Several likely Hall of Famers will suit up this weekend in search of an elusive championship, including Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, 35, and Denver Broncos defensive backs Champ Bailey, 33, and Brian Dawkins, 38, who have 31 Pro Bowl selections among them.
"I've been thinking that maybe I was going to retire for the last two years," Gonzalez said before the season. "I'd love to go out with a Super Bowl, obviously."
However, Gonzalez signed a one-year contract extension this week and is ready to get his first career playoff victory after going 0-4.
"We're going to go out there and let it rip and see what happens," Gonzalez said of Sunday's game vs. the New York Giants.
Charley Casserly, a former NFL general manager, says a player in Gonzalez's position can galvanize a locker room.
"There's an absolute sense of urgency because there's no guarantee you'll get back," said Casserly, a CBS analyst. "The young players don't sense that, but the veterans understand how special it is. Usually the team that wins it captures that sentiment that there is no tomorrow."
Casserly was the Washington Redskins GM when they drafted Bailey seventh overall in 1999. Bailey enjoyed four Pro Bowl seasons before he was dealt to the Broncos in 2004 and has been teammates with Dawkins for the last three seasons. Dawkins has come closest among the group to winning a title, losing Super Bowl XXXIX to the New England Patriots when he played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
If Dawkins can return from injury, he and Bailey will play their 243rd and 200th games, respectively, Sunday vs. Pittsburgh (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS).
Dawkins responded to the Broncos' third consecutive loss to close the regular season, addressing the team Monday.
"Coming from Dawk, everything holds weight," Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard told reporters. "When he does say whatever he has to say, everybody's ears open and eyes are in front paying attention to him.
"He's one of those guys who can get us on track."
Former NFL quarterback Rich Gannon had one shot at a title with Oakland following the 2002 season, along with former wide receiver and Hall of Fame finalist Tim Brown. The Raiders fell 48-21 to the Tampa Bay Bucaneers. Both players retired two seasons later.
"You work a lifetime for the chance," said Gannon, who reached the Super Bowl at age 37. "I don't think you appreciate it until you've had disappointments and heartaches along the way, until you've been home in January watching."
Contributing: Jarrett Bell
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomNfl-TopStories/~3/sywkfvIofKw/1
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