Tony Gonzalez reiterates desire to retire after season

Former-Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez has said previously that he's 95 percent sure that he'll retire at the end of the 2012 NFL season, and he reiterated that same number to D. Orlando Ledbetter of Sporting News on Monday:

"That five percent is just something for just in case," Gonzalez said. "You never want to say never."

Gonzalez, 36, is a sure-fire Hall of Famer after a career that has left him as the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns among tight ends. In fact, he's second in receptions on the all-time leaderboard, behind only wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft, Gonzalez spent 12 seasons with the Chiefs before he signed with the Falcons prior to the 2009 season. In 2012, Gonzalez is threatening some of his career-best marks and has accumulated 880 yards receiving and eight touchdowns on 87 receptions.

The Falcons are 12-2 and can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win against either the Lions or the Buccaneers in the final two weeks.