Hope they aren't rushing Gronk back early....

tedy hagler · Sep 2, 2013

Yes, and Gronk's importantance to the running game compared to other TEs cannot be overplayed. The dude abuses blockers. Fells often looked like he was serving tea and crumpets to the D-line.

ivanvamp said:
I share the sentiment that I hope they're not rushing him back. But I have to figure that the reason they let all those TEs go was because Gronk will be ready sooner than later. I have to think they have good assurance of that.

edboc · Sep 2, 2013

I would think they would limit his snaps when he is activated to play, and perhaps they might limit his blocking assignments due to loss in weight and strength until he's gained that back to his ideal playing weight.

PatsFanInVa · Sep 2, 2013

Same went through my mind as the OP. Obviously we don't have the info they do, but also, being on the active roster doesn't necessarily mean extensive playing time.

signbabybrady · Sep 2, 2013

Fear is the path of the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.

jmt57 · Sep 2, 2013

Patriots Find Hidden Gem | Boston Herald | Karen Guregian

Seeing Gronk in pads, a participant at practice for the first time since January, was like seeing a beacon of light.

With the offense still trying to find its way through some growing pains, perhaps the sight of Gronkowski, who has missed the entire offseason thanks to forearm and back surgeries, is just the kind of boost that’s needed for Tom Brady & Co. at this stage.

As we’ve come to learn during the past few years, Gronk is a larger-than-life character. When he runs out onto a football field and lines up at tight end, the perception of the Patriots offense changes. It immediately becomes something much bigger, and much better.

With him now participating in full pads, catching footballs from Brady, there’s at least a tangible sign of him inching closer to a return. But there’s so much more to it than watching that uplifting visual.

Rookie tight end Zach Sudfeld can now see up close what a Pro Bowl tight end and possible future Hall of Famer looks like. The new kids on the receiving block, Aaron Dobson, Kenbrell Thompkins and Josh Boyce, can see how the offense works with Gronk in it.

And, Danny Amendola can see how the space over the middle might open up once Gronkowski settles in. The Pats defense will have to defend him just like everyone else. So that will give Amendola even more room to operate, just like it did for Wes Welker.

Chrstopher Price: If BB thinks sight of Gronk at practice will make Marrone spend extra time prepping, he'll have him out there.

Albert Breer: Here's the thing about Belichick -- If he can waste 10 minutes of Marrone's time thru the illusion of Gronk playing, I think he'd do it.

Matt Chatham: Much the same as floating the idea that EJ Manuel will be ready. Touché.

Karen Guregian: Not only that, but now the Bills have to account for Gronkowski in practice and prepare like he’s going to play Sunday. Ditto the New York Jets, who play the Pats four days later.

Of course, trotting Gronkowski out there in full pads during the media viewing portion yesterday could have been more for the benefit of their upcoming opponents. It could have been a ploy just to make the Bills and Jets do extra work.

But, it’s doubtful that was the only thing at work.

Brewskies · Sep 2, 2013

JR4 said:
Would you think the same way if PATS PUPed Gronk and
then lost 3 of first 6 games where Gronk may have made the difference?

It's always a major question mark but I want him ready for the playoffs. IMO we win the first three games, Bills, Jets and TB without him and we lose the next three games Atlanta, