whole target area above his knee up to his neck that you can hit.

The game is exploding for Latinos... They've embraced the game.

It's a little weird thinking I'm going to be an Atlanta Falcon - just saying that.