Gronk likely to play vs Saints

[Dutchmaster617]

Hernandez will be released before gronk plays.

 

[dannydyn]

If this happens, Gill needs to be **** canned.

In Gill’s defense, that was not his call to make, he can only make recommendations based on the team’s needs and Gronk’s interest and consent. If the team approached Gill and had asked for his opinion about the fastest course of treatment to get Gronk back for the playoffs, and Gill mentioned the plate (while also mentioning the increased risks associated with a plate), and the team opting to go for the rushed treatment, and Gronk conceded, there isn’t much you can take against Gill.

All in all, from what we know, it was a simple forearm fracture – one that many people get every single day. You don’t see or hear about anyone having to have a plate inserted in his arm to repair the fracture. The VAST majority of people get treated with a simple cast, and the bone heals on its own. However, in Gronk’s case, there was a sense of urgency on both the team’s side, and I’m sure on Gronk’s side, as I’m sure he wanted to be back for the playoffs. As such, the team doctor was consulted, and the plate option was raised. The team agreed, Gronk agreed, and so he went under the knife.

Hindsight is 20/20, and we now know that had they just let the damn thing heal on its own, he would have been back week 1. Personally I questioned the whole plate scenario from the get go. I didn’t understand why a plate was needed to repair a simple forearm fracture. Turns out the team wanted him back as quick as possible, and he conceded with the idea. Dumb!

Worst of all, I fear his career is over, and a major lawsuit will take shape if it turns out that he’s out for good.

 

[dannydyn]

If the forearm shows no signs of healing or getting back to normal this season (which could be the case, it's alarming that he's still not back to 100% this far after the surgery), why use a spot on the 53 for him when you can IR him and possibly bring someone else in that can actually contribute?

Agreed. Better be safe than sorry (for good) - i.e. Gronk comes back and breaks his arm one more time - this time, for good. A career ending injury would raise all hell (and tons of lost money under his contract.) Would be a major lawsuit from Gronk's camp, against the team.

 

[Nunchucks]

I think that the more cloudy the question of whether he is playing or not, the better.

 

[dannydyn]

One more thing: you KNOW that every opponent player out there will be aiming for that arm.

 

[MTM558]

When Gronk returns, I doubt he will ever be "Gronk" again. If his forearm is that messed up I fully expect another break.

The Patriots may have very well ruined the best Tight End to come around since Tony Gonzalez. Hindsight is 20/20... but if they even suspect he won't be the same player, trade him. Trade him for a 1st rounder or any high pick or player you can.

 

[Rob0729]

When Gronk returns, I doubt he will ever be "Gronk" again. If his forearm is that messed up I fully expect another break.

The Patriots may have very well ruined the best Tight End to come around since Tony Gonzalez. Hindsight is 20/20... but if they even suspect he won't be the same player, trade him. Trade him for a 1st rounder or any high pick or player you can.

Thanks for the "expert" medical opinion Dr. Spaceman.

 

[slash83]

This team has crappy luck lol. One star TE is in jail, the other has a real possibility of never being completely healed. They lose a star WR in Welker and replace him with a guy that could get injured giving a damn interview.

 

[dales804]

When Gronk returns, I doubt he will ever be "Gronk" again. If his forearm is that messed up I fully expect another break.

The Patriots may have very well ruined the best Tight End to come around since Tony Gonzalez. Hindsight is 20/20... but if they even suspect he won't be the same player, trade him. Trade him for a 1st rounder or any high pick or player you can.

If the Patriots try and trade him don't you think two things would happen:

1) Teams interested in trying to acquire him would want to have their medical staff look at the arm before dealing and
2) Teams would probably be tipped off to the Patriots trying to trade him before he even comes back. I think they'd know something very strange is up if the Patriots are trying to trade one of the most talented TEs of all time before he returns from injury.

Can't change anything now. I always thought it was very weird to have a plate put in for a broken arm but I'm no doctor. I'm hoping Gronk comes back soon and stays healthy for a long period of time.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

One more thing: you KNOW that every opponent player out there will be aiming for that arm.

Can he play with a soft cast on it to absorb blows?

I know that hard casts are out, but some padding wouldn't hurt. He likely wouldn't care for it much, ego-wise, though.

