"That tight end matchup between Tony and myself seemed to give those two games a year a little extra something," Gates said this weekend during the Chargers' minicamp. "I would always face the defensive players and so would Tony, but it would always be mine and Tony's stats that were compared."

Gates admits even he found himself getting sucked into the Gates-Gonzalez hoopla.

"Tony would make a big play and I couldn't wait to get out there. I would say, "it's our turn now, ' " Gates said. "There were some great battles."

"It was fun," Gates said. "But to tell the truth, I am happy he is gone because we don't have to face him anymore. "