"For Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, facing the Kansas City Chiefs is more than just the exhibition season opener.

Gonzalez admits that when he takes the field at 8 p.m. Friday at the Georgia Dome, he's going to have to check his emotions.

"It's just going to fun, going out there and competing," Gonzalez said. "Seeing those jerseys and looking down at my own jersey and realizing that, it's going to be special actually."

Gonzalez, 34, spent 12 years of his stellar career with the Chiefs before being traded to the Falcons last year. He'll make his way to the other side of field to say hello to guard Brian Waters and safety Jarrad Page, a couple of his former teammates and survivors of the Chiefs' roster purge.

"There are some people that worked in the organization, even though [they] cleaned house there as well, it's going to be good to see them," Gonzalez said.

But once the game starts, Gonzalez, who will play a series or two, will be fine.

"This is for the young guys to show what they can do," said Gonzalez, who caught 83 passes last season. "I think by now, everybody knows what I can do."

For however long he plays, Gonzalez should be fun to watch."