Report: Tony Gonzalez strongly considering returning to the Atlanta Falcons

The greatest pass-catching TE in league history is mulling a return. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Rumors have swirled all offseason that veteran Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez is seriously considering retirement after a 16-year career, but those plans may be put on hold according to a new report.

Sources close to the Falcons have told Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports they are "cautiously optimistic" Gonzalez will return for the 2013 season.

Sources close to Gonzalez, an unrestricted free agent, said he is contemplating a return at the right price, provided he can miss some or all of training camp this summer.

"He will come back if they pay him $7 million and he doesn't have to do training camp," said one Falcons player familiar with Gonzalez's thinking.

The same sources tell Silver such conditions wouldn't keep Atlanta from making a deal to bring Gonzalez back. The Falcons decided to bring back safety William Moore recently, so they don't seem to be looking for cap relief like several other teams around the league.