So is Gronkowski ELITE?

[English Patriot]

Go back and watch and see how the offense got on without him yesterday and if anyone answers no to that question then they should stop watching the game of football.

Best TE in the game and may just be in the conversation for best ever already.

 

[smg93]

Rhetorical question? Just checking.

 

[EwanSellars]

i agree 100% if gronk can stay healthy for most of his seasons in the nfl he will go down as the GOAT of TE's he already got 17 TD's in a season and what he get 11 this year. imagine if BB hadnt gotten ahead of the ravens in the draft that year

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The biggest problem with Gronk is because he plays with so much reckless abandon,he finds himself injured frequently.

Injuries are the only thing that can stop Gronk from being another Tony Gonzalez or even better and maybe best TE of all time when his career is done.

Injuries can end his career prematurely.......it's definately something to worry about as a Pats fan.

We also have to hope the next QB of the Pats in a few years knows how to get him the ball.

 

[ausbacker]

This is as silly as asking me if my manhood is huge. Of course it is.

 

[smg93]

This is as silly as asking me if my manhood is huge. Of course it is.

And your nose is growing by the second.

 

[Joey007]

As long as he's healthy. Hopefully this wont become a yearly issue.

 

[ausbacker]

As long as he's healthy. Hopefully this wont become a yearly issue.

Two freak injuries and he's labeled injury prone. Funny how the world works isn't it?

 

[JMC00]

Label me a homer. But had Gronkowski been in that game possible Pats blowout.

Lewis, Ellerbe, Reed and Pollard would not have been able to cover him one on one. They would have maybe had to double team him and put a LB and S on him, which would have opened something else up.

 

[JMC00]

The biggest problem with Gronk is because he plays with so much reckless abandon,he finds himself injured frequently.

Define frequently? Do you mean Bob Sanders frequently? Guy played 8 season and only played 50 regular season games. Gronk has played 3 seasons and has played 43 games.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Define frequently? Do you mean Bob Sanders frequently? Guy played 8 season and only played 50 regular season games. Gronk has played 3 seasons and has played 43 games.

Lately it's been a problem near the end of the season......that's where we need him most,he needs to be on the field or the team suffers.

If this team can ever get a bonafide long ball threat then Gronk could maybe get a little less attention and maybe less chance of injury if the ball is passed around to more threats.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

He's just one defining playoff performance away.

Can't think of any TE I'd rather have right now, though. But I think 'elite' should be reserved for guys who've proven it for a little longer than Gronk has.

It's not his fault but until he's healthy when the team needs him the most, I wouldn't put him at elite level.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Go back and watch and see how the offense got on without him yesterday and if anyone answers no to that question then they should stop watching the game of football.

Best TE in the game and may just be in the conversation for best ever already.

If you've followed football for a long time (and without a bias), you see that it's ridiculous to have Gronk in the conversation for best ever Tight End after his short time in the league.

He's definitely in the conversation for the best TE in the game right now, but you also have to take into account who his QB is, and also the system they run in New England. He's good, but he's made to look even better by all those influences playing into his favor. Brady can put the ball on a line almost anywhere at times, and Gronk is such a monster at his size...he creates mismatches all over the place, so he can get the ball where smaller defenders can't. Great range in the redzone for sure, which partially explains all those TDs...Brady can throw those passes.

Also, New England is somewhat unique in it's use of two quality tight ends and perhaps the best slot receiver in football...dunno if I can think of a better slot receiver than Wes Welker in the history of football...not offhand. All these things create terrible mismatches for defenses. Anyway, THERE is a weapon the Patriots would miss...Wes Welker. People seem to underrate him and minimize his contributions for some reason, but he's a HUGE part of the Patriots' ability to move the football and extend drives, and he has been for years.

Gronk has potential to be considered with the best, but right now I'd just say that he has the potential to do that. But he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, is he?

 

[Sciz]

I was planning to enter this thread, see an argument against Gronk being elite, and have to start throwing some insults around.

Thankfully, that wasn't the case.

 

[moejr]

Gronk is a great TE but not elite. He needs a couple more years of great production to earn that label IMHO. This O doesn't stop with Gronk. WE scored quite well without in the regular season.

 

[Sciz]

Gronk is a great TE but not elite. He needs a couple more years of great production to earn that label IMHO. This O doesn't stop with Gronk. WE scored quite well without in the regular season.

I think any player who puts up the best season ever at his position is automatically elite without having to prove it in future seasons.

 

[Stoke city patriots]

As long as he drinks his milk, brittle bones is no good to anyone!

 

[ausbacker]

Gronk is a great TE but not elite. He needs a couple more years of great production to earn that label IMHO. This O doesn't stop with Gronk. WE scored quite well without in the regular season.

He's scored 10 touchdowns or more per season in each of his first 3 seasons. What about that isn't elite for any receiver?

Baltimore sure stopped the Patriots O in the red zone. Perhaps you should re-think that position.

 

[OMGWTFJUDD]

He also brings a bit of swagger and chin to a team that seems to lack physical intent.

 

[Uncle Rico]

I think it's pretty clear he's the best tight end in the league right now, which would make him elite, and the potential is there to be best ever. But that takes many years of production. Still, few if any of the TEs in that conversation have his combination of receiving and blocking skills.

It's frustrating to think what a difference maker he could have been in the final games these past two years. Just look at Boldin -- covered pretty well but exploiting the size difference against the Talib-less d-backfield. That's part of what Gronk offers -- mighty handy in all those Red Zone situations that didn't pan out.

Anyway, bring on the Summer of Milk!