Gronk is an athletic Frankenstein with hands that is a natural blocker with better than average speed that is deceptive. Comparing Gronk to Gonzo is apples to oranges IMHO. Two different type of players. Gronk's injuries are legit due to his physicality and how much he blocks and takes hits over the middle whereas Shockey was just plain soft was a barely a blocker.:rolleyes:

It should be interesting what happens to Gronkowski. I think he is seriously considering retirement and may even be strongly leaning towards it but at the same time maybe using that threat to convince BB not to try to cut his salary too much in case he does want to come back.

Would not be surprised if some sort of agreement was reached where he is used a bit less during the season in games and practice if he comes back. Patriots draft a tight end early but keep Gronk as well. Split the duties.

And BB takes it easier on him in practice. Basically, just try to preserve him for playoffs.

Chiefs got unlucky vs the Patriots in one key aspect. San Diego game was probably relatively easy on Gronk's body for a playoff game since the Chiefs were playing a bunch of DB's, so the Patriots just tried to run it down their throats. And only really used Gronk for run blocking.

Gronk has certainly even when healthy lost a little bit of his speed but at his best the top safety's could certainly cover him well. But the Patriots are about trying to fill their roster with good to very good players -- a bunch of them -- and hopefully have a match-up advantage somewhere.

Don’t see the value of another season for him. Let’s say he has an “average” Gronk year and they win another super bowl. How much is really adding to his overall legacy at that point?

At this point and maybe all along, I don't think he plays for his legacy like a baseball player or basketball player might.

I think he plays for 2 main reasons.
1) $$$$$$$ -- tough to think Hollywood would give him that much money at least to start off.
2) the love of the game and being around his teammates. He has played it for so long that he doesn't really know anything else.

If he knew the Patriots would win the Super Bowl next year and his long term health wouldn't take too much of a hit and he would just perform okay, I think he would be back.

But the worst case scenario for him is he makes his health situation worse and Patriots perhaps miss playoffs or lose in first round.

I think his legacy is secure. He is not Jerry Rice or Emmitt Smith (or a pass receiving tight end that put up ridiculous yards for his career) but those players legacies weren't hurt when they just decided to hang on.

Gronk's legacy is he was a physical freak who happened to play on a great team and was one of the key cogs at times as a tight end that could receive and block. But he was more injury prone than faster/smaller tight ends that are easier to take down.

In Gronk's shoes I would retire since football is obviously dangerous and health consequences can be severe. That being said if I was on the borderline of playing, I would only do so for a fairly good salary that I think I am worth.

Wow is that you Adam Schefter?!

You mean the guy that has been injured and obviously loves the game would play next year if he knew that he was going to win another championship and had no long term health effects? Man that must have taken you all week to put the dots together!

Physically speaking they were/are extremely similar.

The only difference is who they played with and the environment they were placed in.

Tony Gonzalez is arguably the greatest tight end of all time.

Rob Gronkowski is the Priest Holmes of tight ends.

Pop quiz: <table border=1>
<tr>
<th>Stat Line</th><th>Games</th><th>Receptions</th><th>Yards</th><th>TDs</th></tr>
<tr><td>A</td><td>19</td><td>81</td><td>726</td><td>6</td></tr>
<tr><td>B</td><td>16</td><td>81</td><td>1163</td><td>12</td></tr>
</table>

Who is A, and who is B?






Stat Line A is the combined playoff statistics of Tony Gonzales and Antonio Gates.

Stat Line B is the playoff statistics of Rob Gronkowski.



And if you add in Priest Holmes playoff stats (total yards and TDs) to Stat Line A, you still don't get to Rob Gronkowski's numbers for yards and TDs.

You know what else hurts?

Gronk. He spent like half of his career in the tub.

Playing in 400 playoff games helps player B.

Thanks for making my point for me.

The only difference is who they played with and the environment they were placed in.

That's one way to look at it.

Another way is that some players compile impressive stats in the regular season, and then don't do much when the lights shine their brightest and the level of competition increases.

While other players rise to the occasion and show their true mettle.

Right, our guys (whichever one, or both) made a mistake. Their mistake was cancelled by your mistake. I'm not terribly excited about this "IF NOT FOR OUR MISTAKE YOUR MISTAKE MEANS WE WIN"

I hear the point, but it's kinda silly.

:rolleyes: Clearly you don't watch much football or something. Shockey was pretty good, but he wasn't Gronk. Couldn't even hold his jock to be honest.

Gonzalez was a GREAT receiver, a mediocre/indifferent blocker most of the time, and was very healthy and played at an extraordinarily high level for a very long time.

But one game, full health, I'll take Gronk in a heartbeat. He's ALSO an elite blocker, which almost none of the other great pass-catching TEs of the last 20 or so years (Gonzalez, Graham, Gates) can say.

Be interesting to see if Gronk decides to retire. He is a big help to the Pats but needs to stay healthy. He gets injured a lot, but for me that has part to do in the way he is tackled. Perhaps Gronk does not want to go through this again.

Be nice if the Pats and Gronk could strike deal where they limit his play to avoid injury and can be around later in the year.

When healthy, and folks not going low on Gronk or landing on his ankles, Gronk is one of the best TEs to play in the NFL. He not only is a great receiver as a TE but is a great blocker, something that even Gonzalez admitted that he is not great at blocking.

Gronk is part of the reason why the Pats have been so successful since they drafted him.

Even BB, who is normally quiet about things, lamented at not having Gronk in the playoffs, or in full health, earlier in this decade