Tony Gonzalez is expected to retire this offseason, but Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is lobbying for him to return.

"A guy who is 36 (years old) catching 100-plus balls (including the postseason), it just doesn't seem like it's time for him to move on," Dimitroff said on Thursday.

Gonzalez said late in the season he was 95 percent sure he would retire. 

Dimitroff said there is no firm timetable for a decision.

"We don't have a deadline at all," Dimitroff said. "But let's face it that it's important for us to know sooner rather than later because we have to move forward on all our decision making."

Alex Smith is scheduled to make $8.5 million in 2013, a number that makes his return to the San Francisco 49ers unlikely.

But Jet York wouldn't rule out the possibility of Smith returning.

"You figure out what's best for guys, what's best for the team," York said. "And you figure out, is there a spot on the team for him from a cap standpoint? Yeah, absolutely, there's a spot for him on the team.

"From a need standpoint? It's pretty nice to have two quarterbacks that you feel you can win with. Is there going to be a demand for a quarterback that's played as well as he has the last couple of years? Yeah. Does he want want to go start and play? So there are a lot of things that go into it. And we'll sit down after the Super Bowl and figure out what's best for everybody and how to move forward."

Ed Reed could play his final game with the Baltimore Ravens in Sunday's Super Bowl as he will become an unrestricted free agent in March. 

The New England Patriots have long been known to covet Reed.

Tom Brady joked a few years ago that Bill Belichick wanted to adopt Ed Reed.

"Yeah, oh yeah, man, I could definitely play for Coach Belichick," said Reed. "He is a great coach. I'm sure he can help me to expand my football knowledge even more as a player and as a coach, so if I'm ever able to be around him, just like I was at the Pro Bowl, it's huge." 

Reed even said he borrows from Belichick's fashion sense.

"It's the reason why I wear my sweater cut off a little bit," Reed said. "He's the first guy I saw like, 'That's cool.' You know, that's cool. He cuts those sweater sleeves, and he'll be comfortable. So there's a reason why. Most people will tell you around the facility that's how I look. It's just a blessing to even have met, to know Coach Belichick." 

The St. Louis Rams have decided not to hire Rob Ryan as defensive coordinator.

The Rams will continue searching for a new defensive coordinator.

Ryan held the same position last season with the Cowboys.

Greg Jennings has placed his De Pere, Wisconsin home on the market.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom house is listed at $525,000.

Jennings is a free agent this offseason.

The New York Jets have held preliminary internal discussion in regards to JaMarcus Russell.

Russell is attempting a comeback after leaving the NFL following the 2009 season.

Russell was the No. 1 overall pick by the Raiders in 2007.

Alex Smith is expected to seek his release from the San Francisco 49ers prior to the beginning of free agent, according to a source.

Smith would be free to sign with any team, but he would lose the $8.5 million per season he would earn if traded.

Smith's contract would be guaranteed in full on April 1.

There has been speculation of Jon Gruden going to the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 in light of the assistant coaches that have been hired with ties to the former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders.

The Cowboys have hired defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, offensive line coach Bill Callahan and special teams coach Rich Bisaccia.

"Ridiculous," said a source from the Cowboys.

Gregg Williams is on the verge of being hired as assistnat coach of the Tennessee Titans.

Williams was suspended for the 2012 season by the NFL for his role in the New Orleans Saints' alleged bounty program.

Williams worked for the Titans from 1993 until 2000.

The San Francisco 49ers are expected to trade Alex Smith before April 1.

Smith's $7.5 million salary for the 2013 season becomes fully guaranteed on that date.

The 49ers will try to trade Smith before March 14, which is when the team would owe him nothing.