Cutler leads Bears past former team; Orton suffers finger injury

Jay Cutler got the last laugh.

The Pro Bowl passer, who forced a blockbuster trade out of Denver last spring and became the Chicago Bears' first franchise quarterback since Sid Luckman, returned to Invesco Field on Sunday night and led his new team to a 27-17 preseason win over the Broncos.

Cutler disregarded the thousands of hecklers, including Broncos pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil, in leading Chicago on three scoring drives, capped by a 12-play, 98-yarder just before halftime that gave the Bears a 17-3 lead.

The adversary he left behind, Broncos rookie coach Josh McDaniels, had a distressing home debut, as did Denver's new quarterback, Kyle Orton, who gashed his right index finger to cut short a middling performance against his former team.

Cutler threw for 144 yards and a score in a crisp 15-for-21 performance before calling it a night at halftime and basking in the glow of his successful return to Invesco Field, where just eight months ago he was a beloved figure, a Pro Bowl passer and the heir apparent in this town to Hall of Famer John Elway.

While fans came to jeer him, they also saw why they'll miss this immensely talented young quarterback.

"I thought it was going to be like this," Cutler said. "They got good fans here. A lot of boos - they got pretty loud there at one point. It was what we kind of prepared for."

At one point on the Bears' 98-yard TD drive, the jeers turned to cheers when Dumervil blew past left tackle Orlando Pace for a third time and put a hit on Cutler after he had released the ball. The personal foul gave the Bears (2-1) a first down at the Denver 14 but the riled-up crowd didn't care.

Two plays later, Cutler feathered a 6-yard pass to running back Matt Forte in the end zone.

Some of the night's catcalls were directed at McDaniels, the brash, 33-year-old rookie head coach who chased off his franchise quarterback shortly after replacing Mike Shanahan and now finds himself in a bitter feud with star receiver Brandon Marshall, whom he suspended for insubordination last week.

"He's such a talent and he's such a good guy off the field, I just want to see him get back out there and start playing again because he's good for the game," Cutler said. "He's exciting for the game."

Wearing a hoodie like his mentor, Bill Belichick, McDaniels was hampered by an ineffective offense that committed multiple mistakes and plenty of penalties.

After his follow-through on an incomplete pass to Correll Buckhalter before halftime, Orton glanced down at his bloody finger, held it up for the sideline to see and then trotted off the field.

Although the bloody finger was captured by the NBC cameras for all to see, the Broncos announced Orton's problem in the press box only as "an upper extremity injury" and said he was questionable to return.

McDaniels told NBC that Orton's finger wasn't broken but that more tests were needed.

Orton was 12-for-16 for 96 yards - good numbers, sure, but in a half-dozen drives, he only led the Broncos (0-3) to a single field goal, not the kind of home debut he was anticipating after getting off to a rocky start in Denver.

Orton's poor performance in a stadium scrimmage three weeks ago spawned the catch phrase "Orton hears a boo," and he threw four interceptions in his first two exhibition games for the Broncos, including three against San Francisco in the opener and then a left-handed pickoff in the end zone at Seattle.

Broncos starting receiver Jabar Gaffney didn't play Sunday night after hurting his thumb in practice Friday and could be out a month. Denver lost right guard Chris Kuper to an apparently serious right leg injury when he was rolled up on in the first quarter.

Cutler received a rude reception from Denver's pass rush that hounded Chicago into three three-and-outs in the Bears' first four possessions.

But the Bears went ahead 10-3 on Forte's 1-yard run that followed Devin Hester's 54-yard punt return to the Denver 4.

Peyton Hillis and Darius Walker had TD runs for Denver in the second half, and Adrian Peterson had a 12-yard run for Chicago.

When McDaniels replaced Shanahan in January, it looked as though the Broncos had the makings of a juggernaut with the 25-year-old Cutler and the offensive wunderkind hooking up in a town where expectations of a high-flying offense are a mile high.

But Cutler grew disenchanted with McDaniels after learning that the new coach talked about trading him for Matt Cassel, his former pupil in New England, and he said he wanted a fresh start somewhere else.

After several weeks of acrimony, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, miffed that Cutler wouldn't return his calls to talk about a reconciliation, ordered the quarterback's trade.

McDaniels shipped him to Chicago for Orton and a handful of draft picks.

