Gronk told to cut it out.

[Deus Irae]

So you think he's "Embarrassing the team" and those are the facts that support that thought?

Part of the post that was answered......

Maybe I haven't been paying attention enough this offseason...what exactly is he "cutting out"?

 

[Bella*chick]

Perhaps you missed the fact that Kraft was just reading a script trying to help his gf land an acting job. If you did not miss that then...

Of course I read that. Doesn't change the fact that he looked an absolute idiot.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Thanks to your tip, I listened to that podcast and chuckled throughout the Gronk portion. Guy is such a man-child, but ultimately harmless.

Gronk to elevator attendant: "That roof party we're heading to...can we party without our shirts?"

Attendant: "Um...I guess."

Gronk brothers: "Yeah!" :highfivesincrowdedelevator:

Me: :headshakewhilesmiling:

Regards,
Chris

The Gronkowskis cross streams

For anyone who didn't listen, Simmons recounted three incidents from the ESPYs:

1) Everyone is heading downstairs after some event, so the downward escalator is pretty packed with celebrities, athletes, etc. Gronk sees this and sprints down the upward escalator, then gets to the bottom, throws his arms up, and screams "Yeah!!"

2) What Chris described in the above quote

3) The line for the bathroom was pretty packed, and it included Gronk and both of his brothers. When Rob's turn came up for a stall, he said "crossies?" and both brothers went into the stall with him. For good measure, they then dragged some other random tiny guy who was waiting behind them in as well, so that they could get four people pissing in one toilet at the same time.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Of course I read that. Doesn't change the fact that he looked an absolute idiot.

He looked like an old guy reading a script, Your Honor.

 

[SyN65]

Gronk is coming off the best season ever for a TE and is told to "cut if out" despite not getting in any actual trouble...

...meanwhile Kraft is running around with some younger model chick...

 

[supafly]

Posing nude for ESPN's Body issue
Appearing on FOX's The Choice
Co-hosting Access Hollywood Live
General partying, which usually involves pics ending up online

Add in some of the stories from Simmons' column and it doesn't take a Rhodes scholar to figure out why they are trying to get him to tone it down and protect their investment (who is also one of the faces of the future) at the same time:

Running down the up escalator and up the down? Only to get to the end and give up a big "yeah!" (I think we all did that...when we were 5 or 6 yrs old)

Cross peeing with 3 other people in the same urinal, one a complete stranger?

Asking once again, if "it's okay to party with our shirts off?" Only to give a big high five when told "umm, I guess so."

Having a reporter ask him about his thoughts on gays in football by breaking it down for him as "it's basically a column for homo's." (This should show a potential bad PR situation as the reporter is somewhat baiting him to say something dumb, not to mention the fact that Gronkowski may not fully be mature or bright enough to give the proper answer with such a controversial and sensitive subject. Luckily he didn't say much)

The reasons here and the reasons above would lead someone to believe that maybe Gronkowski is either 1) not too bright 2) potentially reckless (which likely doesn't sit well with the coach and front office 3) in danger of being "baited" to say something stupid 4) just not focusing enough on the "Patriot Way" of conducting oneself in an interview/public setting
+ acting like a professional and a role model

or 5) all of the above

Not to come down too hard on some playful, early-20's goofing as I have done plenty myself, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why they are slightly concerned either. There's enough smoke here that I don't necessarily blame them for trying to be proactive in putting out a fire before it begins to catch.

I would agree with those who say that "it's all in good fun etc," but I would also agree on the team itself trying to change some of his mindset and attitude off of the field. We all know the differences between some of the other NFL teams that may not have said anything vs. the thoughts of Bill Belichick and the NEP, so it really doesn't surprise me in the least.

As I said in an earlier post, there also may have been a story or two that the public didn't get the opportunity to hear. Although it's speculation, the thought that the team knows him much better than anyone else is not.

 

[supafly]

Gronk is coming off the best season ever for a TE and is told to "cut if out" despite not getting in any actual trouble...

...meanwhile Kraft is running around with some younger model chick...

I agree that there should not be a double-standard in place, although unfortunately sometimes there is.

I would also stay with the old adage that "two wrongs don't make a right."

There's also the thinking that one of them owns the team worth 1 1/2 BILLION dollars, doesn't really have to answer to anyone, and hasn't done much of anything to lead us to believe that he is showing signs of making things a habit.

The other one however, may have some tendancy to not be extremely bright as it is, has already shown some signs of indulging in minor-signs of reckless behavior (even if they are minor, the thought of running around on a bum ankle comes to mind), and HAS shown some signs (albeit minorly) of making this a habit.

I think in the end it comes down to this...

If you are going to be a member of this football organization, you are always going to be expected to handle yourself on/off the field with intelligence, dignity, and a "team first" approach (not running up the down/down the up escalator when you will likely be held out of some TC sessions due to an injury). Not only that, you are also an employee who just signed a pretty nice pact that is expected to lead the team into the future, and you are already gaining increased national media attention as it is.

