We may have two hall of fame tight ends.

[The-Hooded-One]

The biggest thing you have to worry about with these two talents is not so much injury and possible arrogance from high praise but more of what is going to happen when those rookie contracts end and you have not one,but two TEs wanting huge amounts of cash.

Chances are at least one will leave if the cap is tight and can't get them both in for a long extension without overpaying.

I think you can justify paying both of them because there really isn't a redundancy here. Gronkowski is your classic TE prototype and Hernandez skirts the line between TE and WR. You can have both of them on the field and still run a spread-out, high-flying passing attack. In fact, they enhance that attack. I think they SHOULD try as hard as they can to pay both of them.

 

[ay-yo]

Everyone also fails to recognize the obvious....our two tremendous TEs are going to be only as good as our OL gives Tom to find them.

There are going to be a few games this year where the offense sputters badly because our OL is having a bad game and Brady can't find time to get them the ball.

That's the only way to shut this offense down,crush the OL and have Tom on the ground or in his face.

The success of any offensive skill player will always depend on the success of his offensive line. This holds true for any player on any team.

 

[ay-yo]

I think you can justify paying both of them because there really isn't a redundancy here. Gronkowski is your classic TE prototype and Hernandez skirts the line between TE and WR. You can have both of them on the field and still run a spread-out, high-flying passing attack. In fact, they enhance that attack. I think they SHOULD try as hard as they can to pay both of them.

Agreed. They perform separate roles. As long bath produce the pay is justified.

 

[Trey]

Only downside; you cant teach Gronk SPEED. oh well.

You can augment it. Weight lifting and working on form equates to better speed. The "you can't teach X" is one of the dumber sayings floating around, in my opinion.

 

[Rob0729]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I mean Hernandez has a shot of being a Tony Gonzalez type TE and Gronk could be a Shannon Sharpe type of TE, but they still have a ways to go to prove they are currently the top TEs in football now nevermind being HOFers.

The ceiling is pretty high on both guys, but they got a ways to go to reach that ceiling. I expect great things from both, but they could disapoint down the line.

 

[Fahrenhype]

I just hope they both stay healthy. Their size, speed, and hands wreak havoc on opposing defenses. They are basically the #2 and #3 receivers at this point, which leaves a few capable pairs of hands in reserve. Not that it would be necessary, but I'd like to see Ocho play up to his ability as well. If the line holds up sans Koppen, the only hope a lot of teams will have is to play the clock game. Of course we have a defense that may in fact allow them do that, but that is for another thread.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Antonio Gates who ?

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Am I crazy to think this?

That if he stays healthy, Rob Gronkowski will be a Hall of Fame tight end, and that in the next two years he will be widely regarded as the best tight end in the NFL?

In short, I've never seen a Patriots prospect who was so obviously destined to be an NFL star at any position so soon. The only players in recent memory that have been so dominating this quickly that I can remember: maybe Richard Seymour and possibly Jerod Mayo, but even after Mayo's rookie year, I wasn't as sold on his ability to dominate as I am with Gronk.

So yes, I am jumping the gun; it is still early in his career, he had a back injury in college, and the Pats' offense highlights his skills. However, there are things about Gronk that just seem too darn good to fade away. He is a physical beast on the line, he's tough and aggressive, he has some of the best hands I've seen, he's hard to tackle, he's too fast for both linebackers AND many cornerbacks, and he's too big for cornerbacks AND many linebackers.

As much as we miss Randy Moss, I would argue that Gronkowski's skill set is almost as valuable as Moss post-2007, and an injury would make the Patriots much, much less versatile and explosive.

Finally, yes, I think Hernandez is awesome as well, but he still has some issues with fumbling, dropping, and he doesn't block like Gronk.

 

[brady199]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I mean Hernandez has a shot of being a Tony Gonzalez type TE and Gronk could be a Shannon Sharpe type of TE, but they still have a ways to go to prove they are currently the top TEs in football now nevermind being HOFers.

The ceiling is pretty high on both guys, but they got a ways to go to reach that ceiling. I expect great things from both, but they could disapoint down the line.

Seems like you got that backwards, if your using those TE's, I see Gronk more like Gonzalez and Hernadez more like Sharpe.

 

[BelizePats]

Re: Am I crazy to think this?

All we can do is hope that he continues his progression. A great weapon in all facets of the offense. I'm a big fan.

 

[brady199]

Re: Am I crazy to think this?

That if he stays healthy, Rob Gronkowski will be a Hall of Fame tight end, and that in the next two years he will be widely regarded as the best tight end in the NFL?

In short, I've never seen a Patriots prospect who was so obviously destined to be an NFL star at any position so soon. The only players in recent memory that have been so dominating this quickly that I can remember: maybe Richard Seymour and possibly Jerod Mayo, but even after Mayo's rookie year, I wasn't as sold on his ability to dominate as I am with Gronk.

So yes, I am jumping the gun; it is still early in his career, he had a back injury in college, and the Pats' offense highlights his skills. However, there are things about Gronk that just seem too darn good to fade away. He is a physical beast on the line, he's tough and aggressive, he has some of the best hands I've seen, he's hard to tackle, he's too fast for both linebackers AND many cornerbacks, and he's too big for cornerbacks AND many linebackers.

As much as we miss Randy Moss, I would argue that Gronkowski's skill set is almost as valuable as Moss post-2007, and an injury would make the Patriots much, much less versatile and explosive.

Finally, yes, I think Hernandez is awesome as well, but he still has some issues with fumbling, dropping, and he doesn't block like Gronk.

Did Gronk really need his own thread, since one was just started about him and Hernandez being possible HOF's one day?

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Re: Am I crazy to think this?

Did Gronk really need his own thread, since one was just started about him and Hernandez being possible HOF's one day?

Oops, completely missed that one, but now I see it. Well, great minds think alike, and mods, please merge.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Someone said arguably the best young tight end duo in the NFL!!!!

Sorry, but the only thing arguable is if they are the best tight end duo of the last decade, let alone young.

 

[Dufflebagz]

Re: Am I crazy to think this?

Did Gronk really need his own thread, since one was just started about him and Hernandez being possible HOF's one day?

Yeah, he did

 

[TriplecHamp]

Im so glad Hernandez decided to blaze! If he can become a better blocker he will be absolutely unstoppable. Gronk is just Gronk

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Am I crazy to think this?

Yeah, he did

It's a dangerous thing to suggest that there's too much GRONK.

 

[brady199]

Someone said arguably the best young tight end duo in the NFL!!!!

Sorry, but the only thing arguable is if they are the best tight end duo of the last decade, let alone young.

I've been watching football since the magical 85' season and I can't even think of a list of top TE Duo's. A few years back, you were lucky if you had one good one. With the change in offense over the years, it seems like the position is in more demand and has produced more specialist TE's, who can only do one thing. As we know Gronk can do both very well. Hernandez can run routes and catch well, but I think he's developing into a better blocker then most people realize.

 

[brady199]

Im so glad Hernandez decided to blaze! If he can become a better blocker he will be absolutely unstoppable. Gronk is just Gronk

He already is unstoppable, becasue the Pats play to his stengths, and I think he blocks well in space. He's not gonna crush a DE like Gronk might, but he is effective blocking when need be.

 

[LuthierJr]

Um.. yeah. This is a classic case of premature ethreadulation.

They looked good. They have a long way to go before they compare to guys like Gonzales.

 

[Calciumee]

Re: Am I crazy to think this?

It's a dangerous thing to suggest that there's too much GRONK.

I think someone suggested that to BB, so he signed Dan and said 'no'!