Gronk - really bugging me

[SacPete1]

Assuming Gronk plays this weekend, then this topic will be moot but I really was expecting him to be out there against Cinci. He has been practicing since the first week which puts him into his 6th week of practice. 6 weeks for crying out loud and inactive every one. This doesn't add up! Now we hear about Dr. Andrews being brought in for clearance to play. What??? He was a consultant for the operation (forearm). How involved could he possibly be in the rehab and the day to day activities. Is it as simple as Gronk's strength testing in the arm not at the level it needs to be?
I'm not available for today's chat with Reiss and I do like his posts but I don't find he digs much and I would like to ask a few questions:
1. What is the protocol for a player cleared to practice?
2. What is the protocol for a player being cleared to play?
I wouldn't expect Belichick to shed much light other than I would expect his answer to both questions to be very similar which then begs the question:
3. Have you ever had a player that is day to day for 6 weeks after having not missed a practice in those 6 weeks? I have not heard one reporter ask these questions of him.

More than getting frustrated with the questions about Gronk's status, I get the sense from Brady and Belichick that they are as equally frustrated that Gronk isn't playing. I don't like interpreting answers or body language since that is so subjective and maybe its more my frustration but my spider senses are tingling over this one.

 

[FortressX]

People whining about Gronk is really bugging me.
The Pats need to be healthy in the end of the year.
The Pats need to win an SB.
All their past September, October, November & December championships are meaningless.
So what if the Pats have to win from a lower seed.
The Mannings have both done it.
Big ben.
Yeah he has done it too.

I want Gronk at near 100% and full speed till the end.

 

[Sivy]

Gronkowski - doesn't care that he's bugging you

 

[Kontradiction]

How dare the guy do what's best for his livelihood and his future.

 

[SacPete1]

So using your logic you would save him until December and then that would guarantee he's 100% for the playoffs?

When he's ready he plays. I get it.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Have no problem with Gronk taking his time and having his doctors clear him to play.
Patriots lost their credibility after their own doctors cleared him to play and Gronk didn't last
a half before snapping his forearm for a second time.
Team doctors are not player advocates. They work for the organization.
Gronk should play when he feels ready for the physical punishment.

BTW the presence of James Andrews confirms earlier reports that the issue has been Gronk's forearm not his back.

 

[UK_Pat37]

How dare the guy do what's best for his livelihood and his future.

A potential HoF career too. But hey, lets make him throw his back and his arm on the line for the sake of a seasons and potentially threaten his career shall we?

All the whining is getting to me.

There were the rumours Gronkowski was taking advice from his dad and he was being ridiculed for it; why the hell WOULDN'T you consult your own Dad on such a life changing and serious matter? I sure as hell would listen and take in to account my father's advice on an issue like this.

Stop hating on him, stop ridiculing him for whose advice he seeks and be patient. We are 4-1 and we're practically through our most difficult stretch of the season after Sunday!

I want him ready for when it matters.

 

[patfanken]

I don't know why people don't get why its taken Gronk so long to be ready, even though he's been "cl,eared" to play for 6 weeks. Its simple. After 4 surgeries and being unable to condition himself, he's had to condense 6 months of off season conditioning into 6 weeks. The lack of muscle mass he suffered due to his inactivity was obvious to anyone who saw him roaming the sidelines during TC. It takes longer than a few weeks regain that back.

The reason he wasn't PUP;d was that, while he regained football strength, he would be practicing with the team and be that much further along in his preparation. After the 6 weeks he's had since the first week of the regular season, is about the same time as TC.

This is yet another example of the mediots in this town attempting to create a story when there really isn't one. The real story isn't " why has it taken so long for Gronk to be back and all the speculation" but rather ", it isn't it amazing its only taken Gronk 6 weeks to regain the muscle mass that usually takes 6 months to attain"

 

[SacPete1]

Look, I am not calling out Gronk for not playing and I am definitely not assuming that he should be playing simply because the amount of time he's been practicing. The guy is a warrior and a beast. He's obviously not healthy enough and I certainly wouldn't want him to risk further injury like he did last year and maybe that's the crux. I'm more frustrated that he's been practicing for 6 weeks and we really have no idea if his progress has been stalled. IF the reports about Dr. Andrews are correct, then it would be his forearm. Maybe the infection has limited his strength capacity and that's what they are measuring and if its not where it needs to be, then he shouldn't play.
In any event, here's hoping he returns to health soon and he's healthy the rest of the way.

