Report: Gronkowski May Require Back Surgery

mgteich said:

I agree that the quality of posts is pretty low on this thread, and in general at this time of year.

But folks are just frustrated. Arguably, we have lost a super bowl and a playoff game because Gronk wasn't healthy, so we did "win" before Gronk (as you say), but are much better with him. Folks are also frustrated with the WR situation. This is even more serious when we see Gronk needing yet another surgery. After all, the story was that the TE's would make up for the lack of Welker and Lloyd. And yes, the story was that we should not be concerned with Gronk's injuries. Make no mistake, 5 surgeries in 6 months takes a toll on maintaining a NFL conditioned body.

Of course, what we really need is for Gronk to be there at 100% for the last part of the year and for the playoffs. We can hope that Hernandez, Ballard and Fells are healthy early. Of course, each of them also has injury histories.

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Why are folks frustrated about anything at this point? OTAs haven't even begun!

NE has won with a lot less talented roster than they have at this point, Gronk or no Gronk. Just relax and let things play out.

serifyn said:

In the playoffs their offense has been the letdown, the defense played good in both the Superbowl and AFC championship games, whereas our #1 ranked offense has scored under 20 each game.

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The defense failed to protect the lead in the SB, and was horrendous in the AFCCG last season. They allowed 3 consecutive TD drives without even putting up a fight. The Ravens faced one 3rd down in 3 drives and converted it with ease.

Oswlek said:

Why are folks frustrated about anything at this point? OTAs haven't even begun!

NE has won with a lot less talented roster than they have at this point, Gronk or no Gronk. Just relax and let things play out.

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How do you ignore every bit of bad news and act line everything is normal ?

Oswlek said:

Fair enough, though I doubt they teach beginners how to roll while diving to catch a pass and trying to stay in bounds.

I'm just not going to agree with you on this one. Go watch an NFL game and see how often guys stick their arms out. If you want to say he made a mistake, fine. But an instinctive, natural response is not a bad decision.

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Some put their arms out, which is dumb, and some roll very well, even while handling a ball. It's a beginner level skill that one can do if you train it.

Gronk has consistently shown disregard for his body, he's not fragile but he also puts himself in position to take a LOT of abuse, this is just one extra data point of a pattern.

Sure we're won with less. Do you really want to be rooting for a miracle season like 2001 like Cinci and the Colts need to do?

OTA's will not make our TE's more healthy. OTA's will not make stars out of JAG's, although it may suggest some competence.

Oswlek said:

Why are folks frustrated about anything at this point? OTAs haven't even begun!

NE has won with a lot less talented roster than they have at this point, Gronk or no Gronk. Just relax and let things play out.

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Yes, the defense was awful. Our 3rd down defense was on the worst in the history of the NFL. Our red zone production was also awful. And yes, a mediocre defense would have won those games.

Belichick has taken several steps to improve the defense: Armstead, Kelly, Smith, Collins, and Logan. This is addition to expecting some improvement from last year's rookies. Belichick has even made efforts to bring in this year's group of competitors (7th rounders and UDFA's) for bottom of the roster spots.

On the offense, Belichick has struggled to keep a team with the same production after the blowup of the wide receiver corps. We are counting on IMPROVED health at OL and TE to make up any loss in production at WR.

AndyJohnson said:

The defense failed to protect the lead in the SB, and was horrendous in the AFCCG last season. They allowed 3 consecutive TD drives without even putting up a fight. The Ravens faced one 3rd down in 3 drives and converted it with ease.

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The level of fear, panic and paranoia that's been expressed in this thread make me want to weep for the collective Patriot fandom.

Rob Gronkowski has missed a total 5 regular season games in 3 full seasons, yet has been anointed a being "injury prone" by weak-minded Pats fans and the voracious mediots looking to create "major news" where none exists.

