Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falcons

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falcons
By: Ian Logue

Despite reports that suggested Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski could have potentially been in the line-up Sunday night down in Atlanta, it appears neither one will be on the field against the Falcons....

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[MrNathanDrake]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

I'd be fine if they were both out until the Bye Week.


Healthy Gronk/Amendola in the playoffs is what matters most.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Bummer.

Volin really stuck his neck out on this one; he was the only reporter I know of saying these two would play and the Globe and boston.com went with that as headlines. Now on the heels of reports they didn't even make the trip, he tweets his sources say "things changed over night." I think he needs better sources.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

"Inactive"

 

[supafly]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

I'd be fine if they were both out until the Bye Week.

So, you'd waste 2 separate roster spots out of 53 on players who wouldn't participate until week #11?

I would bet that Bill Belichick would not agree with your thoughts, especially after placing Shane Vereen on IR exempt (can't return until week #11) after suffering what was reported to be a 3-4 week injury where he'd likely have been back very soon (week 5 or 6).

Yes, the playoffs are important, but so is the regular season too. All accounts point to a somewhat difficult schedule with a hot Miami team who is challenging them for the division.

Obviously both players are pretty close to returning, so all accounts point to them coming back quite soon. Possibly week #5 next Sunday at Cincinnati. That is much different than missing an additional (almost) 1/2 the season as you are suggesting.

 

[Patjew]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Maybe they'e flying commercial.

 

[FCB02062]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Bummer.

Volin really stuck his neck out on this one; he was the only reporter I know of saying these two would play and the Globe and boston.com went with that as headlines. Now on the heels of reports they didn't even make the trip, he tweets his sources say "things changed over night." I think he needs better sources.

No doubt the Pats fed this info to Volin knowing he'd run with it...all in an effort to make the players look bad when they dont play, especially gronkowski - whom the team thinks is ready to play...

 

[Gumby]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Let's all say it together:
"next man up"
and
"more opportunities for the rookies, which will pay dividends later"

then move along. Nothing to see here. (inactive).


For what it's worth; when they are ready to go;

I think they should (hope they) nurse Gronk along (10-15 plays, max 20) in his first start (they shouldnt push him too hard too fast);

HOWEVER I think Amendola should be able to go full tilt 70-90% of O snaps; whenever he is ready. (he is coming back in same season he practiced and played already)

 

[IcyPatriot]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Bummer.

Volin really stuck his neck out on this one; he was the only reporter I know of saying these two would play and the Globe and boston.com went with that as headlines. Now on the heels of reports they didn't even make the trip, he tweets his sources say "things changed over night." I think he needs better sources.

Hope he is not hanging out with Erika Leigh for scoop.

 

[fxkane]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

The rookies in Atlanta--why do I sense a turnover imbalance favoring the Falcons in tomorrow's game.

The news is a bit of a downer.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Ultimately it's irrelevant what players actually play and if that means that Patriots must win ugly, the exclusively germane fact is winning. And as long as that continues to happen, as it has been, I hope their two top weapons are viewed as 'proceed with extreme caution!' (assuming BB thinks in terms of 'extreme caution').

The Patriots have most important games in week 7 and 8 (especially week 8). The Jets and and Phins are games that, if we win, likely shape the divisional race quite nicely even with a couple less than favorable outcomes against Atl, Cincy, Saints.
I'll tell you what, if the Patriots can somehow/someway be 4-0 by the end of Sunday evening, I'm extra good with not seeing Gronk or DA return until the week 8 Jets game. Ideally they pitch in just enough to assure victory over the Jets, this gets them back into 'game' form, we see them in full game action for the critical Phins game.
After that? Bring on the currently faltering Pitt, bring on the bye, bring on Vereen, bring on the Patriots best offensive (and defensive) play that will clearly show 'drive to the playoffs football' has come to Foxboro!

 

[YearbookCurfew]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Not worried. I'd rather have both of them healthy.

 

[mosi]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

The rookies in Atlanta--why do I sense a turnover imbalance favoring the Falcons in tomorrow's game.

The news is a bit of a downer.

I agree. Under the bright lights of a prime time game against a good team, I see a long, painful night. Much like the Jets night but against a team that actually has an Offense.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Not worried. I'd rather have both of them healthy.

Pretty sure Gronk is healthy..he just isn't playing for some reason. Not confident. Well at least if the pats lose i can focus on the BB finale

 

[Cantabrigian]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Even if both are not playing, why not have them fly with the team to Atlanta? That will probably force the Falcons to game plan against the two of them right up until the final inactive list is out.

Is it to save costs? Or to avoid possible injuries on the flight? I can understand if the flight will interfere with the recovery process but can't that continue in Atlanta as well?

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

Well that does it. Time to sign Randy Moss and Mike Vrabel

 

[RI Patriots fan]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

I'm not exactly sure why people keep saying that we want a "healthy" Gronk and Amendola for the playoffs.

Last time I checked, the playoffs weren't our birthright.

