Tidbit on Gronk v. Greg Olsen

[ctpatsfan77]

Food for thought: did BB make the right call here?

Bears have no shortage of TEs, but it's not clear why :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Mike Mulligan

League sources say Bears GM Jerry Angelo was approached by his friend Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots coach, during the NFL owners meetings in March about what the team wanted in return for Olsen. The Patriots had three second-round picks, and Angelo asked for the first of them -- No.44 overall -- for Olsen, a former No. 1 pick.

There wasn't any haggling about the price, but the Bears figured that wouldn't happen until draft day. They were half-expecting a call from Belichick and ready to make a deal, while not outright shopping the player. Manumaleuna was already aboard and Clark had been given a $475,000 bonus to retain his services.

Belichick never called on draft day, instead trading up two slots to No. 42 overall where he took Arizona product Rob Gronkowski, who had missed the 2009 college season after undergoing surgery to fix a herniated disc and repair nerve damage in his back. Gronkowski was selected with the draft pick that the Bears originally gave up to Tampa Bay in the Gaines Adams deal. New England drafted another tight end, Florida's Aaron Hernandez, with a fourth-round pick (No. 113 overall).

 

[JackBauer]

Given how poorly the offensive line has fared in the running game, I'm sure this was as much about Gronkowski's runblocking ability than anything else.

 

[Sicilian]

I voted Gronk (as it seems everyone has). Even without Hernandez, I'm of the opinion that your primary TE needs to be a competent blocker (one who has hands too is obviously a plus). Olsen isn't known for his blocking.

 

[Calciumee]

Given how poorly the offensive line has fared in the running game, I'm sure this was as much about Gronkowski's runblocking ability than anything else.

+1

Both Gronk and Olsen seem able to be a receiving TE, but I think Gronk is a better run blocker, which was clearly a big selling point for BB and co.

 

[mgteich]

I would have trade for Olsen before the draft. Belichick wisely decided to wait because of the staff's projection of the great set of TE's available to us. Belichick was right; we know have Gronkowski AND Hernandez.

 

[patriot lifer]

#44 is too high. Considering the Bears will be ultimately making some tough cuts (or cheaper trades) and the draft was deep with TE's, BB probably thought 'the heck with that.' And since then, it doesn't seem like there has been much of a market for Olsen, seeing how nobody else has traded for him.

 

[Sciz]

Olsen is proven, but I'd much rather rake that risk on Gronk that take Olsen, who we know is a liability when blocking.

 

[Kontradiction]

Given how poorly the offensive line has fared in the running game, I'm sure this was as much about Gronkowski's runblocking ability than anything else.

I voted Gronk (as it seems everyone has). Even without Hernandez, I'm of the opinion that your primary TE needs to be a competent blocker (one who has hands too is obviously a plus). Olsen isn't known for his blocking.

What they said. Olsen is a pretty cool pass catcher in the Bears offense, but his blocking leaves a lot to be desired.x

 

[ahmed]

Gronk is the complete package; can block and catch, not to mention younger and cheaper.

 

[spacecrime]

Olsen compares more to Hernandez than Gronk.

I might have traded for Olsen with that pick but am very happy the Pats used it to take Hernandez.

 

[Sicilian]

What they said. Olsen is a pretty cool pass catcher in the Bears offense, but his blocking leaves a lot to be desired.x

Yup, and IMO a TE who's a liability blocking is just a big WR. The whole point of having a TE to me is that the defense has to respect his pass catching AND his blocking ability. That gives the offense a lot of options for formations and routes.

A TE who can block but can't catch is an undersized OT.

A TE who can catch but can't block is a big slow WR.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Olsen compares more to Hernandez than Gronk.

I might have traded for Olsen with that pick but am very happy the Pats used it to take Hernandez.

Agreed. And I'd rather have Hernandez in the 4th over spending a 2nd on Olsen. Much better value.

 

[Deus Irae]

I think Olsen only becomes interesting at this point if there's an injury, or if Crumpler is finished.

 

[Sicilian]

I think Olsen only becomes interesting at this point if there's an injury, or if Crumpler is finished.

Even if Crumpler is done, I think our focus would be towards a more balanced TE to replace him. The Olsen talks happened before we drafted Hernandez. If we had Gronk, Hernandez, and Olsen, with the number of wide receivers we have (potentially), we'd have two many catching targets and not enough options in the blocking game IMO.

 

[patsfan-1982]

not a fan of Olsen, so i picked Gronk, but Greg Olsen, is a pretty good pass catching TE Gronk, is a unproven rookie who may only be a OT who can catch a few pass in this system. but i have high hopes for the kid.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

How many more reports of Gronk crushing defenders, as well as tackling sleds do we need to hear? Along with Hernandez for a song in the fourth round. :rocker:

 

[Nathan]

This is dumb, Hernandez is a much better TE to compare to Olsen than Gronk.

 

[eagle eye]

Olsen has proven he can play in the NFL, Gronk has yet to prove that.

Basically before the draft I'd have picked Olsen but we are hearing good things from TC so that changes things a bit. I won't be able to say Gronk until I see him perform for at least a couple of weeks in the NFL.

 

[ausbacker]

There's obviously a reason BB decided against Olsen and went for the Gronk. How could the Gronk's draft day performance not have won you over? The guy was genuinely excited to become a Patriots player.

You can't fake that sort of enthusiasm.

 

[Reckedtrek]

I'd take Gronk before Olsen, and based on what I've heard and what I saw at camp, I'd take AH, too. Granted I've never seen Olsen at a practice, but AH must have fly paper hands. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the TE's exact their toll in the red zone this season!