Asked by NBC what he had learned from his trade, Cutler said: "It's a business. You never know exactly what's going to happen. There's coaching changes, there's player changes every day. You just have to stay in the game and wherever you land, you land.

"I'm happy I'm in Chicago. We got a great thing going right now and we just need to keep heading that way."

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QB Quinn paces Browns to win over Titans

One Browns quarterback threw a touchdown pass. The other did not.

And for Brady Quinn, that perfect pass may have pushed him over the top.

Quinn threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards and outplayed Derek Anderson in perhaps their final auditions for coach Eric Mangini to be Cleveland's starting quarterback, and the Browns beat the Tennessee Titans 23-17 in an exhibition game Saturday night.

Quinn and Anderson entered the third preseason game in a virtual dead heat. Earlier this week, Mangini described their summer-long competition as "very close" and it remains that way. They've posted similar stats with Quinn's TD pass - the only one by a Cleveland QB in the preseason - as the only thing separating the pair.

Mangini said he is no nearer to naming his starter for the Sept. 13 opener against Minnesota.

"I'll look at the tape tomorrow, talk to the coaches and continue to evaluate it," Mangini said. "When the decision is made, I'll let everyone know."

After coming off the bench last week, Quinn got the start and finished 11 of 15 for 128 yards. He led the Browns to one TD and two field goals in his four series.

Anderson went 7 of 11 for 77 yards and led the Browns to one field goal on two possessions. He didn't have an interception, but one poorly thrown ball was dropped by Tennessee cornerback Tenard Davis.

Both QBs were happy with their performances and both did their best to sidestep questions about who they think will win their race.

"It's out of my hands," Anderson said. "Let the chips fall."

Quinn was asked if he expected a decision to come this week.

"I expect to practice on Monday," he said. "Derek and I are mentally tough guys. If our coach wants us to go forever, I'm sure we can go forever."

Quinn was given a short field to work with in the third quarter when the Browns recovered a Tennessee fumble on a kickoff at the Titans 34. On first down, Quinn threw underneath to Jamal Lewis who weaved 14 yards on a screen.

Quinn then fired his TD pass on an inside slant to Edwards, who moments earlier made a sensational one-handed catch in the end zone on a pass from Anderson but could only get one foot down.

Edwards refused to handicap the Browns' quarterback derby.

"That's up to coach," he said. "Whatever decision he makes we'll support. Right now, they both look good."

While Cleveland's quarterbacks were under the microscope, Tennessee's Kerry Collins looked best.

Collins went 11 of 14 for 102 yards and threw a 6-yard TD pass to Justin Gage in the first quarter. The 36-year-old Collins can still throw it as hard and far as always and he showed soft touch on several balls.

"Kerry spread the ball around quite a bit," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We got some things accomplished that we didn't see last week. I was pleased with the drives. We gave up a couple of plays, but I thought we handled the run with the starters"

With Patrick Ramsey nursing sore ribs, Vince Young played three quarters and went 17 of 24 for 174 yards. He threw a 15-yard TD pass to tight end Matthew Mulligan, but also threw an interception that was returned 11 yards for a TD by Browns linebacker Alex Hall.

Young accepted blame for the pick.

"It was my fault," he said. "(Hall) made a great play. I threw a ball behind him (Matt Mulligan). I should have thrown it into the ground."

Collins threw a touchdown pass and played the whole first half last week in a loss at Dallas. But Tennessee's first-team offense managed just 78 yards. The Titans nearly equaled that the second time they had the ball as Collins capped a 75-yard drive with his TD pass to Gage.

Quinn displayed nice arm strength on an 18-yard pass to Mike Furrey and later stepped up and drilled a pass to Joshua Cribbs on third down for another 18 as Cleveland moved to the Titans 10. But the Browns had to settle for Phil Dawson's 21-yard field goal to pull within 7-3.

Anderson impacted the game in a strange way before it was his turn to play.

On Tennessee's first play after Dawson's kick, Collins threw a deep pass down the right side that fell incomplete. However, field judge Terry Brown called a 15-yard penalty on Anderson, who was standing on the Browns sideline, for being outside the restricted bench area.

Brown tripped and fell over Anderson, who appeared to be trying to get out of the official's way.

