Gronk likely to play vs Saints

[BuddyRyans46]

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, recovering after a series of surgeries on his fractured forearm and ailing back, still has not been cleared to play by Dr. James Andrews, according to ESPN and media reports. Moreover, there was less optimism Friday that he will play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints than there was earlier in the week.

Gronkowski also still has not been cleared by Dr. Jesse Jupiter, who performed the latest forearm surgery on Gronkowski, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Members of the tight end's inner circle would like to ensure that he is fully healthy before making a return to the field, while those who have watched him in recent practices -- during which Gronkowski has even been tackled -- don't understand why he has yet to play a game. Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked Friday about his confidence in his team's medical staff. Sources close to Gronk state that the family would not agree with that assessment.

"As it relates our medical people, we have confidence in all of them," Belichick said. "They do a good job."

 

[TruthSeeker]

Gront AIN'T PLAYING. Situation is worse than imagined. Return this season still up in air.

Rob Gronkowski has not yet been cleared to play Sunday for New England Patriots, according to reports - ESPN Boston

THIS is why I never understood the Sudfeld cut, we may not see Gronk until week 8-10, meanwhile Sudfeld could be progressing and helping the team. Just didn't make sense. IF Gronk himself said, I'm ready, THEN you cut Sudfeld IF he hadn't progressed. But WHY cut him before you even know if Gronk is ready. This is poor asset management. Meanwhile we are stuck with friggen Hooman and Mu(Gi)lligan.

 

[Big-T]

THIS is why I never understood the Sudfeld cut].

'cause he was trash and a detriment to the team when he was on the field?

 

[PatsDeb]

THIS is why I never understood the Sudfeld cut, we may not see Gronk until week 8-10, meanwhile Sudfeld could be progressing and helping the team. Just didn't make sense. IF Gronk himself said, I'm ready, THEN you cut Sudfeld IF he hadn't progressed. But WHY cut him before you even know if Gronk is ready. This is poor asset management. Meanwhile we are stuck with friggen Hooman and Mu(Gi)lligan.

The cuts I don't understand are the veteran TEs in camp. Hooman and Mulligan have contributed more than Sudfeld, who directly contributed two turnovers (arguably 3) and nothing else.

 

[dales804]

THIS is why I never understood the Sudfeld cut, we may not see Gronk until week 8-10, meanwhile Sudfeld could be progressing and helping the team. Just didn't make sense. IF Gronk himself said, I'm ready, THEN you cut Sudfeld IF he hadn't progressed. But WHY cut him before you even know if Gronk is ready. This is poor asset management. Meanwhile we are stuck with friggen Hooman and Mu(Gi)lligan.

I'm guessing because Sudfeld did nothing to help the Patriots. Even Mulligan was able to find the end zone.

 

[Mack Herron]

The cuts I don't understand are the veteran TEs in camp. Hooman and Mulligan have contributed more than Sudfeld, who directly contributed two turnovers (arguably 3) and nothing else.

Gotta be sympathetic if there a little anger and frustration as we try to cope with going from Gronk, Hernandez and Fells to Hooman and Mulligan.

 

[TruthSeeker]

'cause he was trash and a detriment to the team when he was on the field?

Has Brady's confidence improved towards throwing to the TEs since the cut ? If my figures are right, he targeted our great TEs ONCE last week.

 

[BSR]

Arm and bicep exercises don't typically put a whole lot of strain on the forearm. From what I've seen from the videos and clips posted, he hasn't participated in blocking drills and has otherwise been limited. Your last two sentences and Schefter's report are what really worry me and the reason why I said he might go on IR.

Chest and back exercise do put plenty of strain on a forearm, however. Additionally there are report of him being tackled in practice.

But I agree with you about that last part. That is the real concern. Is there a complication with his arm that is leaving the bone fragile. The part that doesn't make sense is that it shouldn't take 5 months to figure that out. The bone should have healed well before the start of the season and if it wasn't healed by then, then they would have known there were complications. It shouldn't take until now for uncertainty. In other words, if its really that fragile then he should have been under the knife again well before today.

What made far more sense was that his delay was more related to his strength and conditioning. Truth is that it could be a little of both. They now all feel that his is strong enough to play and just need the final buy off from his doctors on his arm before the go ahead is given.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Does anyone think the Ewing Theory could take place on offense if Gronk somehow ended up on IR. (Worst case scenario)

Maybe knowing that he wasn't coming back the offense would rally and play better, idk.

