10-29-2012, 04:17 AM
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#1
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Practice Squad
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 243
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The Front Office killed it this Off-Season
The front office gave both Gronk and Hernandez contracts that at first glance seem to be pretty good for both sides. I strongly believe in a few years we will look back and say, that this contracts were simply a stroke of genius let me explain why.
1) The revolution of the tight end position. When the New England Patriots drafted their 2 new tight ends in 2010 nobody could anticipate what impact they would make on the NFL. The Patriots were the first to play a 2 TE set on a regular basis, simply because their Tight Ends were also great receivers. The league was in awe of the new offense the Patriots had fund. Of course there were already many great tight ends in the league like a Tony Gonzalez, Witten or a Antonio Gates, but no team ever had 2 Tight ends this good. Since that time every team wants to find themselves a Gronk or Hernandez.
2) Versatility. In 2011 Gronk broke every record there is for a TE and was with Hernandez the best TE duo of all time. What the 2010 season already indicated now turned out to be true. This tight ends are good enough to be counted even as a receiver. Gronks production and play last year was nothing short of amazing. He produced like a top5 WR AND blocked like a top5 tight end. How he handled Suggs in the AFCCG was simply great. Hernandez missed 2 games and still nearly reached the 1000 receiving yards. He can't block aswell as Gronk but has improved tremendously compared to his rookie season. But compared to Gronk he is even more versatile! He can even play HB if needed and looked pretty impressive in his outings. When he lines up he can beat you down the field, play great in the slot or just simply block the way for the RB. Except Percy Harvin and maybe Peterson there isn't a more versatile player in the NFL.
3)Finances. One of the first rules of economics is: Demand determines the price. But when was the last time one TE this good hit the FA ... You're right it's been a long long time. So we don't even now the value of this 2 tight ends because there simply hasn't been a TE good enough to be compared to Gronk or Hernandez to hit the FA. Let us compare their respective contracts to WR with similiar production. Gronks production can't be compared to any WR that hit the FA last year. The best WR to hit the FA last year was Vincent Jackson. He had a 1106 yards 9 tds season and got a contract that averages 11m$ over 5 years. Gronk had a 1327 yards 17 tds season and got a contract that averages around 7m$ until 2019 (if they take the option)
If you compare Hernandez to other WR with his production or similiar production like Pierre Garcon and Stevie Johnson he averages less than both of these guys who had similiar prodcution and Hernandez even missed 2 games.
Yesterday was another great Gronk performance and we all know how good a fit Aaron Hernandez can be. I just wanted to point out what an amazing job the front office did with both these guys to lock them up for a long time in New England. The versatility they give this offense is unmatched and like I told you they can be compared to WR even though they do a lot more for this offense.
PS: I hope all of you make it safe through hurricane Sandy.
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