"Though he will shortly surpass Charlie Joiner as the Chargers' career receptions leader, Antonio Gates is also closing in on Antonio Gates.

There is more spring in his step lately; more confidence in his cuts. For the first time in a long time, the archetypal tight end looks like a reasonable facsimile of his former self.

"I'm not 100 percent, but I feel great," Gates said Friday afternoon. "It's an ongoing process and it will continue to be treated that way. But for the most part, I've been surprised at the things I've been able to do and I've been surprised at the way I've been feeling over the last couple of weeks."

In nine mostly splendid seasons in the National Football League, Gates has had more difficulty shaking plantar fasciitis than any defender who has dared to cover him. The painful foot condition has reduced Gates from a one-of-a-kind player to a willing spirit of weakened flesh. It cost him some of his burst, some of his ability to abruptly change directions and much of the separation that has enabled an erstwhile basketball forward to catch 582 passes in the National Football League."