Poll: Is Gronk already at Tony Gonzalez level?

And you know when i bring that up i mean is Gronk in the conversation as one of, if not the greatest ever TE to play the game?

I'll do a quick run through stats to start it off, 275 receptions, 3,918 yds at a 14.2 average. Oh and also a small matter of 50 TD's at the age of 25.

Now Gonzalez finished off with 1325 receptions, 15,127 yds with a 11.4 average and 111 TD's.

Now you may (or may not) think this is absurd to compare the two but look at it and also project it. OBVIOUSLY the biggest if with Gronk is health however he's not actually an injury prone player with recurring symptoms, he's just had horrid and i mean horrid breaks in the injury department. Now considering Tony G played for 17 years if you project Gronk out and you say "his bad luck is over and he's going to be on the field nearly all the time" you're looking at him smashing whatever Gonzalez did with ease. I mean he's pretty much got half the career TD's without even playing all 5 of the full seasons he's been a pro. Just remarkable if you ask me.

Then you move onto how would Gronk translate in different eras and i think that is just a stupid question because i'm not sure any defense in NFL history could stop nor contain a healthy Gronk. So if you're talking all time then he could certainly have played in any decade.

Finally, Gonzalez was not just an amazing pass catcher he was outstanding in helping out the o-line with pass blocking (not so much in the run game as he got older) and i think when you talk about Gronk you just simply have to look at the difference he makes on offense as a whole when the Pats have him on the field and when they don't. Nearly every statistical category goes up from PPG all the way to RZ efficiency. As for his blocking abilities? Cannot even be questioned, just look at the game film.

If you're asking me i think Gronk is easily in the conversation with the likes of Gonzalez, Gates, Sharpe, Witten, Winslow and i'm cool with not calling him the best ever 'YET' but i don't think anyone can deny if he's healthy from here on out then he will 100%, no questions asked be the GOAT.

Where is the "already exceeded" option?

Moss is to Rice
Gronk is to Gonzalez

Gronk's already proven IMO to be the GOAT of TEs. It's just a matter of if he gets the longevity stats of not. I feel the same way comparing Moss to Rice.

Gronk is better than Gonzo and has been for a long time.

Jlaff said:

Where is the "already exceeded" option?

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Do you want me to add it?

I liken Gronk to Mark Bavaro, who was as complete a TE as there was.

Gronk is the GOAT when healthy, but I doubt he breaks Gonzalez records the guy was pretty much healthy his whole.career

patsinthesnow said:

Moss is to Rice
Gronk is to Gonzalez

Gronk's already proven IMO to be the GOAT of TEs. It's just a matter of if he gets the longevity stats of not. I feel the same way comparing Moss to Rice.

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Randy Moss was never as good as Rice because of work ethic. Gronk is a better player than Tony G ever was. Only reason he may not have better ststs is because of injury. Every coach in the NFL would take a healthy Gronk over Tony G. Nobody takes Moss over Rice.

patsfaninpa said:

Randy Moss was never as good as Rice because of work ethic. Gronk is a better player than Tony G ever was. Only reason he may not have better ststs is because of injury. Every coach in the NFL would take a healthy Gronk over Tony G. Nobody takes Moss over Rice.

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I'd find it hard not to take Moss over Rice. Jerry just worked harder but no way did he have the talent and skill the Randy possessed and probably still does.

Don't want to disrespect Rice who is probably the GOAT due to production and success but if you're asking me which one i'd take then i'm not sure i could not take 84/81

At age 22, Gronk surpassed Gonzalez. I think he is the best tight end in the history of the game, although who knows about his longevity. Hope he stays healthy.

Tony G was great no doubt and never had a QB like Brady but Gronk healthy is the GOAT in my opinion. He could have been a pro bowl O-linemen I bet if he had gone that route.

gronk could very easily be on 100 td's by the time he's 28/29.
injury permitting.

thats amazing. Longevity maybe a problem for him

Gronk is just a monster the definition of freak of nature imagine him withough all his surgeries

patsfaninpa said:

Randy Moss was never as good as Rice because of work ethic. Gronk is a better player than Tony G ever was. Only reason he may not have better ststs is because of injury. Every coach in the NFL would take a healthy Gronk over Tony G. Nobody takes Moss over Rice.

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IMO, young Vikings Randy Moss was the greatest/most talented WR to ever play the game. I agree that bad work ethic cost him the chance to compete with Rice's status for the GOAT (along with bad QB play and declining at a younger age).

The only thing stopping Gronk from easily breaking Tony G's TE TD record will be health.

resdubwhite said:

gronk could very easily be on 100 td's by the time he's 28/29.
injury permitting.

thats amazing. Longevity maybe a problem for him

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I get a tad upset when i think of Gronk not being able to play for a long time. Fingers crossed he is HERE for a very very long time and his jersey along with 5 rings on his fingers are being paraded around Foxborough down the line.

Need to consider John Mackey, Mike Ditka, Dave Casper, Kellen Winslow. Especially Casper, Mackey and Ditka who were devastating blockers in their time.

Gronk is well on his way but as others have indicated, longevity is a major factor in determining GoAT.

If short periods of greatness were the determining factor, add Ben Coats and Mark Bavaro to the list.

Could you imagine the numbers Gronk would have posted if it wasn't for a dirty play and a couple of freak accidents? The guy is something else.

patsinthesnow said:

IMO, young Vikings Randy Moss was the greatest/most talented WR to ever play the game. I agree that bad work ethic cost him the chance to compete with Rice's status for the GOAT (along with bad QB play and declining at a younger age).

The only thing stopping Gronk from easily breaking Tony G's TE TD record will be health.

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How do you determine that a WR who over his career has 982 catches, over 15k receiving yards and 156 TDs has a bad work ethic?

Maybe ,i really like Gronk but Gonzalez played full seasons after full seasons,he was indestructible. As a Gronks fan, i will start holding my breath because teams will start going after his knee.I've seen it with buffalo and Denver.Those DBs have no honor its disgusting;see T.j Ward (don't know what Denver had in mind when they signed this thug).My hope is that Brady uses him sparingly, maybe he'll last a whole season for once.

Gronk, at minimum, is the Gayle Sayers of TE's.

Who was a Hall of Famer.

'Nuff said.