Is Gronk's forearm healed and will he need a brace?

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

I remember the reports last year were that his forearm didn't heal correctly and was weak, hence the brace. It was unclear whether this would be a chronic problem or whether it was continuing to grow stronger. Does anyone have any educated speculation? Unfortunately, I missed my weekly injury update with Bill Belichick this week; we typically talk for 1-2 hours in-depth about specific player injuries while I'm tweeting the information in real-time.

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Personally, I see no reason for him not to wear the protective armor. I cannot see it limiting him in any way so why not be overly cautious. I am all for Brady always wearing a knee brace, Vereen always wearing wrist armor, and any player who suffered a significant injury to particular part of their body protecting that area with additional armor.

IcyPatriot said:

Gronk just needs to fall after the catch once in a while - or at least learn what a sideline is.

Though that may go against his style ... he is more valuable based on amount of reps vs YAC.

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Except in 2011, 656 of his 1327 yards came after the catch, which is half his yardage.

In addition, if it does not require gang tackling to take Gronkowski down then defenses will not have to make sure they dedicate so much attention to him.

Gwedd said:

Kevin Faulk, and Ben Coates. Both should be examples for everyone wanting to survive catching balls in traffic.

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Coates is an excellent example of how to USE your body.

Christ Almighty just admit everyone. He's got great skills and his intentions are good, but he's going to IR'ed at some point this year and with that other dumbshit the 2-TE set dominance we briefly enjoyed is over. Maybe Jones can stick and snag a couple red zone TD's and Hooman can block on short pass RB catches, but the notion we can get back to 2 TE's snagging 170 passes and 23 TD's or whatever it was is over.
I see more RB catches and the TE blocking for them on screens this year. Our big play TE's can't hold up durability wise. WR's and RB's are going to have to make up the difference. If you excpect Gronk to go a full 16 and then 3 playoff games without incedent, you''re a fool IMO. Ain't gonna happen. Big rooting interest in Jones, who'll probably get cut anyway. Not much faith in this department.

So the ultimate answer to my question is that no one has any idea, so we might as well re-hash the same old Gronk discussions.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

So the ultimate answer to my question is that no one has any idea, so we might as well re-hash the same old Gronk discussions.

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Bill will answer all of your questions, down the the most minute detail, in the next press conference.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

So the ultimate answer to my question is that no one has any idea, so we might as well re-hash the same old Gronk discussions.

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Shirley your not serious. You expected perhaps that the Patriots issued a medical update on Gronk's arm? There are too many missing pieces of information, as one of my previous links explained:

Post-operative courses, like Gronk himself, are unpredictable. When I attempt to prognosticate for my post-op patients, I'll always involve the surgeons. I ask what they saw in the operating room (was pus oozing out of the joint or was the bone pristine?) and what they did about it (was the hardware removed? Were antibiotic beads inserted into the bone?). We don't know exactly what the surgeons saw when they last operated on Gronkowski's forearm or what they did about it. We also don't know what bacteria, if any, was found on the hardware that has been stabilizing his radius and ulna. These are critical pieces of information that will help determine the time frame of his recovery.
http://regressing.deadspin.com/what-really-went-wrong-with-rob-gronkowskis-arm-surger-1441138496

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Secondly, even Gronk and his surgeon cannot be certain about his prognosis. While the infection is gone, there just is not a lot of data on TEs playing NFL ball after breaking their arm twice, having two plates inserted, and an infection. Because of this uncertainty, and the fact that the plate itself can increase the risk of fracture at the edge (that is how it broke the second time), I would expect he will play with the protective equipment as a precaution. But his doc doesn't know the probability that he could break his arm again, and we know less. Now, ask how many TDs he'll get, and we will give you our informed speculation...

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

So the ultimate answer to my question is that no one has any idea, so we might as well re-hash the same old Gronk discussions.

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Yessss.

Good lord, Ice. Even if somebody had real knowledge and was freakishly happy to share it with us all, (1) it can be wrong once push comes to shove and (b) there's no way to verify the source and (III) it could be misdirection in the first place. Come on man.

Gronk can be counted on until he can't be. Same as it ever was. Only now we really, really know it.

Deus Irae said:

Bill will answer all of your questions, down the the most minute detail, in the next press conference.

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Q: Will Rob be wearing his forearm brace this season?
A: I expect Rob to play to the best of his ability and do what's best for the team.
Q: But will he wear the brace?
A: I'm not a doctor.

Q: Rob, will you wear your brace this season?
A: I'm just taking it day by day.

Brady6 said:

They replaced the plate sometime around 5/20/13 when they operated on it to remove the infection.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/5/20/4349572/rob-gronkowski-injury-forth-forearm-surgery-successful

I am not aware of the plate being planned for a third replacement so I am not sure if you are referring to this or something, I was not privy too.

