Gronkowski mulling retirement

[Hammock Parties]

If Gronk retires...that offense is done.

Will Rob Gronkowski retire? Why the Patriots star's decision isn't easy

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2...-decision-easy

When asked whether he had just played his last game, Gronkowski deferred.

"Tonight's about celebrating with our teammates," he said. "That decision will be made in a week or two."

Someone mentioned a hit he took during the game -- in the second quarter, he collided with a pair of Rams defenders after a short catch -- and he replied quickly, "Yeah, my quad. It hurts a lot. I can barely walk right now." He added, his delivery more deadpan than joyful: "But it's all good, because we're Super Bowl champs."

After the hit, Gronkowski, who played every snap, staggered off the field. Whenever he suffers a blow -- he has endured more than most players, in part because his gigantic frame makes it difficult for defenders to tackle him any other way -- he limps like a cinematic monster hobbled by arrows. The effect is similarly heartbreaking. Gronkowski had surgery on his spine before entering the league (explaining why the Patriots were able to snag him in the second round), and he has experienced a litany of painful injuries and operations over the years. This season, he missed three regular-season games, reportedly because he was suffering from Achilles tendinitis and a bulging disc in his back.

Earlier in the week, he acknowledged how difficult it has been for him to come back at times.

"Try to imagine getting hit all the time, and trying to be where you want every day in life," he said. "It's tough. It's difficult. To take hits to the thigh, to take hits to your head, abusing your body ... isn't what the brain wants."

After his news conference at the Super Bowl, Gronkowski trudged to the locker room, where he started peeling his pads off. As a staffer pulled his nametag off his locker (empty, save for a roll of tube socks and a half-eaten sandwich), Tom Brady's personal trainer, Alex Guerrero, walked over and gently unwrapped the tape on his arm. While his teammates sprayed champagne and danced on one side of the room, Gronkowski was quiet -- solemn, almost. A reporter asked him where he was partying, and he muttered in response: "We'll see, we'll see."

When he had changed into a towel, the large scar on his shoulder shiny with sweat, it was evident that his right thigh was absurdly swollen, to the point where it looked bloated. His movements were halting. I asked him if he was looking forward to the offseason -- potentially, the rest of his life -- and he smiled softly, "I'm super excited to just chill."

[InChiefsHeaven]

If he retires, they'll plug someone else in. The only way that dynasty ends is if Tom or Bellichek retire. Face it fellas, we're gonna have to just beat these ****ers. Almost did it twice this year. With a little better defense and Mahommes getting his stride...we got this. With or without Gronk. But don't count out the damn Patriots. It's just not smart...

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

I hate that Ford jumped offside and said at the time, it would have been great to win and have Brady go for 1TD and 3 picks and Gronk's last play ever be an interception he tipped and probably should have caught that caused them to lose the game.

[GermanChief]

Originally Posted by comochiefsfan

Gronk retiring will be one less weapon they have which will help. The reality though is that their offense doesn't run through him anymore and doesn't need him to be successful.

The end is near though. Brady will continue declining over the next couple years and that will be a much bigger problem for them than Gronk retiring.

Bradys twilight of the gods has begun. He had a lot of luck this post season. Chiefs defense and Rams offense have given him the super bowl.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

I hate that Ford jumped offside and said at the time, it would have been great to win and have Brady go for 1TD and 3 picks and Gronk's last play ever be an interception he tipped and probably should have caught that caused them to lose the game.

True dat...

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

I hate that Ford jumped offside and said at the time, it would have been great to win and have Brady go for 1TD and 3 picks and Gronk's last play ever be an interception he tipped and probably should have caught that caused them to lose the game.

We beat that team.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

If they lose him, Bill will just draft Hockensen, Fant, or Smith and they’ll continue to roll.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by stevieray

We beat that team.

[GermanChief]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

I hate that Ford jumped offside and said at the time, it would have been great to win and have Brady go for 1TD and 3 picks and Gronk's last play ever be an interception he tipped and probably should have caught that caused them to lose the game.

Ford didn't jump into offside, he started out of offside.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

If they lose him, Bill will just draft Hockensen, Fant, or Smith and they’ll continue to roll.

Just saw Jared Cook is a FA too. Wouldn’t surprise me

[Angry fan]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Just saw Jared Cook is a FA too. Wouldn’t surprise me

How's his blocking?

[Deberg_1990]

I heard Hollywood is waiting.

I foresee the next John Cena

[Chief Roundup]

This is getting to remind me of Favre. This is like the 3rd year in a row now that he is mulling retirement.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I want the Pats with all their weapons next year while Mahomes and spags unleash the fury the league is about to witness.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by comochiefsfan

Gronk retiring will be one less weapon they have which will help. The reality though is that their offense doesn't run through him anymore and doesn't need him to be successful.

The end is near though. Brady will continue declining over the next couple years and that will be a much bigger problem for them than Gronk retiring.

Not if criminally ****ing reeruned defensive coordinators don't start taking away the short throws and making his old ass beat them deep. It won't be a problem at all.

GOD **** Bob Sutton.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Gronk apparently suffered through a strained achilles and a bulging disk this year, which made him look slow and he was clearly less effective in the passing game, though his blocking was still stellar.

By the end of the season, especially the SB, he was healthy, back to his jovial self, and pretty damn good in the SB in receiving as well as blocking. He's very smart with the money he has made and can definitely retire if he wants, to pick up acting or WWE or whatever the heck he wants to do with his life. He loves football, but it's hard to love football when you're hurt.

We'll have to wait and see.

I definitely think that if Gronk retires the Patriots will never win a single game again though. Yep. Definitely not.

Let's face it -- the Patriots will trade for one, or sign one, or whatever, and/or reallocate the money to pick up a strong WR or whatever. The ONE thing the Patriots under Belichick do is ADAPT. If you can name the TEs that helped the Patriots win the SB in 2001, 2003 and 2004, then good on you, but I bet most here can't.

I imagine Belicheat will just sign some undersized Tackle and work on his hands a bit.

That's pretty much all Gronk was this year, and they're obviously committed to at least having the power run game as an option.