 

[DefenseRules]

Just put him on IR and be done with it.

 

[slash83]

Just put him on IR and be done with it.

I doubt that happens since it's the smartest move.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I don't blame him one bit for holding out until he was ready. It serves the Patriots right after the crap they pulled last year when they sent him out there with one arm dangling useless at his side. One thing you can count on the Patriots doing is sending guys back on the field before they are healed.

This one is on the Patriots not Gronk.

 

[SacPete1]

If the report is true and the issue is bone structure or density quality, then the recovery I suspect will be much longer and he would likely be IR'd. Until that point and clearly without any confirmed facts, so long as he is practicing I will remain hopeful that he will return at some point. I'm assuming they have tests to measure the improvement of bone quality over time and if it simply hasn't improved much over the past 4 weeks, it makes you wonder about the expected rate of improvement and how long the team can wait before shutting him down.
Also, if its at 90% of where it should be as an example, how much more risk is there of a re-break. You can't blame the guy for really wanting to be sure of things and feeling completely comfortable before exposing it to contact. He really does have to think about his career.
I posted a topic yesterday about being frustrated with how long he's been practicing for and yet still inactive and this new report certainly puts things in a different perspective.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Rob Gronkowski injury: Optimism over tight end returning against the Saints has waned, according to reports | masslive.com


Hopefully he will play one day soon.. but who knows...


Team has been cursed this year..No WRs. Hernandez in jail, Gronk may never be 100% again, Wilfork out for year...what's next

 

[dannydyn]

Can he play with a soft cast on it to absorb blows?

I know that hard casts are out, but some padding wouldn't hurt. He likely wouldn't care for it much, ego-wise, though.

I have no doubt that even if/when cleared, he'll be sporting some form of a wrap/cast on that arm.

 

[Brady2Gronk]

Rob Gronkowski injury: Optimism over tight end returning against the Saints has waned, according to reports | masslive.com


Hopefully he will play one day soon.. but who knows...


Team has been cursed this year..No WRs. Hernandez in jail, Gronk may never be 100% again, Wilfork out for year...what's next

Peyton winning a SB

 

[upstater1]

The re-break, subsequent surgeries and infection were all risks of the initial decision to insert the plate. The increased risk of re-break a the plate margin is not as well known as the risk of infection (which increases with each subsequent surgery). We simply don't know whether they did the research to quantify these risks or what they communicated to Gronk.

When you use the work rebreak you're referring to a break at the plate, right? and not a rebreak of the original break.

These guys are paid millions. If a plate is inserted with the express goal of having a player contribute in the playoffs, it seems to be part of their job to go along with it. Infection is a risk. But what are the %s for this sort of thing? 5%? Less?

Seems to me that people take those risks every day.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Blame thomas gill, "md"

 

[upstater1]

In Gill’s defense, that was not his call to make, he can only make recommendations based on the team’s needs and Gronk’s interest and consent. If the team approached Gill and had asked for his opinion about the fastest course of treatment to get Gronk back for the playoffs, and Gill mentioned the plate (while also mentioning the increased risks associated with a plate), and the team opting to go for the rushed treatment, and Gronk conceded, there isn’t much you can take against Gill.

All in all, from what we know, it was a simple forearm fracture – one that many people get every single day. You don’t see or hear about anyone having to have a plate inserted in his arm to repair the fracture. The VAST majority of people get treated with a simple cast, and the bone heals on its own. However, in Gronk’s case, there was a sense of urgency on both the team’s side, and I’m sure on Gronk’s side, as I’m sure he wanted to be back for the playoffs. As such, the team doctor was consulted, and the plate option was raised. The team agreed, Gronk agreed, and so he went under the knife.

Hindsight is 20/20, and we now know that had they just let the damn thing heal on its own, he would have been back week 1. Personally I questioned the whole plate scenario from the get go. I didn’t understand why a plate was needed to repair a simple forearm fracture. Turns out the team wanted him back as quick as possible, and he conceded with the idea. Dumb!

Worst of all, I fear his career is over, and a major lawsuit will take shape if it turns out that he’s out for good.

Some people posted on the board last year about having plates put into their arms for the same reason.

It's not like this is some radical form of surgery.

The infection is what screwed everything up.