Gates: WRs don't fear going across middle

SAN DIEGO -- Chargers tight end Antonio Gates remembers the respect he and other receivers earned by being man enough to run across the middle of the field, take a big hit and come down with a critical catch when he first arrived in the league 11 years ago. However, with the NFL’s implementation of new rules that protect defenseless players from head-to-head hits, Gates said things have changed. "Everybody’s going across the middle now,” Gates said.



via ESPN.com - NFL Nation http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/96835/gates-wrs-dont-fear-going-across-middle