Anderson admitted he was watching the play on the scoreboard and the next thing he knew the play was on top of him.

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Brett Favre: Fitting in with Vikings a 'work in progress'

Thanks to 16 years in the same offensive system at Green Bay, Brett Favre already feels at home with the Minnesota Vikings playbook.

His familiarity with the teammates who are running those plays still has a way to go.

Favre has been in Minnesota for only 10 days, so he's still getting acquainted with his new Vikings teammates, something the 39-year-old quarterback believes will only take a matter of time.

"Obviously chemistry is maybe the most important factor in winning and losing. There's some work to do in that area," Favre said after practice on Thursday. "I've been here a little over a week, and that's the reason there's work to do. I think the locker room has been fine. I don't know what it was like before I got here. I wasn't here.

"I know every guy in that room wants to win, and we're going to do everything we can do to try to see that that happens."

Vikings coach Brad Childress picked up Favre from the airport on Aug. 18 after not seeing enough from incumbents Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels during training camp.

It's been a whirlwind since then for a three-time MVP who still doesn't know the names of all 78 teammates in purple. He has been staying late at team headquarters to study film and learn the tendencies of his new receivers. He's also getting to know the rest of the team to better put him in a position to be a leader once the season begins.

Favre called it "a work in progress." But he also says he is confident that he will fit in just fine in Minnesota.

"I'd be a fool to sit here and tell you I've won everyone over in the locker room, and that's not what I'm trying to do. I was brought in here to help this team win, not to make friends, even though I felt like that's an easy thing for me to do," he said. "I will continue to work on that part of it. I think my experience can only go so far on the field, but it can pay huge dividends off the field and in the locker room.

"You know what, you've got to be yourself, and I'm pretty content with my personality. I think it's able to fit in with just about everyone."

The signs have been promising so far, despite a generation gap between Favre and most of the players in the locker room. He will turn 40 in October and 56 of the 79 players on the roster on Thursday were under the age of 10 when he was drafted by the Falcons in 1991.

He has already received ringing endorsements from every significant veteran on the Vikings roster, including guard Steve Hutchinson, running back Adrian Peterson and defensive end Jared Allen.

"He's the type of guy that can keep a smile on your face, keep you laughing," Peterson said after Favre's first preseason appearance last Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs. "He's been doing this for 18 years, so I'm sure it's not hard for him to connect with guys."

Rookie receiver Percy Harvin called it "an honor" and "a blessing" to play with the future Hall of Famer while left tackle Bryant McKinnie said he had trouble believing his eyes on the first day of practice when Favre called the play in the huddle.

"Brett has fit in great. He's one of the guys," safety Madieu Williams said on Thursday. "Everybody has welcomed him with open arms. He's fit right in. He's been a great locker-room guy."

Now it's time to see what the old man has left on the field. He played in the preseason game last Friday night just three days after signing with the team and completed one pass for four yards in 4 attempts over two series.

The Vikings don't play again until Monday night at Houston, giving Favre a full week of practices to get a better feel for his teammates and work his body back into playing shape.

"The one thing we want to do is we want him to do things the way we've been doing it for the last couple of weeks, with all the guys in training camp," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "Get him up to speed where they are. Then, once we get him to there, then we can start to evolve and do some other things we want to do."

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Byron Leftwich outplays Luke McCown in Bucs' loss to Dolphins

The race for Tampa Bay's starting quarterback job may finally have a clear-cut winner.

Given roughly the same amount of playing time to make their final cases during a 10-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins, Byron Leftwich outperformed Luke McCown to likely create the separation Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris sought to make a decision.

Chad Pennington led a drive that produced a field goal just before halftime, then led a long touchdown drive in the third quarter for the Dolphins (3-0). Mike Nugent kicked two field goals for Tampa Bay (1-2) on drives led by Leftwich.

Leftwich completed 9 of 17 passes for 100 yards in just over a quarter, working four possessions. He overthrew some open receivers in the rain, but was impressive on third down with throws of 21, 21 and 18 yards to Maurice Stovall to extend drives.

McCown also played a little more than a quarter without nearly as much success. He misfired on his first four passing attempts, finished 5 of 11 for 38 yards. He also was sacked twice while not producing any points for the second time in three games.