We could very well lose the next two games if we don't have Gronk and Amendola. It will be a challenge to make the playoffs this year. We need all hands on deck ASAP.

Supposedly, it's Gronk's arm that's the issue. Yes, it was operated on 4 times but come next Sunday it will be 20 weeks since his last "arm" operation. Twenty weeks! I can't imagine that a broken bone would require 20 weeks of healing and rehabilitation (since I've broken a few myself and had them operated on) and I certainly don't believe that a broken bone that isn't ready after 20 weeks will suddenly be ready in 21 weeks. All this leads me to believe that it isn't his arm and more likely his back in which case why didn't they put him on the PUP?

I don't begrudge the Patriots thinking long term as I've admired them for thinking long term but I'm starting to wonder if they handled this situation properly.

But regardless of that, I don't agree that we can assume we'll be in the playoffs and that we don't need Gronkowski or Amendola to get there.

We need them to get there.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

I'm not exactly sure why people keep saying that we want a "healthy" Gronk and Amendola for the playoffs.

Last time I checked, the playoffs weren't our birthright.

We could very well lose the next two games if we don't have Gronk and Amendola. It will be a challenge to make the playoffs this year. We need all hands on deck ASAP.

Supposedly, it's Gronk's arm that's the issue. Yes, it was operated on 4 times but come next Sunday it will be 20 weeks since his last "arm" operation. Twenty weeks! I can't imagine that a broken bone would require 20 weeks of healing and rehabilitation (since I've broken a few myself and had them operated on) and I certainly don't believe that a broken bone that isn't ready after 20 weeks will suddenly be ready in 21 weeks. All this leads me to believe that it isn't his arm and more likely his back in which case why didn't they put him on the PUP?

I don't begrudge the Patriots thinking long term as I've admired them for thinking long term but I'm starting to wonder if they handled this situation properly.

But regardless of that, I don't agree that we can assume we'll be in the playoffs and that we don't need Gronkowski or Amendola to get there.

We need them to get there.

Playoffs? I agree. We are not guaranteed the playoffs (though history suggests we will make the playoffs). Things could go south, we could eventually and desperately need the services of DA and Gronk. Yet that's pure speculation at this point. Right now we are 3-0. And if we lose this week? We are still a very good 3-1. And given that is the reality, I think some of us are saying be EXTRA cautious with these two very important cogs because they are not, at the present moment, desperately needed.

I'm not so arrogant as to believe withhold them for 2 months, I am saying as long as we keep winning, we can afford to be that 'extra cautious' and target their return for the playoff push (I define the playoff push as starting around week 9). However, I want to see these guys back for the Jets and Phins games starting in week 8. Win these two and that is 4-0 in the division, we stomp on the Phins/Jets hopes and take the wind out of their sails, and puts us in good position to win the division.
With that said, if both the player and the doc say "no doubt, I'm good to go", it's time for them to play right then and there (no matter what week it is).

 

[mgteich]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

It is a strange policy to risk injured players when you are 3-0 and playing a non-division game.

Playoffs? I agree. We are not guaranteed the playoffs (though history suggests we will make the playoffs). Things could go south, we could eventually and desperately need the services of DA and Gronk. Yet that's pure speculation at this point. Right now we are 3-0. And if we lose this week? We are still a very good 3-1. And given that is the reality, I think some of us are saying be EXTRA cautious with these two very important cogs because they are not, at the present moment, desperately needed.

I'm not so arrogant as to believe withhold them for 2 months, I am saying as long as we keep winning, we can afford to be that 'extra cautious' and target their return for the playoff push (I define the playoff push as starting around week 9). However, I want to see these guys back for the Jets and Phins games starting in week 8. Win these two and that is 4-0 in the division, we stomp on the Phins/Jets hopes and take the wind out of their sails, and puts us in good position to win the division.
With that said, if both the player and the doc say "no doubt, I'm good to go", it's time for them to play right then and there (no matter what week it is).

 

[supafly]

Re: Patriots' Gronkowski and Amendola Didn't Travel to Atlanta, Both Out Against Falc

All this leads me to believe that it isn't his arm and more likely his back in which case why didn't they put him on the PUP?

To answer your question directly, it would have meant that we'd then be looking at a mid-October return to team practicing for Gronkowski. Since we're almost certain that it'd have taken him a week or two (at the least) to get back to "football shape" and conditioning, that would have put his return at approximately some point in November---or roughly the same time period that Terrell Suggs came back at last season with his Achilles injury that many felt would keep him out the entire season.

In other words:

Miss the first handful of games vs. come back after the bye and play in week #11, since he likely wouldn't have been able to play in week #9 (bye is in week #10).

That's a huge difference right there. Even if he ends up missing the first 4 or even 5 games, it's great to have him taking part in full padded practices and getting back into conditioning, football shape, and mindset.

As a whole though, I do agree with your post entirely. Many seem to just assume that we're automatically entered into the postseason every year. The regular season still matters--believe it or not. That said, I have no problem if they had a tentative date of week 4 set and decided to wait another week or two just to be safe.