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I think there is a misunderstanding somewhere, B6. Re-read my post. I'm not insinuating a new replacement, just commenting on what the original plan was as of spring 2013 when the infections took place.

So, you are saying that when they took it out in the spring of last year, they did replace it with a new one then? I know they were forced to take the old one out early due to the infection(s), but did not know if there was a need to insert another one.

So, bottom line is that he still does have a plate in his arm, according to the info from you and Mack. Since that seems to be the case, I'd probably rather him just wear a brace for the upcoming season out of cautiousness.

IMHO, it was the ankle that was dirty, I have a strong recollection that there was a "yank" involved at the end of that tackle that wasn't exactly for emphasis. Polltard was looking to put something extra in that awkward takedown

The one that most think was "dirty" wasn't IMHO. When you are around 6' and 200, and see a 6'6 260 lb TE barreling at you, you HAVE to his him low. Either that or get the "fly on the windshield treatment" going high. I've been in that situation and there IS no question.

What was unfortunate was the timing. ACL's are caused in situations like that because the hit occurs EXACTLY at the same moment the cleats are firmly planted in the ground. There is no "give", so bad things happen to the joints. A microsecond earlier or later, with the same hit, and Gronk bounces up and heads back to the huddle.

Sorry Konta, but IIRC there wasn't any chance for a hurdle. I wish there had been, since it would have made any hit one that wouldn't have had his foot firmly planted.

patfanken said:

IMHO, it was the ankle that was dirty, I have a strong recollection that there was a "yank" involved at the end of that tackle that wasn't exactly for emphasis. Polltard was looking to put something extra in that awkward takedown...........

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I agree. Pollard seemed to have that intentional twist at the end of the tackle, long after Gronk was on the ground.

supafly said:

I think there is a misunderstanding somewhere, B6. Re-read my post. I'm not insinuating a new replacement, just commenting on what the original plan was as of spring 2013 when the infections took place.

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I am sorry I thought you were trying to figure out if he ever had the plate replaced.

So, you are saying that when they took it out in the spring of last year, they did replace it with a new one then? I know they were forced to take the old one out early due to the infection(s), but did not know if there was a need to insert another one.

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I actually would be curious if they ever straight out remove a plate without replacing it. I always thought that it just stayed in.

So, bottom line is that he still does have a plate in his arm, according to the info from you and Mack. Since that seems to be the case, I'd probably rather him just wear a brace for the upcoming season out of cautiousness.

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I for one cannot think of a reason for him not to wear an armor.

Brady6 said:

I actually would be curious if they ever straight out remove a plate without replacing it. I always thought that it just stayed in.

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From my understanding along with some of the media reports last spring, the original intention was to have him play with the plate for the 2013 season, then remove it during a minor procedure in the offseason. Of course this had to be expedited due to the infection situation.

I did not believe that the intent was for the plate to be in permanently, but I could be wrong, hence my question about whether or not they all-out replaced it, or simply removed it.

This is from a CSN report in Jan. 2013:

"The CSN report goes a bit further, though, and this is the disheartening part. The arm broke at the end of the protective metal plate installed in Gronkowski's arm. This isn't a coincidence—the plate "funnels" stresses to the ends, leaving those areas more susceptible to future fractures. As long as Gronk has that plate, he'll be at risk of more breaks. Depending on the injury, some plates are left in for a year or two, and some remain forever. Two fractures in two months mean Gronkowski's going to be very aware of what he does with that left arm going forward."

EDIT: According to a May 2013 report "A source with knowledge of the situation tells CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora that Gronk is out of surgery, a new plate has been put on his left forearm, and the infection is gone."

That answers that question, although we're still unknown as to whether or not he'll need it permanently.

According to Aqib Talib, Gronk never broke his arm anyway

patfanken said:

IMHO, it was the ankle that was dirty, I have a strong recollection that there was a "yank" involved at the end of that tackle that wasn't exactly for emphasis. Polltard was looking to put something extra in that awkward takedown

The one that most think was "dirty" wasn't IMHO. When you are around 6' and 200, and see a 6'6 260 lb TE barreling at you, you HAVE to his him low. Either that or get the "fly on the windshield treatment" going high. I've been in that situation and there IS no question.

What was unfortunate was the timing. ACL's are caused in situations like that because the hit occurs EXACTLY at the same moment the cleats are firmly planted in the ground. There is no "give", so bad things happen to the joints. A microsecond earlier or later, with the same hit, and Gronk bounces up and heads back to the huddle.

Sorry Konta, but IIRC there wasn't any chance for a hurdle. I wish there had been, since it would have made any hit one that wouldn't have had his foot firmly planted.

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1. The ankle wasn't dirty at all. The injury happened before Pollard let go of his leg.

2. There was definitely a chance for a hurdle... if Gronk saw Ward in enough time. He didn't. He had just turned his head and would have to have had superhuman reflexes in order to hurdle. He couldn't, and the rest is history.