Belichick: Gronkowski 'not ready yet'

[dannydyn]

Belichick: Gronkowski 'not ready yet' - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[dannydyn]

Sounds like the typical BB mind games....

If he's not ready, why have him practice?

I see Gronk in against the phins for a quarter or so...

 

[Kontradiction]

Could be that. If he is ready, I'd rather not be cautious with him. Gronk needs some game reps to get back into "football shape". If Belichick is telling the truth (hard to tell, obviously, since Belichick prefers not to play his hand the media... and rightfully so), then it makes me nervous when it comes to Gronk's status for a Wild Card game.

 

[Kontradiction]

Oh, and... uh... in before the sky falls and the "the second string PAT team should have been in" crowd invades the thread.

 

[Mack Herron]

Sounds like the typical BB mind games....

If he's not ready, why have him practice?

Because practicing is not the same as playing. Gronk, Dennard and Spikes all practiced (to what extent we don't know) last week and none played. It has been the case all year that practice participation does not mean ready to play. The good thing is that virtually all of the injured players are on track to dress for the playoffs. The exception may be Talib because he tried to play but could not. Not too many hip injuries where you cannot run one week and can run fine 2 weeks later. Recovery from a grade 2-3 hip flexor would be at least a month and we have no CB depth. If he cannot go then they either move McCourty to CB with Gregory/Chung/Wilson at safety, weakening two positions, or start Dennard and Arrington on the outside with Cole in the slot. Not feeling great about either secondary.

 

[Deus Irae]

Deters was telling us that Gronk and his young bones would be ready for Jacksonville, and maybe even for SF, so BB clearly doesn't know any ortho guys. If he did, he'd understand about Gronk's super youth powered bones.

 

[goheels22002]

Belichick: Gronkowski 'not ready yet' - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Gronk's not ready on Wednesday, but that's okay. The game is on Sunday.

 

[robbomango]

Since when does BB give out injury status on Wednesday on day-to-day decisions? Not ready for practice, the game?

Miami mind games...

 

[dannydyn]

Gronk's not ready on Wednesday, but that's okay. The game is on Sunday.

Heh....

 

[NewFeep]

Whether or not Gronk plays Sunday is not a big issue. The guy is in tremendous football "shape"....

What worries me greatly is Talibs status. We are a completely different, and (better) defense with him and Dennard playing press mam to man corner......

I don't see our chances as too good in the playoffs without those two doing their "thang" at corner.......

 

[Kontradiction]

Whether or not Gronk plays Sunday is not a big issue. The guy is in tremendous football "shape"....

What worries me greatly is Talibs status. We are a completely different, and (better) defense with him and Dennard playing press mam to man corner......

I don't see our chances as too good in the playoffs without those two doing their "thang" at corner.......

One can be in tremendous over all shape, but football shape is another thing entirely.

 

[Rob0729]

This could be one of Belichick's semantics games. Gronk might not have been examined by the medical staff this week yet. Hence why he isn't cleared to play.

 

[Rob0729]

One can be in tremendous over all shape, but football shape is another thing entirely.

I don't know if this is a "football shape" kind of injury. It probably has more to do with pain and whether the bone is healed enough not to risk rebreaking (although if he got a plate, that should be a non-issue at this point).

 

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

Whether or not Gronk plays Sunday is not a big issue. The guy is in tremendous football "shape"....

What worries me greatly is Talibs status. We are a completely different, and (better) defense with him and Dennard playing press mam to man corner......

I don't see our chances as too good in the playoffs without those two doing their "thang" at corner.......

Agreed. Gronk seemed pretty banged up even before the broken forearm. The fact that he is able to get the rest of his body healed and still able to keep his legs in shape while rehabbing this injury is definitely a plus. Obviously, there is a difference betwee being in good shape and being in football shape but Gronk needs to be healthy for the playoffs.

On Talib, they need either Dennard or Talib healthy for the first round. They can get by with having one of them out and McCourty/Arrington filling in. They wont go far at all if both are out and McCourty and Arrington are out there at CB.

 

[signbabybrady]

Whether or not Gronk plays Sunday is not a big issue. The guy is in tremendous football "shape"....

What worries me greatly is Talibs status. We are a completely different, and (better) defense with him and Dennard playing press mam to man corner......

I don't see our chances as too good in the playoffs without those two doing their "thang" at corner.......

I think you have your corners confused its Arrington who plays the "mam" coverage and Dennard and Talib "man" Up.

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't know if this is a "football shape" kind of injury. It probably has more to do with pain and whether the bone is healed enough not to risk rebreaking (although if he got a plate, that should be a non-issue at this point).

It's not a football shape kind of injury. But one has to get used to running routes and absorbing blows to the body again. BB himself has spoken about "football shape" when it comes to athletes coming off injury in the past. Obviously, if Gronk truly cannot go, then you want to rest him. No doubt about that. But if Gronk can go, I'd like to see him (at the very least) gets some reps in, get used to getting hit again, and get used to playing football altogether.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

This could be one of Belichick's semantics games. Gronk might not have been examined by the medical staff this week yet. Hence why he isn't cleared to play.

Exactly, if he came out and said gronk's ready then he's tipping his hand. Imo this is belichick's way of saying "when he's ready you'll see him out there on the field until then he's not ready."

 

[Rob0729]

It's not a football shape kind of injury. But one has to get used to running routes and absorbing blows to the body again. BB himself has spoken about "football shape" when it comes to athletes coming off injury in the past. Obviously, if Gronk truly cannot go, then you want to rest him. No doubt about that. But if Gronk can go, I'd like to see him (at the very least) gets some reps in, get used to getting hit again, and get used to playing football altogether.

Personally, I think Gronk when cleared will be in better football shape than when he was playing. He had an ankle and hip thing going on when he was playing. I bet both of those are far better right now.

I don't know if being out a month will really affect him all that much about the things you are talking about. He might have to shake off a little rust the first game he plays, but it isn't like he hasn't doing things for six to eight weeks or anything.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Come on Gronk, you weenie. It's almost been six full weeks since you broke your little forearm. I know peewee players that would've been back in action in 5 weeks.

 

[JPPT1974]

Hope he will be back before the playoffs as that really counts!