If it comes down to being able to keep one..we all agree it would be gronk right?

[Brady_to_Moss]

The time will come when both will be FA and i really hope we can keep both as teams have to plan for two of them. I think with no Hernandez..gronk doesn't have the year he is having..same as last year. What are the chances you say we get to keep both? That will be a lot of $$ tied up in TE's

But i mean it should be no question to all that it would be gronk over hernandez...i just love hernandez speed...he always kills the jets with his speed

 

[Sparetire]

I even dont want to imagin that kind of a situation, i guess it would be gronk cause it seems brady likes him more (or gronk is just getting wide-open most of the time).

hernandez is a TE with WR skills, he's awesome and i like him alot. i hope they both stay.

 

[Sciz]

I don't think it's absurd to think they could keep both. They're TEs, meaning Gronk will get at most like $8M a year, and Hernandez probably closer to $6M a year. That combined is less than what Larry Fitzgerald is making.

It also helps that the Pats keep drafting so many guys. Guys on their rookie contracts are cheap.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I even dont want to imagin that kind of a situation, i guess it would be gronk cause it seems brady likes him more (or gronk is just getting wide-open most of the time).

hernandez is a TE with WR skills, he's awesome and i like him alot. i hope they both stay.

Don't get me wrong..i don't want to think about it at all..but it's going to come up..i just hope we pay them both

 

[strngplyr]

Why are we starting this years in advance lol, they're in their second NFL season, there are so many factors involved that we haven't even begone to think of yet. They are both on 4 year deals, correct? Which means their contracts end after 2013 right before the TV deals kick into effect and inflate the cap.

Do we develop any other stars before then (that require cap space, not hinting at replacements for the TE's)? Any big FA signings? They aren't even halfway through their current contracts.

I can see Gronk being extended after next season. TE deals are rarely "monster deals" anyways, I dont see either killing the cap especially if the cap inflates as expected.

 

[andrewgarrr]

Antonio Gates: $7.3 million/year for 5 years
Jason Witten: $7.4 million/year for 5 years

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates agrees to five-year contract extension - ESPN

Dallas Cowboys sign Jason Witten to $37M extension, source says - ESPN Dallas

They will both want 5 year deals.

If Gronkowski continues with 1000 yard/12+ TD seasons through 2013, he should get paid ~$8 million/year for 5 years.

Hernandez hasn't played to the level of Gates, Witten, or Gronkowski. He shouldn't demand much of a contract, but some other team will probably offer him more than the Patriots.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Hernandez hasn't played to the level of Gates, Witten, or Gronkowski. He shouldn't demand much of a contract, but some other team will probably offer him more than the Patriots.

That's what i am nervous about

 

[strngplyr]

I could see that, he might want to be a true #1, although, he does get plenty of action in our style of offense.

 

[Rob0729]

Gronk is the second or third most important player on offense. He will likely be a Patriot for at least most of his career. I don't think it will be impossible to keep both Hernandez and Gronk though. Until defenses around the league figure out how to stop TEs, paying two TEs good money is not a stupid thing. Right now most defenses in the NFL biggest Achilles Heel in the passing game is covering TEs.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Gronk is the second or third most important player on offense. He will likely be a Patriot for at least most of his career. I don't think it will be impossible to keep both Hernandez and Gronk though. Until defenses around the league figure out how to stop TEs, paying two TEs good money is not a stupid thing. Right now most defenses in the NFL biggest Achilles Heel in the passing game is covering TEs.

We can probably keep hernandez..but if he wants to be a #1..then he will walk for more $$

 

[sly24]

Hopefully they appreciate each other and accept less money to put the team first..but if we have to choose it's obviously gonna be Gronk.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Keep them both at any cost. Also, I am glad we are winning at the same time that our top players are having down years(mccourty, volmer, spikes, etc) so they won't be able to command huge dollars. I love hernandez but with each drop his price comes down.

 

[crowell33]

The time will come when both will be FA and i really hope we can keep both as teams have to plan for two of them. I think with no Hernandez..gronk doesn't have the year he is having..same as last year. What are the chances you say we get to keep both? That will be a lot of $$ tied up in TE's

But i mean it should be no question to all that it would be gronk over hernandez...i just love hernandez speed...he always kills the jets with his speed

If you could only have Gronk ( age 22 ) or Tom Brady ( age 35 ) which would you take ? Thats the better question.

 

[SanAngeloState]

No, I'm sorry it will be Hernandez.

No, it doesn't matter what "we" think anyway. And anyway their price is likely not the same. So it won't be either/or. Also hopefully they'd draft someone else to take the place of one of them if they leave. The team has so many holes though I don't know if it's possible.

 

[Jackson 2]

If you could only have Gronk ( age 22 ) or Tom Brady ( age 35 ) which would you take ? Thats the better question.

Brady recently re-upped and when Gronk turns 23 Brady will still be 34, so there are 11 years difference, not 13.

 

[JDot]

The time will come when both will be FA and i really hope we can keep both as teams have to plan for two of them. I think with no Hernandez..gronk doesn't have the year he is having..same as last year. What are the chances you say we get to keep both? That will be a lot of $$ tied up in TE's

But i mean it should be no question to all that it would be gronk over hernandez...i just love hernandez speed...he always kills the jets with his speed

Cross that bridge when we get there. I hate to even think about this but when A-HERN and Gronks Contract come up so will TFB's I believe. That will be a interesting time...

 

[Sydney]

Love them both, but not only is Gronk the more complete tight end, he is also the better receiver and red zone threat. If it comes down to one or the other, it has to be Gronk. However I don't think it'll be an issue. Gronk is on HIS team, the team he wants to play for, the #1 team he hoped that he would be drafted to. I could easily see him settling for 6 or 7 million a year (less than Gates/Witten), so the only thing we have to worry about is Aaron's ego. There will be enough money to sign both and I think we will try to, but it really depends on if Aaron wants the spot light.

 

[strngplyr]

Gronks agent will look to make him the richest TE in NFL history, and deservedly so.

Still not even halfway through his contract, smart thing to do will be extend him with a year left and weight it towards 2014. Resign Hernandez at the end of his deal and front load it. I see Gronk being here no matter what, BB has been looking for him his entire career, he'll be franchised if need be, Hernandez will probably stay here because I think he'll realize how much he benefits from Gronk and Brady.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Cross that bridge when we get there. I hate to even think about this but when A-HERN and Gronks Contract come up so will TFB's I believe. That will be a interesting time...

Nope. Brady's deal expires the same year as Mallett's.

 

[GrogansArmy]

[...]Gronk is on HIS team, the team he wants to play for, the #1 team he hoped that he would be drafted to[...]

I'm probably thinking of a different player, but I thought it was the Bills he wanted to be drafted by?