Did they overreact? Maybe/Probably..Are they going to second guess their decision? Hell, NO.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Add in some of the stories from Simmons' column and it doesn't take a Rhodes scholar to figure out why they are trying to get him to tone it down and protect their investment (who is also one of the faces of the future) at the same time:

Running down the up escalator and up the down? Only to get to the end and give up a big "yeah!" (I think we all did that...when we were 5 or 6 yrs old)

If this is 'high-risk' behavior from him, then I can live with

Cross peeing with 3 other people in the same urinal, one a complete stranger?

Who cares?

Asking once again, if "it's okay to party with our shirts off?" Only to give a big high five when told "umm, I guess so."

Again, who cares?

Having a reporter ask him about his thoughts on gays in football by breaking it down for him as "it's basically a column for homo's." (This should show a potential bad PR situation as the reporter is somewhat baiting him to say something dumb, not to mention the fact that Gronkowski may not fully be mature or bright enough to give the proper answer with such a controversial and sensitive subject. Luckily he didn't say much)

He handled the situation very well. He initially declined to comment because he didn't want to run the risk of giving an answer that could be taken out of context. When pressed, he gave the right answer in as few words as possible and moved along. There's no luck involved, he handled that about as well as he could have.

The reasons here and the reasons above would lead someone to believe that maybe Gronkowski is either 1) not too bright 2) potentially reckless (which likely doesn't sit well with the coach and front office 3) in danger of being "baited" to say something stupid 4) just not focusing enough on the "Patriot Way" of conducting oneself in an interview/public setting

Again, he didn't say anything stupid. He was aware enough to be hesitant to comment, and then gave a good, short answer. What else do you want from him? Yes, it's clear that he's basically a giant kid, but nothing that you outlined there is in any way reckless, and none of it has anything whatsoever to do with the "Patriot Way". The Patriot Way can basically be summed up as working hard, staying in great shape, and knowing your situation football so that you'll have the edge, mentally and physically, on the field as much as possible. It's about accountability and maximizing your ability, and we've seen a lot to indicate that he fully buys into that and next to nothing to indicate that he doesn't.

+ acting like a professional and a role model

If I had a son, and the worst that you could say about him was everything that's been outlined about Gronk, I'd be pretty proud. None of this suggests laziness, entitlement, maliciousness, or any other negative quality that you might want to be on the lookout for.

If there are any actual red flags out there re: Gronk--and there may be--they're incidents that we haven't heard about.

 

[supafly]

If this is 'high-risk' behavior from him, then I can live with



Who cares?



Again, who cares?



He handled the situation very well. He initially declined to comment because he didn't want to run the risk of giving an answer that could be taken out of context. When pressed, he gave the right answer in as few words as possible and moved along. There's no luck involved, he handled that about as well as he could have.



Again, he didn't say anything stupid. He was aware enough to be hesitant to comment, and then gave a good, short answer. What else do you want from him? Yes, it's clear that he's basically a giant kid, but nothing that you outlined there is in any way reckless, and none of it has anything whatsoever to do with the "Patriot Way". The Patriot Way can basically be summed up as working hard, staying in great shape, and knowing your situation football so that you'll have the edge, mentally and physically, on the field as much as possible. It's about accountability and maximizing your ability, and we've seen a lot to indicate that he fully buys into that and next to nothing to indicate that he doesn't.



If I had a son, and the worst that you could say about him was everything that's been outlined about Gronk, I'd be pretty proud. None of this suggests laziness, entitlement, maliciousness, or any other negative quality that you might want to be on the lookout for.

If there are any actual red flags out there re: Gronk--and there may be--they're incidents that we haven't heard about.

Running down the up/up the down escalator when you are 50/50 to start TC on PUP didn't get their attention?

Does that sound like a 'team first' approach to you?

Look, as I said, I agree with you that these aren't major areas of concern. What I also agree with is the NEP right to try and nip it in the bud and change some of his mindset.

And although he may not have said anything stupid, he has quite a reputation for being a complete dumbass at times (he went to our local HS here in Pittsburgh). It will only be a matter of time when he unfortunately DOES represent himself in a way that fully embarasses himself and the team. They are just trying to stop that before anything major happens.

FWIW--I do agree with you, but there is a grey area to the whole thing too. I don't find that to be unreasonable. As far as gathering 4 people together to pee in the same toilet? I do not find it harmful, although some/many may find it creepy as hell. It's also just not the frat-boy mindset that you want someone who is a grown adult in the NFL to be showing. For all we know, maybe they didn't even take any of those into acct; but I can guarantee you that the sprinting up the escalator DID get more than one person's attention in the higher ups.

 

[RobertWeathers]

...and the Pats asking Gronk to clean up his act has had a nipple err ripple effect.

The Scoop: Rob Gronkowski’s favorite pornstar Bibi Jones is calling it quits - BostonHerald.com

Looks like the party really is over. First the Patriots tell Rob Gronkowski to cool it on the Yo Soy Fiesta, now No. 87’s favorite porn star Bibi Jones has announced her retirement from the biz!

 

[supafly]

...and the Pats asking Gronk to clean up his act has had a nipple err ripple effect.

The Scoop: Rob Gronkowski’s favorite pornstar Bibi Jones is calling it quits - BostonHerald.com

I'm not as familiar with her work as I may or may not be with some of the others, but if someone decides to make a positive change to their lifestyle more power to her (I guess).

Hopefully she won't be operating on anyone, or giving them legal advice any time soon though