Yates: Gronk 50/50 to play in Week 3.

[BradyManny]

It's a fine line because keeping him out longer than you need to also increases injury. Brady made a statement after his injury in 2008 that he believed that if he were to play in the preseason prior to that, there was a better chance his torn ACL and MCL wouldn't have happened. I'm not for rushing Gronk back, but if the guy responds well to contact drills and looks ready to go, put him in. Ease him into action and let him get his wind up and get used to getting hit before the Pats head to Atlanta.

Fair points. The point on Brady in 2008 is well taken. I would agree with all of the above.

 

[Kontradiction]

It depends on the nature of the current injury, how healed is it? To what extent is the rest of his body off because it's been compensating to deal with the injury?

Just because he might respond fine to contact drills now does NOT mean he's healthy, sorry but it's not nearly that simple.

Aside from how he responds to contact drills and clearance from the team doctors, what other better ways are there to determine if he's ready to play or not?

 

[FoxWhiskey]

I go with KontradictioN.
If Gronk, BB and medical staff say:" ok, it looks good for us", Gronk will play for limited snaps, if not he doesn´t.

Injury: Something, that´s not really in your hands. It happens.
You can rest Gronk till next saison- first game...CRACK!...Gronk on IR. You will never know it.

 

[dales804]

Reporters say that Gronk has a 50 - 50 chance of playing, though there's only a 10 percent chance of that.

60% of the time, it works every time.

 

[Kontradiction]

60% of the time, it works every time.

Brick killed a guy!

 

[BTTA]

I call BS. This is just a tease to make the Bucs prepare for him. I think he's coming back against Atlanta, where we are more likely to need fire power in the event that our O does not get on track this week.

I was wondering something similar, if this is at least in part a way of making sure the Bucs have to prepare for him.

 

[dales804]

Brick killed a guy!

Can't wait for part two this year.

 

[BadMoFo]

And hopefully Brady isn't overthrowing him again.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Slightly OT, but ...

Just saw this teaser fro AP_NFL on Twitter:

Patriots' balanced offense, mediocre both passing and running, gets set for winless Bucs (link).

Annoying , but, hard to argue at this point. Gronk would certainly help in both areas.

 

[JMC00]

Slightly OT, but ...

Just saw this teaser fro AP_NFL on Twitter:

Patriots' balanced offense, mediocre both passing and running, gets set for winless Bucs (link).

Annoying , but, hard to argue at this point. Gronk would certainly help in both areas.

It's tear inducing hilarious. Did they forget the Pats went into Buffalo and ran 89 plays for 430 yards?

One bad game offensively because of some rookie drops and everyone has them as the worst offense ever.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Aside from how he responds to contact drills and clearance from the team doctors, what other better ways are there to determine if he's ready to play or not?

I think the problem is the doctors and their reductionist view of how the body works, I'd like a totally new paradigm for our medical system but I don't think that's likely to happen

 

[bostonia3333]

Maybe he can play a bit of a Mike Vrabel offensive role and be used on red zone/goal line situations this week.

The kids need to grow up fast before Atlanta, so they should be on their own a bit. Limit Gronk's snaps to red zone area for Wk3, and hopefully he catches 2 TDs on 3 receptions or something like that

 

[resdubwhite]

If he's 50/50 I hope he doesn't play, better a week extra for recovery than a week not enough.

Training wheels have to come off at some stage.

 

[goheels22002]

Slightly OT, but ...

Just saw this teaser fro AP_NFL on Twitter:

Patriots' balanced offense, mediocre both passing and running, gets set for winless Bucs (link).

Annoying , but, hard to argue at this point. Gronk would certainly help in both areas.

Howard Ulman to the rescue again, that old putz.

This story is exactly what the Patriots need popping up all over the country as an "insider" AP feed. The Patriots suck this year, so everybody can get all lathered up about the Dolphins.

A little sand bagging at this time of year is a good thing. The Buccaneers game looks like another defensive struggle with a low score to lull everyone into thinking the Patriots are on the other side of the hill even though they'll be 3-0 heading into a stretch of games against better competition.

The 2013 Patriots are a defense-first team who still have the guys and the coaches to win the close ones. It can't hurt to run under the radar a little as this team sorts itself out.

 

[pazrul72]

Count me among the group that think GRONK will play but on a very limited basis. I think the bucs are bad enough, and we torched them enough in the preseason, that we don't need him to win another close ugly game. Its another warm up preseason caliber game which is perfect to work on things. Give GRONK 15-20 plays about half and half so 7-10 run plays and 7-10 pass plays just to kick the tires and see how rusty he is. Then bring him back full time against ATL cuz we will need that huge red zone threat to keep up.

 

[BradyFTW!]

People keep advocating to wait for him until further down the stretch because we need him healthy for the playoffs. I don't understand that. For one, there is no guarantee that the Patriots will enter the playoffs this season. For another, he takes some of the heat off the rookies. For a third, there is absolutely no guarantee that holding how out longer will prevent injury later on in the year.

If he responds well to contact drills, they should insert him and limit his snap count to something like every couple of downs and/or to the red zone. The best way for a football player to get in shape is to play football. If he doesn't respond well to contact drills, then don't rush him back. It's that simple.

Agreed 100%. When he's ready -- and ready means that aggravating the arm/back is not a major concern -- he plays. You don't hold out a player who's ready to make extra sure that he's healthy later.

Also, this game against the Bucs is a very losable one. They suck, but we've already almost lost to two teams that are about on the same level as them. The difference between 3-0 and 2-1 could easily be the difference between a bye in the playoffs and going on the road. A lot of guys will be banged up then, and that week off could be just what the doctor ordered then, too.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Training wheels have to come off at some stage.

How does 'taking an additional week to ensure health' mean to perpetually keep on training wheels?

 

[Deus Irae]

It's tear inducing hilarious. Did they forget the Pats went into Buffalo and ran 89 plays for 430 yards?

One bad game offensively because of some rookie drops and everyone has them as the worst offense ever.

Talking down the offense? Why, it's almost as if they've actually watched the team play this season!

 

[goheels22002]

What's the deal with Sudfeld? I did not see his name among the missing for the Monday 9/16/2013 practice. Is he going to play on Sunday?

It would be sweet to put Sudfeld and Gronk out there to add two capable pass catchers to go with Edelman. That would take a lot of pressure off the kiddie corps.

 

[Kontradiction]

What's the deal with Sudfeld? I did not see his name among the missing for the Monday 9/16/2013 practice. Is he going to play on Sunday?

It would be sweet to put Sudfeld and Gronk out there to add two capable pass catchers to go with Edelman. That would take a lot of pressure off the kiddie corps.

When did Sudfeld prove that he was a capable pass catcher against Buffalo? He may one day become one but, the only time he had a pass thrown his way, he bobbled it and the bobbling led to a turnover. It might be more appropriate to say that it would be sweet to put another big body out there with Gronk to go with Edelman and at least help improve the red zone offense.