1. As to the "4 arm surgeries". - Surgeries come in all kinds of varieties. I had a major cataract surgery last month. I had it done on a Thursday afternoon and after they took off the patch Friday Morning, aside from a couple of weeks of taking eye drops, nothing changed in my life. Am I "injury prone"

The point here being that anytime a doctor penetrates the skin its a "surgery". In the past the term had a serious implication, but with a lot of today's modern medicine, its often not a serious as it seems. In the past cataract surgery would entail weeks of recovery, not the overnight recovery I experienced.

That fact is that there are back "surgery" procedures that are available that take about 20 minutes and are done on an outpatient basis. And there is none amongst us who has a clue what the procedure is to be done, or if anything is to be done AT ALL.

2. BTW- where is that back story started in the first place. Gronk has been in town working in the off season conditioning program since it began. Had anyone heard about ANYTHING bad about him during that time. If Gronk's back was bothering him THAT much, don't you think it would have leaked out that he'd been limited in some way his workouts. If Gronks back was bothering him that much, don't you think that someone in his MANY public appearances would have noted some kind of limp, or wince, or ANYTHING that indicated his back was bothering him

3. I have absolutely NO concern about his next arm "surgery", and even if there ends up to be some minor back procedure, it will clearly be prophylactic in nature. What I DO have a concern about in all this medical talk, is that Gronk will have spent this offseason mostly rehabbing and not working full time just getting better. I'm sure he will be there when the season starts, but will he be at his best?

BTW- I feel this way about any player who spends his off season rehabbing rather than in full workout mode. For example Volmer and Mankins where "good" last year, but I expect to see significant improvements to their games because neither was in rehab mode this offseason.

4. Is this "news", sure it is. Is it being blown out of all reasonable proportions, ABSOLUTELY. Gronk's situation this off season has been far from ideal. Is it the earth shattering issue that its been made to be, no way. Unfortunately a pretty good percentage of the NFL universe needs to spend their offseason rehabbing, and enduring rehab procedures. I'd rather Gronk and Hernandez had not been part of that group. But they have been. So what. Every team has many players that fit in that category. Deal with it. Its a part of the game.

Meanwhile ...

Gronk’s getting in one more Vegas run before surgery | ProFootballTalk

Tunescribe said:

Meanwhile ...

Gronk’s getting in one more Vegas run before surgery | ProFootballTalk

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Football shmootball. No one can party like the Gronk. He can party so hard, you couldn't tell after the Superbowl if he won or lost. Yeah, yeah, I know, two more surgeries, his back again, and another arm surgery, gonna miss training camp, blah, blah, blah. Dude's heading back to Vegas baby! Who cares if he can stay on the football field or not, the Pats haven't had a player in years who can PARTY like the Gronk !!!

crowell33 said:

Football shmootball. No one can party like the Gronk. He can party so hard, you couldn't tell after the Superbowl if he won or lost. Yeah, yeah, I know, two more surgeries, his back again, and another arm surgery, gonna miss training camp, blah, blah, blah. Dude's heading back to Vegas baby! Who cares if he can stay on the football field or not, the Pats haven't had a player in years who can PARTY like the Gronk !!!

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He missed his calling.

Tunescribe said:

Meanwhile ...

Gronk’s getting in one more Vegas run before surgery | ProFootballTalk

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I honestly don't know WTF to think at this point. I've reached the point where I feel whatever happens, happens. I desperately want to support Gronk through all of this, but even I have to wonder if he's tone-deaf to some aspects of what's going on. I just don't know.

Tunescribe said:

Meanwhile ...

Gronk’s getting in one more Vegas run before surgery | ProFootballTalk

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Yeah, with Edeleman as his wingman. Freaking rocks for brains. One gets injured on an extra point and the other has the ball come up and jam his thumb on a spike. Talk about jinxed. But they, let's go to Vegas then. Best place for that typa person. :bricks:

What a couple of idiots. :bricks:

Pewsterbaby said:

Yeah, with Edeleman as his wingman. Freaking rocks for brains. One gets injured on an extra point and the other has the ball come up and jam his thumb on a spike. Talk about jinxed. But they, let's go to Vegas then. Best place for that typa person. :bricks:

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They're children.