Throughout training camp, Morris said he wanted to make a decision on the starting quarterback before the third preseason game. His plan changed after neither player established himself as a clear-cut winner.

Leftwich played well one week and McCown had the stronger performance the next, with neither leading a long scoring drive but demonstrating an ability to take advantage of short fields to get the ball in the end zone.

The latest test allowed both to play a comparable amount of time with the first-team offense, minus injured starting receivers Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton.

"I felt good," said Leftwich, whose night ended after lightning sent the teams to the locker room for a 45-minute weather delay in the second quarter. "I missed a few, but I hit a few also. Luckily for me on the ones I missed, I made plays on the following play to get those first downs."

The best news of the night for the Bucs was the running of Cadillac Williams, who made his preseason debut seven months after having major knee surgery for the second time in a little more than a year.

The 2005 Offensive Rookie of the Year has been limited the past three seasons because of injuries, but looked a lot like his old self against the Dolphins. He started and carried eight times for 54 yards, with a long of 19 yards.

"The knee is not an issue to me. ... I feel great," Williams said. "I'm just loving what I do."

Pennington set up Dan Carpenter's 34-yard field goal with a 19-yard completion on third-and-10 to Ted Ginn. His 54-yard completion to Brian Hartline led to a 2-yard touchdown throw to Anthony Fasano in the third quarter.

Nugent kicked field goals of 29 and 38 yards for Tampa Bay.

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The next Broadway Joe? High expectations for Mark Sanchez

The striking asymmetry of two Mark Sanchez passes encapsulated the yin and yang of a rookie NFL quarterback.

The first pass in his first preseason game was a deep ball, good for 48 yards to David Clowney.

The first pass in his second preseason game was intercepted by the Baltimore Ravens' Haloti Ngata and returned for a touchdown.

One throw unleashed the potential for greatness, the other deflated high hopes. Expect those high and lows this season, warns CBS analyst and former New York Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason.

Sanchez, the Jets' $50 million rookie quarterback with a big arm and bright smile, takes center stage now. Coach Rex Ryan on Wednesday named Sanchez, the fifth pick in the draft from Southern California, the starter over fourth-year veteran Kellen Clemens.

"I've been trying to caution people to keep their expectations to a realistic minimum and recognize that he's a rookie and playing the hardest position in all of sports," Esiason says. "I think he has the poise and the presence to be a really good quarterback, but I just think we have to take baby steps his rookie year."

Small steps with rookie quarterbacks in recent seasons have yielded positive results, further eroding the axiom that first-year quarterbacks should sit.

Ben Roethlisberger helped the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs in 2004, and the Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco and the Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan reached the playoffs last season. And others, such as Eli Manning of the New York Giants and Trent Edwards of the Buffalo Bills, benefited from playing in their first seasons.

"It's a special opportunity," Sanchez says. "But with that opportunity comes a ton of responsibility to this team, to this organization, to the community here. It's an all-around job on the field and off the field."

Sanchez, 22, earned a job in a unique and demanding setting.

Not only is he replacing Brett Favre, who went 9-7 last season, but like all Jets quarterbacks since the 1968 season, Sanchez will play in the ubiquitous shadow of Joe Namath and the Super Bowl III victory - the team's only Super Bowl appearance.

"When you look at Joe Namath's overall run as the Jets quarterback, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that it's great, but the fact that he won the Super Bowl makes it very significant," Esiason says. "And Joe has a name that resonates with all professional football fans."

Rookie QBs can win

Sanchez was in a close competition with Clemens, who entered camp No. 1 on the depth chart and started the first preseason game. Ryan says "statistically, they were very similar, whether you were tracking throws in a preseason game, whether you're doing it on the practice field or whatever" and "I think we can win with Kellen, also."

Ryan informed Sanchez and Clemens of his decision in a meeting. "(Ryan) was either going to tell us a really good joke or the decision. He has done both," Clemens says.

Ryan says he relied on informed opinions, including his own, and instincts. He did not get into the specifics that led to his choice, but he's impressed with Sanchez's physical attributes - 6-2, 225 with an accurate arm and elusiveness - and grasp of the playbook. "Right now," Ryan says, "I think Mark gives us the best opportunity to win."

The Flacco example helps to examine the Jets' situation.

As Baltimore's defensive coordinator in 2008, Ryan saw first-hand what a rookie quarterback can do.

