Three-team player swap completed

The Hornets, Suns and Timberwolves completed a three-team deal that will send 7-foot center Robin Lopez and forward Hakim Warrick from Phoenix to New Orleans, while moving forward Wesley Johnson and a firstround draft pick from Minnesota to the Suns. The deal sends the contracts of Jerome Dyson and Brad Miller from New Orleans to Phoenix. Minnesota receives three second-round draft picks in the deal. The acquisition of Lopez fills a need at center for the Hornets, who traded away Emeka Okafor and let Chris Kaman go in free agency. 875 yards (10.9 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns.

His 1,149 receptions are the second-most in NFL history, as he trails only Jerry Rice (1,549). His 13,338 yards receiving rank 11th all-time.

“I don’t want to be one of those players [that] towards the end … nothing against those guys who’ve done it like that in the past … but I want to make sure that I’m at the top of my game when I do go out,” Gonzalez said.

Over the offseason, Gonzalez consulted Rice, former receiver Andre Reed and former quarterback Warren Moon. All three of them had different answers about the perfect time to retire. Rice advised Gonzalez “to play until the wheels fall off.”

Despite believing that he can play at least three more seasons, Gonzalez is not inclined to follow Rice’s advice.

“Sometimes you have to call it quits,” Gonzalez said. “I’m just one of those type of guys that can’t handle being average at this sport because I’ve been at the top for a while.”

With the Falcons drafting for hard-working players with good character, Gonzalez has been a solid role model. A younger player can’t think of getting out of line when he looks around and sees Gonzalez working so hard.

“He’s going to work at blocking,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He’s going to get out early and hit the sled. He’s a great mentor and example for everybody else on our football team.”

Gonzalez was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and spent 12 seasons with them before being traded to the Falcons. Last season, he made his 12th Pro Bowl appearance. He has caught at least 70 passes in 12 of the past 13 seasons, with “only” 63 catches in 2002.

With all that, Gonzalez has set a high standard for the position.

“I hope that this isn’t coming off cocky,” he said. “It’s just the way I operate. I don’t want to come out there and be somewhat of role player. I want to be a guy that can contribute and play like I’m supposed to.

“I don’t want people looking at the TV and [have an announcer say], ’Oh yeah, he was good back in the day.’ Or, ‘He’s definitely lost a step.’ Some of them say that now, but I don’t believe them.”

Gonzalez signed a one- year contract worth $6.9 million to return to the Falcons.

Of the eight modernera tight ends already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, only one played longer than Gonzalez. Jackie Smith played until he was 38 and, like Gonzalez, stayed around in quest of a Super Bowl ring.

“If [the Falcons] can