 

[shmessy]

Gotta be sympathetic if there a little anger and frustration as we try to cope with going from Gronk, Hernandez and Fells to Hooman and Mulligan.

Gimme a break.

I'm sure fans and their families will somehow find a way to pull through this crisis.

 

[PatsDeb]

I was criticized in another thread for suggesting that Gronk wouldn't be back until week 8 and that it was not helping the team to allow him to practice. I reiterate this point. If he isn't going to play, why waste practice on him? They are practicing plays that they can't use, and are arguably relying on something that isn't going to happen, i.e. that he is going to play.

If they know he's out they'll prepare accordingly and practice something else. I say sit him until he's ready to come back. All this crap is detrimental to the team, not to mention fans' blood pressure (yes, I know that doesn't count). Flame away...

Edit - maybe this will even speed along his "clearance to play..."

 

[shmessy]

Chest and back exercise do put plenty of strain on a forearm, however. Additionally there are report of him being tackled in practice.

So do backwards bodly slams on Las Vegas dance stages.

Nobody's been harder on the incompetent Patriots medical staff than me. However, Gronkowski acting like a 7 year old is 50% to blame here too.

Grow up Gronk, time to put away the Spiderman pajamas for big boy pants.

 

[PlainOldEd]

Gront AIN'T PLAYING. Situation is worse than imagined. Return this season still up in air.

Rob Gronkowski has not yet been cleared to play Sunday for New England Patriots, according to reports - ESPN Boston

Wow. It's amazing that that is what you got out of that story....

 

[Big-T]

Has Brady's confidence improved towards throwing to the TEs since the cut ? If my figures are right, he targeted our great TEs ONCE last week.

But how many times did they whiff on a block?

Sudfeld was a liability in all phases of the game, Mulligan is a good blocker and Hooman is somewhat decent at it.

 

[PatsDeb]

Gotta be sympathetic if there a little anger and frustration as we try to cope with going from Gronk, Hernandez and Fells to Hooman and Mulligan.

You got that right!

 

[DefenseRules]

Has Brady's confidence improved towards throwing to the TEs since the cut ? If my figures are right, he targeted our great TEs ONCE last week.

The problem with this offense is the OC. He is not using the personnel correctly. Charlie Weiss had far less to work with but some how found a way to win a Championships with what he had. Even when the injury bug hit, he knew how to adjust. Bah, I'm just grumpy today.

 

[Big-T]

The problem with this offense is the OC. He is not using the personnel correctly. Charlie Weiss had far less to work with but some how found a way to win a Championships with what he had. Even when the injury bug hit, he knew how to adjust. Bah, I'm just grumpy today.

Brady over throwing, under throwing and reading the defense wrong, receivers dropping the ball and the interior OL letting pressure up the middle sure doesn't help McDaniels look good!

 

[dales804]

Does anyone think the Ewing Theory could take place on offense if Gronk somehow ended up on IR. (Worst case scenario)

Maybe knowing that he wasn't coming back the offense would rally and play better, idk.

I don't see it. Like you said, it could happen. But the Patriots are better off with Gronk on the field than without. This isn't Nomar being traded or Kurt Warner getting a shot to start. They don't have the talent around to make up for his absence.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I was criticized in another thread for suggesting that Gronk wouldn't be back until week 8 and that it was not helping the team to allow him to practice. I reiterate this point. If he isn't going to play, why waste practice on him? They are practicing plays that they can't use, and are arguably relying on something that isn't going to happen, i.e. that he is going to play.

If they know he's out they'll prepare accordingly and practice something else. I say sit him until he's ready to come back. All this crap is detrimental to the team, not to mention fans' blood pressure (yes, I know that doesn't count). Flame away...

Edit - maybe this will even speed along his "clearance to play..."

They are, some of these reports are sensationalism for web site hits and I think people are overreacting, I think he plays this week.

 

[PatsDeb]

They are, some of these reports are sensationalism for web site hits and I think people are overreacting, I think he plays this week.

So you think this is all a BB stunt to surprise the Saints when Gronk runs down the tunnel? I hope so, but I don't think I can survive the blood pressure spikes and (as Defense Rules said above) all out grumpiness engulfing me a mere 2 days before the game!