Medical views on the Gronkle

[Fencer]

We probably could use a merge thread on Gronkowski's ankle.

Here's one input, from Ten Burning Questions: Eli-Peyton, Brady-Belichick legacy, Coughlin - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice

Question: Will New England tight end Rob Gronkowski play? And, if so, how much will he be handicapped?



Answer: I wish I could tell you, but I can't. I consulted Dr. Steven Weinfeld, assistant professor of orthopedics at New York's Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and he said he would be "pleasantly surprised" if Gronkowski plays. Basically, he didn't think there was much chance -- though he did say trainers could stabilize Gronkowski's high ankle sprain with tape and try to reduce the swelling and pain with an injection of an anti-inflammatory. Yeah, I know, Gronk returned after hurting himself last weekend and finished the game, but "often," Dr. Weinfeld said, "the maximum swelling or inflammation doesn't occur for 24 to 48 hours." Meaning? Meaning that Gronkowski's return Sunday was no indication of the severity of the injury. In fact, he might've risked more damage by getting back on the field, but, hey, that can happen when you're trying to win, right? Anyway, let me point out that Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey suffered a high ankle sprain in last year's AFC Championship Game and didn't play in the Super Bowl. Last time I checked, making lateral movements while running wasn't as necessary for an offensive lineman as it was a tight end. If, however, Gronkowski, plays you can figure that his movement will be limited -- which means his effectiveness will be reduced considerably.

 

[strngplyr]

Other posters have read "sources" stated that Gronk's recovery through the week has been nothing short of miraculous. Nobody will know his status until the 5th. Speculation won't really get us anywhere, not a whole lot of this kind of info leaks out of this organization.

I'd be shocked too see him practice, almost as shocked as i'd be if he doesn't play. Gronk will rest every last moment up until pre-game warm-ups.

 

[Joker]

I played college BB...high ankle sprained both joints so many times I'd need an accountant to keep track...a couple of them were pretty bad, kept me on the bench for two or three weeks...most of them, with a trainer's care,got me back on the court in 7-10 days..albeit with limited flexibility due to heavy tape jobs. THe question is HOW SEVERE is the Gronk's sprain?..NOBODY will say who knows, except Dad who made it sound like his boy will play and play OK...the one thing we all know is if he doesn't practice then he won't play...he didn't practice this week...we'll see next Wednesday-Thursday..until then who can possibly speak on this with any certainty?

 

[Jackson 2]

We probably could use a merge thread on Gronkowski's ankle.

Here's one input, from Ten Burning Questions: Eli-Peyton, Brady-Belichick legacy, Coughlin - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice

I'm sure the good doctor from Mt. Sinai in NY is rooting as hard as possible for Gronk. I'm always amazed when professionals who have had no access to x-rays, other images, records of exams or personal inspection/assessment of injuries are so free to offer opinions.

 

[Nitro]

Uhm, there are pictures of him floating around sunday night with other players out partying after the win. A couple are of him out on the dance floor with the ladies. I'm reasonably sure if it was anything to worry about the team (and even the other players) would have shut that idea down rapidly.

 

[TB146]

Regardless of the actual severity of the sprain and the consequences, I can't help but harbor some pretty negative feelings towards Bernard Pollard. I don't know if there was anything deliberately evil about his tackle of Gronk, but the guy sure causes more (ligament) trouble than he's worth. I will breathe easier when he calls it quits.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Even an 80% Gronk is better than almost all NFL TEs and an 80% Gronk is certainly better than a 100% Jake Ballard.

 

[upstater1]

While I don't like the sound of this, the very idea that Gronk was out partying on Sunday night tells me something. I mean, come on. He was injured AND he was on his sprained ankle? Hard to believe.

 

[Jackson 2]

Regardless of the actual severity of the sprain and the consequences, I can't help but harbor some pretty negative feelings towards Bernard Pollard. I don't know if there was anything deliberately evil about his tackle of Gronk, but the guy sure causes more (ligament) trouble than he's worth. I will breathe easier when he calls it quits.

I'll breathe easier when someone ends his career with the same type of dirty play he takes pride in. I've never wished injury on an opposing player in my life (well, maybe one or two), but I won't cry when he gets his - and he will.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm going to be honest. I think that Gronk's dad "leaking" Gronk's condition is a smoke screen. Especially since we know how tight-lipped the Pats are about injuries. I think that Gronk will be ready to go come the SB and that the surgery talk is all bunk.

 

[Rob0729]

I love when doctors who have no actually knowledge of the actual injury of a player gives expert opinions on the extent of the injury and the recovery time. Dr. Weinfeld has no direct knowledge of what type of injury Gronkowski has. All he can say is that "if" the injury Gronk has is a high ankle sprain, based on his knowledge of the injury, not specifically Gronk's injury that he will not be able to play or be severely limited.

Whenever a player of any magnitude gets an injury, reporters get all these medical experts to give dire diagnoses without any direct knowledge of the player injury only to get it wrong. Go back and look how many medical experts stated that Brady or Welker wouldn't be able to start the season after their ACL tears.

