SAN DIEGO -- Antonio Gates spotted a pair of Chargers officials in the team locker room and made his way toward them. He stopped for a moment, engaged in some small talk and, while signing footballs for charity, inquired about the case of the missing memento.

The football that became Gates' 50 touchdown reception had gone missing, and the superstar tight end was determined to find it. No tight end had reached that milestone faster, and regaining possession relinquished to a team manager during a Dec. 21 game at Tampa Bay meant the moment could be preserved outside the memory bank.

Theories were bantered about, but the ball's true location remained a mystery.

Maybe it was somewhere in the equipment room. Maybe it was already on display in the lobby.

"I hope it isn't already under glass," Gates said last week. "I'd really like to get that ball back."

The light-hearted exchange among co-workers stands as a case of Gates putting himself before the team, significant only as an outlier. If selfishness were actually a part Gates' personality, he'd be focused something other than souvenirs.

Kellen Winslow, Jr. agreed to a six-year, $36.1 million deal with Tampa Bay on Monday that includes $20.1 million in guaranteed money. Given that Gates has proven more reliable and more productive than the son of former Chargers great Kellen Winslow, dollar signs should be dancing in his head.

A contract renegotiation is on the horizon, and Gates could enter it armed with Winslow's deal, Hall of Fame statistics, a track record of playing through pain and one simple request: "Show me the money." If only it were that easy. If only Gates could separate business from sentiment.

"I've been a San Diegan for six years now, and I no longer bleed red," Gates said. "I bleed powder blue. So any time you talk about something that's sincere to your heart, any time your soul gets involved in a situation, you know you don't want to leave it. I want to be here. I want to be a part of this. That's my stance."

That combination of production and allegiance is what made a fan out of Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, who frequently rewards players that fit his mold.

"I'm glad to hear those comments," Smith said on Tuesday. "Antonio is a great competitor and a player of great character."

As a matter of policy, Smith does not discuss player contracts until they are finalized. But with the completed renegotiation of running back LaDainian Tomlinson's contract, the Chargers are expected to start talks with quarterback Philip Rivers and Gates.

"You hear things," Gates said, "but nothing's for certain."

Gates clearly wants to remain a Charger after his contract expires following the 2010 season. He'd like to win a Super Bowl with San Diego, but understands that business can often get in the way of wants and desires.

"That's about as tough as it gets, when you start talking about contracts," Gates said. "I've been through it before, although it was a different situation."

It was a situation that got ugly due to confusion and mixed messages between then-agent Andre Colona, player and management, which ultimately forced Gates to sit out the 2005 season opener, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. A six-year deal worth roughly $22 million was eventually struck, which kept Gates from thinking about contracts for a long time.

"It was complicated then, and hopefully it won't be in the future," Gates said.

"I do know that what we're trying to accomplish as a team has nothing to do with this. This is my personal situation, which is completely separate from the team. LT just went through it, and I'm sure Philip and I will go through some things. The player and the team have to find a happy medium and a good situation for both."

That said, Gates probably didn't hire super-agent Tom Condon to negotiate a San Diego discount with the Chargers.

"I know there is a flip side," Gates said. "I know this is a business situation. It's hard for me because I don't treat it like a business. I view this team as a family. You try to put in what you want out of it. It's like anything in life. When you put your heart into something, that's what you expect in return."

Contact staff writer Scott Bair at (760) 739-6642 or sbair@nctimes.com.