 

[SacPete1]

I don't know why people don't get why its taken Gronk so long to be ready, even though he's been "cl,eared" to play for 6 weeks. Its simple. After 4 surgeries and being unable to condition himself, he's had to condense 6 months of off season conditioning into 6 weeks. The lack of muscle mass he suffered was obvious to anyone who saw him roaming the sidelines during TC. It takes longer than a few weeks regain that back.

The reason he wasn't PUP;d was that, while he regained football strength, he would be practicing with the team and be that much further along in his preparation. After the 6 weeks he's had since the first week of the regular season, is about the same time as TC.

This is yet another example of the mediots in this town attempting to create a story when there really isn't one.

Best perspective yet.

 

[dannydyn]

Gronk is a special case given his contribution to this offense, and MORE IMPORTANTLY: the lucrative contract they gave him. The LAST thing the front office wants to see is Gronk coming back prematurely, get injured again (be it his back or arm), and out for the rest of the season. They pay him all that money to be the star TE he is ON THE FIELD, NOT OFF OF IT.

WHO GIVES A RAT’S ***** if he could or should have played vs. the Bills, Jets, TB, Falcons, or Bengs. WE NEED HIM FOR THE PLAYOFFS!

Our record has a lot to do with whether Gronk comes back, and when. I bet that had we beat the Bengals last week, Gronk would have most likely been stashed away this week as well, given the fact we would still be undefeated. Especially going against an out-of-conference team, in a pretty meaningless game (for playoffs purposes).

 

[MassPats38]

BTW the presence of James Andrews confirms earlier reports that the issue has been Gronk's forearm not his back.

I know reports indicate James was consulted on the forearm injury, but given the fact he performed neither surgery, is there any reason to believe he would not be consulted on both injuries as both would be within his specialization as an orthopedic surgeon?

Not criticizing the statement, just curious as to why he would not be evaluating the back injury as well.

 

[dannydyn]

I know reports indicate James was consulted on the forearm injury, but given the fact he performed neither surgery, is there any reason to believe he would not be consulted on both injuries as both would be within his specialization as an orthopedic surgeon?

Not criticizing the statement, just curious as to why he would not be evaluating the back injury as well.

Orthopedists specialize in sub-categories. Even though they may operate on different body parts, they still have a specialty. I once saw a sports orthopedist for an elbow problem, and when I wanted to see him a second time for a different problem (back), they said I need to another doctor within that practice, whose specialty is the spine.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

How I feel about Gronkowski depends on one thing we'll never know:

Would playing against NO, or CIN, or ATL carry an injury risk meaningfully above the "normal" risk of playing football?

If not, and he knew it, and still stuck to the alleged "come back in week 6 no matter how good things were going" plan, then yeah, I'm pretty pissed off and so should his teammates and coaches.

 

[MassPats38]

Orthopedists specialize in sub-categories. Even though they may operate on different body parts, they still have a specialty. I once saw a sports orthopedist for an elbow problem, and when I wanted to see him a second time for a different problem (back), they said I need to another doctor within that practice, whose specialty is the spine.

Thanks. Andrews's reputation seems to be his work with athletes on knee, elbow and shoulder injures. Forearm wouldn't seem to fall in that group either. Those are all fairly different areas than the back, I agree. I just didn't know if there was some report of him not consulting on that injury, or another doctor's involvement with that injury as a consultant (I know, it's the Pats so medical information can be tough to come by).

 

[FirstAndGoal]

I wonder how people can get upset when the team hasn't made a statement. Everything about his dad, when he'll be back, his attitude, etc doesn't have anything more than an "anonymous source" yet people take it as the truth. The only thing we know is that he's been out. Anything more is just rumor and speculation.

 

[PatsSox363804]

I don't know why people don't get why its taken Gronk so long to be ready, even though he's been "cl,eared" to play for 6 weeks. Its simple. After 4 surgeries and being unable to condition himself, he's had to condense 6 months of off season conditioning into 6 weeks. The lack of muscle mass he suffered due to his inactivity was obvious to anyone who saw him roaming the sidelines during TC. It takes longer than a few weeks regain that back.

