• As a kid, Antonio was a big fan of Barry Sanders.
• Antonio was First-Team All-State as a high school senior in football and basketball. He was runner-up for Michigan’s Mr. Basketball award.
• Antonio admits that he was a lousy blocker in high school. He likes to joke that he thought a block was the thing between two streets.
• Despite Antonio’s pass-catching prowess, Nick Saban recruited him for Michigan State as a defensive end, not a tight end.
• Antonio and childhood friend Dwight Smith met on the football field for the first time in a December 2004 game between the Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Antonio caught his first NFL touchdown on a four-yard pass from Doug Flutie.
• Antonio was selected to play in the Pro Bowl after his second season. He caught a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning. He was also on the receving end of a 33-yard pass from Drw Brees on a flea-flicker play called online by fans.
• Antonio was First-Team All-Pro in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
• In 2007, Antonio became the third-fastest tight end to reach 4,000 receiving yards, behind Kellen Winslow and Mike Ditka.
• Antonio and Todd Christensen are the only tight ends to gain 1,100 yards receiving and score 10 touchdowns in a single season.
• Antonio is one of a handful of NFL stars who never played a down of college football. Others include Cookie Gilchrist, Cornell Green, Otis Sistrunk, Eric Swann and Big Daddy Lipscomb.
• In 2005, Antonio attended the Final Four to cheer for Michigan State.
• Antonio is as the honorary chairman for the Shoot to Cure HD, a speed free-throw shooting event that raises money for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.
• Antonio loves comedy clubs. He often spends a free night checking out his favorite acts.
  
  

© Copyright 2008 Black Book Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.