:eat3::woohoo::eat1::doh:

"Uh huh huh Let's go to Vegas"
"Heh-n-heh-heh nkay"
"Uhhhhh we'll get like four chicks to come"
"Heh-heh chicks yeah"
"You can have one of them huh huh huh"
"Heh-n-heh-heh That's still actually pretty good heh-heh"

Felger and Mazz were talking about this yesterday, they were upset they didn't have the cash to go. The flyer promises a "memorable and intoxicating time on the strip." LOL. And Edelman, of all people, playing Robin to Gronk's Batman makes this even scarier. I wonder if anyone is actually doing this.

You're pretty much guaranteed to wake up next to a shirtless Gronk passed out on the floor, Edelman on the couch with strange things written all over his face in marker, and a tiger in the bathroom. The 2013 Patriots offense! :rocker:

Who fucxxing cares! So 2 loaded 20 something pro athletes want to go to Vegas before OTAs. They both know that once OTAs begin its over. No Fun, no anything until (hopefully) February or at least January. That is 8 months of drill Seargent BB.

Are they sumo wrestling? Why do people piss and moan that these guys want to have a last hurrah before going back to work? Nobody knows the extent of the injuries. Nobody knows if they are gonna fighth with MMA guys or sit around and play poker.

They are gonna go out and do what any of us would do. Eat and drink and gamble and party and get laid. So what. Its not like they are going to sit home and do nothing anyway. Think of it this way its probably 10-11 hours on a plane where they wont move. That keeps them out of harms way for at least that long.

Some of you are so caught up in your miserable internet existence that you are begrudging people living their lives. Its like if 87 and 11 are not home eating protein and working out 24/7 then your precious football team (which is seems some of you revolve your whole lives around) might not do as well as it could.

I almost wish this team went 500 one year so that some of you would shoot yourselves. In 7 years, I have never read such juvenile and pathetic crap.

RobAllan said:

"Uh huh huh Let's go to Vegas"
"Heh-n-heh-heh nkay"
"Uhhhhh we'll get like four chicks to come"
"Heh-heh chicks yeah"
"You can have one of them huh huh huh"
"Heh-n-heh-heh That's still actually pretty good heh-heh"

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Belichick grilling Gronk and Edelmen after the trip.

Bruins29 said:

Who fucxxing cares! So 2 loaded 20 something pro athletes want to go to Vegas before OTAs. They both know that once OTAs begin its over. No Fun, no anything until (hopefully) February or at least January. That is 8 months of drill Seargent BB.

Are they sumo wrestling? Why do people piss and moan that these guys want to have a last hurrah before going back to work? Nobody knows the extent of the injuries. Nobody knows if they are gonna fighth with MMA guys or sit around and play poker.

They are gonna go out and do what any of us would do. Eat and drink and gamble and party and get laid. So what. Its not like they are going to sit home and do nothing anyway. Think of it this way its probably 10-11 hours on a plane where they wont move. That keeps them out of harms way for at least that long.

Some of you are so caught up in your miserable internet existence that you are begrudging people living their lives. Its like if 87 and 11 are not home eating protein and working out 24/7 then your precious football team (which is seems some of you revolve your whole lives around) might not do as well as it could.

I almost wish this team went 500 one year so that some of you would shoot yourselves. In 7 years, I have never read such juvenile and pathetic crap.

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Seems to me you're having more of a cow than anyone else here. Leave us and our "precious football team" alone, why don't ya.

Tunescribe said:

Seems to me you're having more of a cow than anyone else here. Leave us and our "precious football team" alone, why don't ya.

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Nahhh I think I will stick around. Watch crybabies be crybabies. Its entertaining.

I think the "precious football team" would probably like it if you and the minions would leave them alone. If you have to begrudge a player for living because you are so afraid it will affect their performance and in essence ruin your experience as a fan you should re-evaluate your life or lack of one.