"We were going to do it the traditional way," Ryan says of Baltimore's handling of Flacco. "Sit the guy. Let him learn. All the reports said that's how you win."

When Troy Smith suffered from a tonsil infection and Kyle Boller went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in the preseason, Flacco became the starter and the Ravens went 11-5.

There is a way to win with a rookie quarterback. When Roethlisberger, Ryan and Flacco were rookies, they were not asked to carry the team with big passing totals. They were not asked to win games by themselves. They were asked to protect the football (none of them threw more than 12 interceptions as a rookie), and give the defense a chance to be successful.

"Joe clearly had the ability for it, but we relied on the football team," Ryan says. "The quarterback has to be part of the solution. He doesn't have to be the solution. Regardless of who the quarterback is, it's about relying on your teammates.

"How our team plays is going to determine whether we win or lose."

The Clemens-Sanchez relationship is much more cordial than one might expect. Clemens has no reservations helping the guy who beat him out for a job.

"When I was a rookie, I came in hoping to play and Chad Pennington was the veteran," Clemens says. "Chad was very gracious with his knowledge, sharing it with me despite the fact that we were competing.

"I guess it's kind of my way of paying it forward. ... And someday Mark will be the old guy and there will be some wet-behind-the-ears kid that got drafted and he'll do the same thing for him."

Says Sanchez: "He's awesome, and he doesn't have to be that way. I'm sure there are plenty of veterans who aren't like that."

Passion for the game

Sanchez says football hasn't turned into a business for him. He has a childlike love for the game.

"August, you kind of have this time clock and then, when you're still in school, it's like, 'Aw man, we have school in two weeks. I wish we could just keep going through camp.' And now, you get to just play. I wouldn't want to do anything else.

"At the end of the day, you want to do well in the scrimmages but you get to go home and lay your head down at night as an NFL quarterback. That's all (I've) ever wanted to be."

Sanchez is not immune to rookie hazing. He heard it from his teammates when a GQ photo spread made him look part David Hasselhoff (Sanchez had on lifeguard swim trunks) and part Namath (at the beach shirtless with model Hilary Rhoda).

At training camp, he has had to sing in front of the team and has to carry veterans' helmets off the field. "That is what being a rookie is all about," he says.

Team Sanchez - Mark's older brother Nick Sanchez Jr. is his agent - has been careful not to overexpose him. He has an endorsement deal with Nike, and a Toyota commercial with the Giants' Manning is expected to air in September. But Sanchez has turned down more offers than he has accepted, Nick says.

Madison Avenue Mark isn't quite the same as Broadway Joe but opportunities to cash in exist. Nick wants Mark to be a success on the field before he becomes a marketing success.

"You don't necessarily want to be the rookie who comes in and has his face plastered all over the place and doing every endorsement," Nick says. "In some ways, we felt you have to earn that."

The Sanchezes had conversations with Peyton and Archie Manning and conducted an informal case study on how Eli handled New York. "We've tried to encourage Mark to learn from that," Nick says.

Eli Manning understands the pressure generated by fans and journalists in New York City. In 2004, his rookie season, he lost his first six starts before closing out the season with a win against the Dallas Cowboys. His quarterback rating was 0.0 in Week 14 against the Ravens. But every year since his rookie season, the Giants have reached the playoffs.

"It can be a tough place to play, but there's not a better place to win than New York," says Eli, who was the MVP in the Giants' 17-14 victory vs. the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Winning solves most everything. How soon can Sanchez win? The Jets' AFC East foes - Buffalo, New England and the Miami Dolphins- ranked in the top 15 in defense and scoring defense in 2008.

"I'm hoping five years from now we're talking and it's three Pro Bowls and a couple playoff appearances and they're ready to make a run at the Super Bowl," Esiason says. "From all indications in talking to him and watching him, the two Ps - poise and presence - are definitely there."

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Jay Cutler on Josh McDaniels: 'He's going to be a good coach'

Now that they've been separated for five months, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has high praise for Broncos rookie coach Josh McDaniels, whom he'll see in a preseason game at Invesco Field this weekend.

Cutler says in the brief time he spent with McDaniels he could tell Bill Belichick's latest disciple was an offensive mastermind. Cutler said the Broncos are in good hands with McDaniels and quarterback Kyle Orton.