BTW, this is only ONE medical view.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I'm going to be honest. I think that Gronk's dad "leaking" Gronk's condition is a smoke screen. Especially since we know how tight-lipped the Pats are about injuries. I think that Gronk will be ready to go come the SB and that the surgery talk is all bunk.

My thinking also, not that the Gints wont plan for him but I think he has a huge game, The Gronk was born for these types of games.

 

[Gwedd]

Regardless of the actual severity of the sprain and the consequences, I can't help but harbor some pretty negative feelings towards Bernard Pollard. I don't know if there was anything deliberately evil about his tackle of Gronk, but the guy sure causes more (ligament) trouble than he's worth. I will breathe easier when he calls it quits.

Karma has a special reward for folks like him. Don't you worry none. When She decides to "gift" him, he'll bemoan the day he ever said a bad word about anyone.

 

[Rob0729]

I'm going to be honest. I think that Gronk's dad "leaking" Gronk's condition is a smoke screen. Especially since we know how tight-lipped the Pats are about injuries. I think that Gronk will be ready to go come the SB and that the surgery talk is all bunk.

I'd might agree with you, but since he was talking to a station in Western NY I am a bit skeptable. I don't know if he or the Patriots expected it to go national.

That said, I can see it as a dad trying to overplay his son's injury so that he looks like a bigger hero if he plays and has a huge game in a win. Plenty of players oversell their injuries and then play like nothing happen so that to inflate their popularity.... cough.... cough....Ben Roethlisberger....cough.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'd might agree with you, but since he was talking to a station in Western NY I am a bit skeptable. I don't know if he or the Patriots expected it to go national.

That said, I can see it as a dad trying to overplay his son's injury so that he looks like a bigger hero if he plays and has a huge game in a win. Plenty of players oversell their injuries and then play like nothing happen so that to inflate their popularity.... cough.... cough....Ben Roethlisberger....cough.

Rob - Are you serious? This is the NFL and the Super Bowl we're talking about. And Gronk is one of the biggest names out there. Of course it was going to go national. Not to mention it's the age of Facebook and Twitter. The 6 degrees of separation are closer to 3 to 4 now.

Now, regarding over-selling an injury. That could be.

 

[PatriotSeven]

I'm not surprised honestly if he doesn't play and I think people need to stop clinging on to hope of the smokescreen idea and consider it a real possibility.

There's a good chance it really is that bad and we're going to have to do it without him. It is what it is. This makes me be more wary of sticking with my prediction of a blowout but the Patriots still have what it takes to do it without him. We will be fine.

If anything the smokescreen might be to keep the focus on Gronk, while Ocho is getting ready to make his mark, not just as a Patriots, but in his career. If he wants to be remembered and even have a chance at the HOF, this is his only opportunity.

We're only facing the Giants. It's in the bag, alright? This actually makes it a little bit more challenging for Brady and Co and makes me less upset we're playing the measly Giants again. Bring it on! He'll still be on the sidelines rooting and eating energy bars, so Giants fans, don't get your hopes up

 

[BelichickFan]

Maybe all the reporters are getting misinformation but both Rapoport and Bedard have said he's expected to play. Ordway was reported by Mo to have said "improvement in Gronk's ankle over the last few days alone was amazing". Brady's sprain in the 2001 AFCCG was said to be a high ankle sprain, this doctor has no idea how badly sprained it is.

I don't have a clue how close to normal he will be but from those around the team - not to mention Daddy Gronk - there has been zero indication that he'll miss the game. Until I hear something from one of the local reporters citing a "source" that it's looking bad then I - we - have no reason to not believe what they've been saying, that he will play, probably in pain and presumably with some "medicinal assistance".

 

[Jackson 2]

I'm not surprised honestly if he doesn't play and I think people need to stop clinging on to hope of the smokescreen idea and consider it a real possibility.

There's a good chance it really is that bad and we're going to have to do it without him. It is what it is. This makes me be more wary of sticking with my prediction of a blowout but the Patriots still have what it takes to do it without him. We will be fine.

If anything the smokescreen might be to keep the focus on Gronk, while Ocho is getting ready to make his mark, not just as a Patriots, but in his career. If he wants to be remembered and even have a chance at the HOF, this is his only opportunity.

We're only facing the Giants. It's in the bag, alright? This actually makes it a little bit more challenging for Brady and Co and makes me less upset we're playing the measly Giants again. Bring it on! He'll still be on the sidelines rooting and eating energy bars, so Giants fans, don't get your hopes up

I'll be shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, if he doesn't play, and effectively.

 

[shmessy]

I'm going to be honest. I think that Gronk's dad "leaking" Gronk's condition is a smoke screen. Especially since we know how tight-lipped the Pats are about injuries. I think that Gronk will be ready to go come the SB and that the surgery talk is all bunk.

Yes, the suspicion of this whole thing grows when looking at the pictures of him partying hearty the night after the game.

If that ankle was really a problem, the medical staff of the Patriots should be court martialed for allowing him to go out that night like that.

 

[PatriotSeven]

I'll be shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, if he doesn't play, and effectively.

Ok, but if it doesn't happen, will you please not be shocked a day before, act like the sky is falling, and still have the guts to tell the little Giants we're going to shove it down their throats anyway?