NFLRUSH

ANTONIO GATES

Roberto Garza Antonio Gates Gary Baxter

NFLRUSH talked to Antonio Gates, tight end for the San Diego Chargers, and asked him some questions about keeping healthy during the long season and going back to school with a winner of the NFL Take a Player School Sweepstakes! Here's what Antonio had to say:

NFLRUSH: So, Antonio, you just came from practice. How're you feeling?

ANTONIO: I feel good. Tired, but good.

NFLRUSH: You're more than halfway through the regular season. How do you take care of yourself week-to-week to be ready for every game?

ANTONIO: I just have to make sure to get lots of rest, eat right, drink a lot (of water) and I always eat my veggies.

NFLRUSH: Does it get harder to keep your body healthy as the season goes on?

ANTONIO: It's a long season, but right now I'm feeling good. I try to keep myself battle tough. Luckily, I have my teammates around me - we keep each other going.

NFLRUSH: You're about to go on a road trip. Does your workout routine change when you're not home?

ANTONIO: It changes a bit, varies when we're in a different city. I just have to see how my body feels before I start working out.

NFLRUSH: Antonio, I wanted to ask you about going to Miller Elementary School, in Escondido, CA with Kody, one of the NFL Take a Player to School winners. How was your visit? Did you have a good time with Kody?

ANTONIO: Oh yeah. Kody was great, really an amazing kid. I had a great time at his school. And it was fun meeting his family and taking pictures with them.

NFLRUSH: You went to Kody's class?

ANTONIO: I did. We read some books and I talked to his classmates. I had to raise my hand so I could go to the bathroom. They gave me a pass.

NFLRUSH: They made you follow the rules? How was it being back in school?

ANTONIO: It was great. It gave me perspective and made me think about when I was in school and how those years really affect your life.

NFLRUSH: And you spoke to everyone at Kody's school at an assembly?

ANTONIO: I spoke to the kids about how important it is to stay in school and also the importance of staying fit. They have to stay active! We talked about Play 60. I told them that being active just doesn't help you stay in shape, but keeps you focused for school and in your life.

NFLRUSH: That's a great message! And, we heard that you also led the kids in some exercises?

ANTONIO: Yes, we did some stretching, then I led them in a few exercises that I do and finished with some more stretching.

NFLRUSH: Did you play any football with them?

ANTONIO: Absolutely. I tossed the ball to all the 3rd graders. Because it's me, I made it a little competitive - I pided them up into two groups - but it was also fair, so everyone got to catch the ball.

NFLRUSH: We also heard that you got detention! Is that true?

ANTONIO: It is true! I guess I wasn't sharing the ball enough.

NFLRUSH: Did the kids get to ask you questions?

ANTONIO: I answered a lot of questions. Kody was amazing - he knows so much about the Chargers! It was incredible. He knew about the coaches, about coaching changes, about plays. He even asked me a question about the front office (where the management and owners are)! When I was a kid, I didn't know about all that stuff.