Poll: Is Gronk really retired or is he coming back?

[Caretaker]

When Gronk initially retired, I joked that I was going to be in denial and he was going to eventually come back. But there's been enough rumblings where this no longer seems completely crazy. Or at least I don't think so? Curious what the board consensus is...massive denial going on, or maybe he'll return when they start playing games and he realizes he misses it?

(Full disclosure, I was going to make the poll choices GOT related...like he's retired/all men must die, and not-retired, what's dead may never die. But sanity prevailed, sort of.)

I just wanted to chime in and applaud you for resisting the urge of quoting that P.O.S. tv series

If you quoted book-only material tho...

 

[PatsDeb]

The position WAS important to the Pats offense because Gronk was an exceptional talent. Now the emphasis will go to other areas and the tight end position once again will be like it was before Gronk. That part of it really is no big deal -- backs and WRs will compensate.

As for Gronk coming back, I'd be mildly surprised; I expect him to stay retired. I think he's physically pretty far past his prime from all the accumulated injuries taking a big toll. Every month that passes without him doing very specific football-oriented training puts him further behind. Then you have the questions of how he would be accommodated financially if he returned during the season, whose roster spot he'd claim, how quickly he could get up to speed, etc. It's not like he could just show up in November and be ready.

While I don't disagree that it's possible we are going in another direction because Gronk is irreplaceable, just giving up on TE and re-imagining the offense at this point (because Brady is old and may not want/be able to go back to another style of offense, and because it's worked so well for so long) seems un-BB-like. And we were always searching for the awesome tight end, be it Daniel Graham, Ben Watson, doomed AH, etc. Gronk was definitely the jackpot of all jackpots, but we got him (I think) because TE has always been an important position to BB.

And I was thinking Gronk, if he comes back (and of course that is a big if) would do it in September, one week before the season starts, not November.

The whole TE "thing" is a head-scratcher so far this year.

 

[SBLIII]

Retired and I think the TE thing is vastly overrated on this board. We would be fine with LaCosse and ASJ and might still add a TE via trade or FA.

 

[Steve102]

it says 69 folks say he's not coming back, so you need to close this thread now and leave that number in true Gronk fashion.

 

[Simpelton]

Not sure I want him back. Over the last couple years he went from being an absolute stud, undisputed best TE in the game, to looking mighty mortal out there.

Dude's had a lot of injuries, I think he needs to call it quits before he needs a quad cane to get around by age 45

 

[Tunescribe]

While I don't disagree that it's possible we are going in another direction because Gronk is irreplaceable, just giving up on TE and re-imagining the offense at this point (because Brady is old and may not want/be able to go back to another style of offense, and because it's worked so well for so long) seems un-BB-like. And we were always searching for the awesome tight end, be it Daniel Graham, Ben Watson, doomed AH, etc. Gronk was definitely the jackpot of all jackpots, but we got him (I think) because TE has always been an important position to BB.

And I was thinking Gronk, if he comes back (and of course that is a big if) would do it in September, one week before the season starts, not November.

The whole TE "thing" is a head-scratcher so far this year.

I don't think they're "giving up" on the tight end position at all, that's why they signed Jenkins. And they'll be bringing in someone else, possibly Rudolph. But the only reason that position has been featured was because of Gronk's ability. Going forward, my guess is that (A) blocking at the tight end position will be emphasized and (B) Harry will be featured in Gronk-type short/intermediate/seam routes requiring a tall physical receiver who fights for the ball in traffic.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

I can see him coming back especially if TB give him a call.

 

[Brick27]

Don’t see him coming back. But from Gronk’s perspective, it’s all still very new and the confetti hasn’t even really settled. Once games start, he sees his guys battling, and his body feels healthier after an easy going offseason, maybe it’ll create an itch though.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Last week, before the draft, I was assigned golf cart #69 -just saying.

 

[Joker]

slacking off before the big draft day again, eh?

 

[1960Pats]

Reimer: Rob Gronkowski's unforgettable career was always on borrowed time

Isn't Reamer the jerk who called Brady's little daughter a piss-ant?

 

[Tony2046]

I think he comes back in November.

I think it's either June 9th or Aug 7th.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Isn't Reamer the jerk who called Brady's little daughter a piss-ant?

Reimer, not to be confused with @reamer

 

[Jlaff]

Yeah I actually feel kind of bad about that now. Sorry about that. Not good trolling by me. Feel free to spoil something for me in the future.

EDIT: Ending still got you though I’m sure. I had it ruined for me and I was still misty.

That's terrible, putting aside the whole issue of superhero movies being stupid.

 

[Kontradiction]

That's terrible, putting aside the whole issue of superhero movies being stupid.

Bruce Willis is actually a ghost in “The Sixth Sense.”

 

[Jlaff]

Bruce Willis is actually a ghost in “The Sixth Sense.”

Damn, if you would have got me with a GoT episode 3 spoiler I would have been devastated (not reading Patsfans now until I watch it).

 

[Nehalem]

Not sure I want him back. Over the last couple years he went from being an absolute stud, undisputed best TE in the game, to looking mighty mortal out there.

Dude's had a lot of injuries, I think he needs to call it quits before he needs a quad cane to get around by age 45

It was actually just last year.

2017 was arguably his 2nd or 3rd best year. And in 2016 the 5 full games he played with Brady projects out to a nearly 1700 yard season(averaging 22 yards/catch)

 

[Patjew]

It was actually just last year.

2017 was arguably his 2nd or 3rd best year. And in 2016 the 5 full games he played with Brady projects out to a nearly 1700 yard season(averaging 22 yards/catch)

Football years are like dog years, my friend. I think he's aged out.

I am trying to convince myself that he'll be back and I even have the Terminator meme in mind, but the more I think about it the more I'm expecting the "it's happening it's happening it's happening" thing that never happens. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Joker]

well...I'll tell you right now...Gronk is coming back. I, Joker The Unpredictable, predict the return of the Gronk like a swarm of locusts engulfing the lonesome plains of Iowa..(or is that the rolling hills of South Dakota?)

You will all bow down before the munificence of Joker The Generous as we once again experience the balletic moves and rumbling runs of Gronkinator...coming this fall.

 

[ausbacker]

Color me strange but my preference is for Gronk to stay retired. I loved everything about the big guy but if he's not fully committed, I'd rather the Patriots looked toward the future and invested snaps and time in whoever our next great TE might be.