The reason he wasn't PUP;d was that, while he regained football strength, he would be practicing with the team and be that much further along in his preparation. After the 6 weeks he's had since the first week of the regular season, is about the same time as TC.

This is yet another example of the mediots in this town attempting to create a story when there really isn't one. The real story isn't " why has it taken so long for Gronk to be back and all the speculation" but rather ", it isn't it amazing its only taken Gronk 6 weeks to regain the muscle mass that usually takes 6 months to attain"

Felger and Mazz before ALDS -"The Red Sox should be scared"

After ALDS - "The Red Sox were far superior and should have swept" then spent half the show implying Ellsbury juiced and comparing his stats to Hunter Pence.

The Boston media really is the friggin worst. It's amazing anyone wants to play here.

 

[Rob0729]

My problem isn't Gronk doing what he thinks is best for his career and his health. If he wasn't ready to this week, then he shouldn't have played.

My problem is that Team Gronk seem to have arbitrarily chosen this week to return and nothing was going to change that no matter how well he played or felt. It seemed from day one (based on PFT's reports who have inside information) that Gronk was not coming back until this week even if he felt he was 1000%. If that is the case, I feel Gronk wasn't being a true team player. It is one thing to wait until you feel you are healed enough to come back, it is another to set an arbitrary date where you feel you will be healed enough to come back and ignore everything else (such as Gronk feeling healthy or strong enough to play) in a decision to come back quicker.

It seems pretty clear that Dr. Andrews was not going to clear him until this week no matter if he would typically clear another player in the same situation weeks ago. How can it be reported that Dr. Andrews is going to clear him to play before he even examines him?

 

[signbabybrady]

So you can put me in the category of this thing was bugging the hell out of me. But if Gronk comes back this week or even the following one I will and have already admitted to being wrong. But I still hold fear for anything that might happen in the future to him and how he might handle it.

I understand Gronk has to do what is best for him and I understand the Patriots need to do what is best for them. Which is why I admit I was wrong.

But what I really dont get is why most fans are giving Gronk a pass and blaming the team for if true rushing him back? This is not the first player to come back from major surgery and infection issues. Tom Brady went through it and was back for week one albeit he didnt have 5 surgeries. I don't understand the logic of fans that think sitting him out makes him more ready for the postseason. Players should be playing and if they are not they are of little use to me as a fan and to me its that simple. I understand we all want him playing for years to come but some of his value is lost if he sits down every time he stubs a toe.

Gronk signed a contract to play and he got a lot of money and again he needs to worry about his own long term health for obvious reasons but IMO that is somewhat him trying to protect himself for his next contract and that kind of irkes me. If this is only a reaction to what he just went thru then I am fine but my fear comes in that if he has truly lost trust in the team and the doctors then what happens if he sprains an ankle? is he going to sit out 6 weeks or is going to play through it?

Bottom line is it is a long season and a tough sport with limited roster space and the team can not afford to have players that are not trying to do everything within their power to be on the field. What is there like 17 players on the injury report? how would the team look if they all waited? So if this is a one time reaction to a very tough offseason than I am fine with that but I fear that Gronk may shut down on any injury and set a bad precedent in the locker room. The Patriots paid him to play for a 7 year contract not play for his next contract and I fear Gronk thinks he needs to protect himself for future earnings more so than live up to his current contract.

Here is hoping my fear is for not and that it only has to do with a tough offseason and has nothing to do with lost trust between the Pats and him and has nothing to do with saving his body for 7 years from now.

 

[upstater1]

People whining about Gronk is really bugging me.
The Pats need to be healthy in the end of the year.
The Pats need to win an SB.
All their past September, October, November & December championships are meaningless.
So what if the Pats have to win from a lower seed.
The Mannings have both done it.
Big ben.
Yeah he has done it too.

I want Gronk at near 100% and full speed till the end.

This team needs to win the division first. It's a whole new jungle for the Patriots. They are in a dogfight.

I don't know about you, but I don't have the confidence I did in previous years. This looks more like 2005 to me than anything else.