"He's going to be a good coach," Cutler told Denver reporters in a conference call Wednesday. "I think their offense is going to be fine. I think Kyle's going to be fine. (McDaniels) is an offensive mind.

"Just the brief amount of time I was able to spend with him, he's impressive. He knows a lot about offenses, he knows a lot about getting guys open and scoring points, as everyone's seen when he was in New England, so I think they're going to be fine."

The Broncos traded Cutler to Chicago for Orton and three draft picks in April after Cutler's rift with McDaniels became irreparable.

The genesis of their disagreement came when Cutler learned McDaniels had talked to the Patriots about acquiring quarterback Matt Cassel in a three-way trade that would have sent him to Tampa Bay. Cassel was dealt to Kansas City instead, but in subsequent conversations, Cutler couldn't get assurances from the 33-year-old rookie coach that his name wouldn't come up again in trade talks. So he asked out.

Cutler said he doesn't want to rehash the details of their ugly divorce, but feels both sides are happier now that they're apart.

"I think both sides would change certain things and go about it a different way, but I think both sides are happy now and we're moving on," Cutler said of the way his stint in Denver came to an acrimonious end.

Cutler said he's not exactly hyped for his return to the Mile High City, where he's still trying to sell his multimillion dollar home.

"It's a preseason game, we've got to keep that in perspective," Cutler said, suggesting the Bears' real focus is on their opener against Green Bay next month.

Cutler added he expects a rude reception from the fans Sunday night and wouldn't expect anything less.

"I mean, they're good fans there and you know we left ... it wasn't the best situation," Cutler said.

That's about all Cutler would say about Denver's fans after dissing them in a Chicago radio interview during training camp, when he said Broncos fans were a 6 and Bears fans a 9. He later clarified his remarks to say he was talking about the bigger crowds at Bears training camp practices, that's all.

Cutler also said he wouldn't snub McDaniels if they happen to run into each other before the game, but won't go out of his way to shake his hand.

"I'm not going to seek him out. I've got business I've got to take care of there," Cutler said. "I've got a game I've got to play in, so we'll see how it goes."

Cutler expects to see a heavy dose of blitzing from the Broncos.

"It's the third preseason game, so offenses and defenses are adding a little bit more and a little bit more and some different wrinkles out there. So, we're just going to be on our toes and be prepared for anything," he said.

Cutler also said he had no advice for Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall, whose trade request this summer was denied.

"None of my business. I'm out of the loop on that whole thing," Cutler said.

In a bit of a surprise, Cutler said he hasn't spoken with former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who was fired Dec. 30 after the Broncos' monumental collapse cost them a division title and a trip to the playoffs.

"Mike's busy playing a lot of golf," Cutler cracked.

After telling reporters in Lake Forest, Ill., he didn't miss a thing about Denver, Cutler told a different story on his conference call.

"I had fun in Denver. It's not like I didn't enjoy my time there because I did. I loved my teammates, I loved playing there. But certain things happen that force you to move and one of those things did happen. I had to move on."

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Healthy diet has Gonzalez in shape, ready to shine in Atlanta

Tony Gonzalez swears he has found a personal fountain of youth, and that it explains how he has so majestically defied pro football's hourglass.

It's on the menu.

Gonzalez, 33, enters his 13th season as the NFL's longest-tenured starting tight end, with no apparent signs of disintegration. Nearing the 200-game milestone, he still has soft hands. His feet remain quick enough to pivot free in the red zone. And as demonstrated during a congested-traffic, 11-on-11 goal-line drill in the Atlanta Falcons camp, he has not lost the knack for making the paydirt catch while two defenders cling tight like parasites.

He's working on a streak of 10 consecutive Pro Bowl selections and last season was named first-team all-pro - significantly enough, for the first time in five years.

This, he insists, emanates from a decision three years ago to adopt Vegan principles for his diet.

"It's clean eating, from a 100% grass-fed source," says Gonzalez, obtained in April from the Kansas City Chiefs for a second-round pick.

"You have to put good stuff in your body. Everybody should, but especially athletes. We're high-performance machines. You wouldn't put regular gas in a race car. Jimmie Johnson is going to put the high-octane, good stuff in there. It's the same thing for football players. You'd be surprised by how many players don't do it. But I've seen the results."

