"Antonio Gates is frustrated, in a lot of pain and growing increasingly impatient, but he is not about to give up.

"Ain't no use in turning back now," he said Monday.

The perennial Pro Bowler caused a little stir when he said after missing Sunday's game he might consider not finishing the season due to the torn plantar fascia in his right foot. It was not the first time Gates had indicated that was an option.

However, anyone who has heard him talk about why he endured this long would have serious doubts he would prematurely pull the plug.

"When you really, really believe in your heart, I really believe it," Gates said. "I do everything I can every day to get healthy. I really believe this is our chance, this is our year -- just because all the things we've overcome. When you think of the reward that's what makes it special – over time when you have to overcome injuries and all the guys coming in and out of the system.

"That's when you see people win championships, the tears of joy. It's those days when you look back and say, 'Man, them boys fought through it, they scratched and they clawed and now they're the champions.' I really feel that is going to happen for us."

And the man who prior to missing three of the past five games had fought through numerous injuries to play in 96 straight games, isn't going to miss it if it happens."