Gronk to retire

supafly said:

He’ll probably make it to the HOF, but I always crack up when people here claim that he was the greatest TE to ever play the game.

He’s definitely top 5, though. Good luck to him with his future endeavors.

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I've learned to respect very much your opinions on this website, so I have to say I'm a bit surprised by this particular take. Why do you think he isn't in the conversation for the greatest TE? I"m not arguing with you, I just am interested in your reasons.

I guess I've always thought that TE's are mostly evaluated by stats instead of blocking, and he brought a combination that was unique.

ChrisR2223 said:

Honestly I understand I'm about integrity as well.
But in the NFL it's dog eat dog.

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Would be great but the ship has sailed afraid the Saints are not the Titans Cook won't lose much sleep playing in that O

Remember the time Gronk came back at halftime and we won the Bourbon Bowl?

Statement from Drew Rosenhaus, Gronk’s agent: “Congratulations to Rob on a Hall of Fame Career. As great a player he has been, he is an even better person. His impact on and off the field have been gigantic and he will be remembered as one of the All time legends of the game!”

Cook isn’t a Rosenhaus guy, is he?

Taco said:

Maybe he comes back after the bye?

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Wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.

Th3Birdman said:

Best TEs ever:

Sharpe
Gronk
Gonzalez
Gates

I don’t care what order you put them but these are the top four and the only correct answers.

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You say this with a lot of authority, yet your suggests you have a limited understanding of the TE position. This is a list of the most productive receiving “tight ends” - blocking abilities irrelevant - in the last 20 years. Are the best QBs ever Brady, Manning, Brees, and Rodgers too?

ChrisR2223 said:

He really kind of screwed us by waiting.
He's done so much for the team but this hurts us with his awful timing.

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How can you disagree this has hurt us?
I mean it's tough but he's had so much time during his waffling we could of resigned Flowers with that cap.
Gone after Humphries more aggressively or Any receiver.

You do know we now have the weakest group of pass catchers in the NFL now?
There is no arguing that.
I love Gronk and he will go down as one of the best Patriots ever.
This effing blows though.

He gave it all.

His body is a wreck and he will likely be barely able to walk later in his years.

Nobody had more fun than Gronk.

I cannot fathom that he will.ever pay for a meal or drink in Massachusetts ever again.

Gronk has his spot on the Mt Rushmore of Boston sports. They are running out of mountain.

Silver Blue&Red said:

I can't believe people are shocked?.

I thought it was so obvious .

Anyway, I'll miss the big lug.

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Feeling of shock isn’t the same as surprise. And recent reports have suggested he was coming back.

What a nine years it was. Truly a special player, and we had him the whole time.

Congratulations on a Hall of Fame career.

Those injuries, though.

Gronkowski retires after 9 seasons, 3 Super Bowl rings

www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/gronkowski-retires-after-9-seasons-3-super-bowl-rings-whats-next-for-the-patriots/ar-BBVaTdA?li=BBnba9I&ocid=iehp

I would imagine the offense will be much like the 2016 offense after Gronk got hurt. Maybe we can coax Martellus to play again?

Best of luck to the best.

TommyBrady12 said:

I would imagine the offense will be much like the 2016 offense after Gronk got hurt. Maybe we can coax Martellus to play again?

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Well he needs to stop blazing so

KontradictioN said:

I don’t think he would have went harder after OBJ. I think he will see who falls in the draft but I have to believe the passing game is going to be reinvented around the WR position for the time being. Smith would still be a good fit out of Alabama because he doesn’t automatically key pass or run. I doubt they get a sniff at either of the Iowa TEs.

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I'm not as high on Smith as some. He ISN'T a Gronk replacement by any means and to think so would be unfair.

He is 6'2 and 242. Those are more FB stats than TE stats, and that is what he'd be better suited to play. More like an HB than TE. Someone you motion to get releases. Someone who wham blocks rather than blocking DE's and OLB's from an inline position. Much more like Hernandez, but without the quick feet.

From his combine numbers, at 4,6 his has decent straight line speed, but he isn't particularly strong, quick or explosive. Daniel Graham was the comparative that I saw the most. I wouldn't hate that. Graham was a very good TE but bigger than Smith (6'4 257) coming out.

I agree that TE needs to be addressed in the draft. I also agree that Fant and Hockenson will be gone long before the Pats pick. So I'd inclined to wait until the 3rd and see who's there, rather than use an earlier pick on a need rather than the best player.

ChrisR2223 said:

How can you disagree this has hurt us?
I mean it's tough but he's had so much time during his waffling we could of resigned Flowers with that cap.

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Lack of cap space was not the reason Flowers signed with Detroit.

patfanken said:

I'm not as high on Smith as some. He ISN'T a Gronk replacement by any means and to think so would be unfair.

He is 6'2 and 242. Those are more FB stats than TE stats, and that is what he'd be better suited to play. More like an HB than TE. Someone you motion to get releases. Someone who wham blocks rather than blocking DE's and OLB's from an inline position.

From his combine numbers, at 4,6 his has decent straight line speed, but he isn't particularly strong, quick or explosive. Daniel Graham was the comparative that I saw the most. I wouldn't hate that. Graham was a very good TE but bigger than Smith (6'4 257) coming out.

I agree that TE needs to be addressed in the draft. I also agree that Fant and Hockenson will be gone long before the Pats pick. So I'd inclined to wait until the 3rd and see who's there, rather than use an earlier pick on a need rather than the best player.

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Smith is more of a Daniel Graham type than a Gronk type and his upside as a receiver is higher than Graham’s coming out of college. His route running is fantastic. The Pats could definitely use him.