Before: Fast food. TV dinners. Bacon cheeseburgers. Potato chips. Soda.

After: Seafood. Steamed vegetables. Rice. Salads with Balsamic vinegarette.

Because he eats fish and occasionally has organic chicken, Gonzalez isn't a true vegetarian. He's a flexitarian who views vegetables as the main course. He says he often cooks for his family, because, well, his wife Tobie is "quasi on-board."

"She's having trouble," Gonzalez says. "When I cook, she's eating good. But if she has to do it on her own, she might not make the best choices."

Gonzalez has become so hooked on his lifestyle change that he collaborated with nutritionist Mitzi Dulan on a new book, The All-Pro Diet. Recipes included.

"If you don't want to read my book, fine," says Gonzalez, who also recommends a documentary, Food, Inc. "But I encourage everybody to get something that tells you how nutrition affects your body. Try it and see how it feels."

Family history has played a role in his evolution. Gonzalez says that an uncle and some cousins have Type 2 diabetes.

"It's really rampant among minorities," Gonzalez says. "And if you're of a lesser income, it's harder to eat healthy, which is sad. That's another thing I can see myself trying to change ... The stores don't care about what we eat. They just want to make money. It's really up to us as people to wake up."

The turning point for Gonzalez began during a cross-country flight about three years ago, he says, as he sat next to a vegan. After observing the man's meal, Gonzalez peppered him with questions. The conversation led him to read The China Study and ultimately speak to its author, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, about theories of a plant-based diet increasing energy and reducing risks for illness such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Two other incidents in 2006 also shook him up. After feeling numbness on the right side of his face, Gonzalez was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, a form of facial paralysis stemming from nerve malfunction. After receiving treatment, he hasn't had any recurring symptoms. A mixup with a blood test, later rectified, also hit home.

"I laugh about it now," he says, "but it was one of the scariest moments in my life when they told me, 'Your white blood cell count is way too low. Could be leukemia, but we don't want to startle you.' By then, you're like, 'What the hell are you talking about?'

"That was the defining moment. You hear all the statistics out there about the mortaility rate for football players. Life is too short."

No tight end has ever been to as many Pro Bowls as Gonzalez (6-5, 243), but the past two seasons he produced some of his best numbers with 99 and 96 receptions, while surpassing one NFL marker after another (most career catches, yards, TDs, 1,000-yard seasons by a tight end). In his view, it gets back to the diet.

"I've seen the difference on the field and noticed it after the game," he says. "My recovery is way better. My endurance is better. My focus has improved. Before I drastically changed my eating habits, I was sore. My bones were hurting. But not anymore."

The Falcons, trying to build on last season's 11-5 record and playoff berth, envision Gonzalez as an ultimate security blanket for young quarterback Matt Ryan. He will stretch the middle of the field and provide a trusted option in the end zone.

"Even before I got here, I always thought I'd love to get that quintessential all-pro tight end," says Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, like coach Mike Smith in his second year on the job. "You can talk to some coordinators in this league and they say you need to go all wideouts. But a guy like this is special, a high-percentage shot underneath."

They've also acquired a resident nutritionist.

During training camp meals, Gonzalez says some teammates cover their plates when they see him coming. But at least one, backup tight end Ben Hartsock, is inspired.

"I've watched him eat, and he's pretty serious about it," Hartsock says. "But if Tony sipped Crisco through a straw, he'd still look as good as he does. His genetics and my genetics come from a different tree."

Hartsock, a sixth-year pro, was undoubtedly affected by Gonzalez's arrival. He lost his starting job. But there are no hard feelings.

"You just adjust to your role," Hartsock says. "If I were in the front office or the head coach and had an opportunity to get a future Hall of Fame talent like Tony Gonzalez, I'd do the exact same thing. We're a better team with him."

Gonzalez is staying in a suite with Ryan and veterans Chris Redman and Brian Finneran during camp. He says it has been a solid bonding experience, and there are times when football doesn't enter the conversation.

But food is fair game.

Is Ryan, a second-year pro, ready to become a vegan?

"Nah, he's not doing it," Gonzalez says. "He told me he wasn't doing it until he's older. He says he's young; he can burn it off and not feel it.

"I'm like, 'You'd better, or you'll be out of the league.' "

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