Report: Gronk, Pats aiming for Week 1

I'm hoping the big guy can stay on the field this season.

mgteich said:

I don't see that Gronk is "aiming for" Game One being excellent news.

We've had lots of players aiming for Game One in the past.

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If that's Gronk's aim, that means his rehabilitation is going well. He's the best TE in the league. If that's not excellent news, then I don't know what is.

joepatsfan said:

One loss to who?

We should beat Miami with or without Gronk... Minnesota and Oakland are wins.

Going into KC on a Monday night is tough but I see KC falling apart this year.

Our defense, even without Browner, can suffocate each opposing team's offense.

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Either one of Miami (who seem to have returned to the team that's a pain in our ass at least once a season) or KC.

...and so it begins. In b4 Gronk better return week 2!!!!!! But in all honesty, we really need the big guy to be healthy in the playoffs for the first time in his career. We're coming home with the hardware if he stays healthy.

Froob said:

...and so it begins. In b4 Gronk better return week 2!!!!!! But in all honesty, we really need the big guy to be healthy in the playoffs for the first time in his career. We're coming home with the hardware if he stays healthy.

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I believe he was healthy in the 2010-2011 playoffs (except SB). Only 2012-2013 he has been injured. He will play all regular season and playoff games. Got to have a positive attitude, not a negative one.

Archeryaddict12 said:

I believe he was healthy in the 2010-2011 playoffs (except SB). Only 2012-2013 he has been injured. He will play all regular season and playoff games. Got to have a positive attitude, not a negative one.

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I can't remember if he injured his ankle in the divisional round or the AFCCG in 2011, but he was ineffective afterwards. It's really been 3 postseasons in a row where we haven't had him--at least in the biggest games of conference championships/SB anyway.

Hopefully that changes this year, of course. It's good to hear that he's doing well so far, although it's fairly early on. It's still great news though!

supafly said:

I can't remember if he injured his ankle in the divisional round or the AFCCG in 2011, but he was ineffective afterwards. It's really been 3 postseasons in a row where we haven't had him--at least in the biggest games of conference championships/SB anyway.

Hopefully that changes this year, of course. It's good to hear that he's doing well so far, although it's fairly early on. It's still great news though!

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But I proved froob wrong by pointing out 2 times he was healthy for the playoffs.

Archeryaddict12 said:

But I proved froob wrong by pointing out 2 times he was healthy for the playoffs.

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I'm not sure if you did or not, AA12. I think it's somewhat debatable to be honest. 2010 he was healthy, but 2011 he got about halfway through the playoffs and was never the same.

I think 1.5 out of 4 yrs would be appropriate, but that's just my .02 cents. I didn't mean to get between you + Froob's debate, so apologies for that.

joepatsfan said:

One loss to who?

We should beat Miami with or without Gronk... Minnesota and Oakland are wins.

Going into KC on a Monday night is tough but I see KC falling apart this year.

Our defense, even without Browner, can suffocate each opposing team's offense.

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We always "should" beat Miami in Miami, but historically that's been a really difficult game for us each season. Combination of the heat (especially week 1) and it being a division opponent, which always makes things wonky, AND it being week 1 which can throw things off too. I'm certainly not taking Miami in Miami for granted, especially if we are short Browner and Gronk.

KontradictioN said:

Either one of Miami (who seem to have returned to the team that's a pain in our ass at least once a season) or KC.

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They have beat us one time in the last 4 years.
Our average margin of victory in the 7 wins is over 17 points.
We have thoroughly dominated them for years.

I'm aiming for two Super Models to decide that I'm too much man for them, so they'll share.

I'm sorry, I thought this thread was what you were aiming for.

Miami with a whole new OL for the Pat's game..( Pouncey out) should mean that if anyone gives Pats a tough game, it might be KC.....

BlueThunder said:

Miami with a whole new OL for the Pat's game..( Pouncey out) should mean that if anyone gives Pats a tough game, it might be KC.....

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I know it's probably likely that he misses opening day, but I'm not taking it to the bank just yet. Let's hope that you are right.

Considering that at this point last year, Gronk wasn't even practicing with the team, I'm much more optimistic he'll return earlier, esp since I've seen him during practice running with the team and with his helmet on this OTA/MC.

Here's hoping his dad and agent don't put the bug in his ear, and tell him to hold out for awhile like they did last year. That was the problem.

To be honest, from the scratch, before any injury I was giving 50% of chances from both Miami and NE in the start of the season. With a slightly advantage to Miami due to be more adapted to the hell weather it's gonna be at Sunday 1 pm.

Now with reports of Pouncey out and Moreno having knee issues needing an arthroscopic surgery, I give the edge to the Patriots but last year week one should have taught us a lesson.

The Patriots are a completely different team with the Gronk in the lineup. Even a hobbled Gronk was a huge difference last year. I re-watched the Steelers game last night and he was unstoppable!

He is a real difference maker and one of those rare players, that if you don't account for him on every play, he will burn you!

That being said, we need a healthy Gronk in the playoffs! So if there is even a doubt about his health, I would hold him back until he is completely healed.

Archeryaddict12 said:

I believe he was healthy in the 2010-2011 playoffs (except SB). Only 2012-2013 he has been injured. He will play all regular season and playoff games. Got to have a positive attitude, not a negative one.

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He was hurt for Super Bowl 46, he was basically a decoy and didn't really make any impact on the game. I COULD be wrong on this but, I believe he was injured at the of the end of 2010 in his rookie season. He played but I believe he was banged up. Might just have been Hernandez who was hurt but I could be wrong.

Froob said:

He was hurt for Super Bowl 46, he was basically a decoy and didn't really make any impact on the game. I COULD be wrong on this but, I believe he was injured at the of the end of 2010 in his rookie season. He played but I believe he was banged up. Might just have been Hernandez who was hurt but I could be wrong.

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Gronk was healthy in the 2010 divisional game. Hernandez was hurt. You just might have thought Gronk was hurt because the team used him primarily as a blocking TE in that game due to the pressure the Jets were getting.

AzorianPats said:

Considering that at this point last year, Gronk wasn't even practicing with the team, I'm much more optimistic he'll return earlier, esp since I've seen him during practice running with the team and with his helmet on this OTA/MC.

Here's hoping his dad and agent don't put the bug in his ear, and tell him to hold out for awhile like they did last year. That was the problem.

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It is definitely a great sign that his recovery is progressing very nicely.

That said, in regards to your second paragraph--I think that both parties have a lot on the line due to Gronkowski's bonus that will be due in the next 18 months (or so). Should he become injured again for any reasonable amount of time--say 6-8 weeks, it may have quite a negatively dramatic effect on his future in football in general.

I highly doubt that either side would hold him out of contact out of fear, but I also doubt that either side will want to "rush" the whole process as well. I think both sides will use caution, which may mean an additional 3-4 weeks could be added to the whole process. It's an interesting situation, and we're all anxious to see how it plays out. He does have age and attitude on his side, so that may help the process more than some players in my opinion.

While I do think he'll have to overcome some psychological aspects, I don't think it will take too long for him to get right back on the horse again with a couple of TD passes and big plays.

gronk out and about...

http://www.tmz.com/2014/06/25/rob-gronkowski-jennifer-lopez-concert/

i have to say...from the perspective of the camera (and other recent pics), he is looking "jacked central"

hopefully that knee is jacked central too