Quote:
Originally Posted by stevegroganfan
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.
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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!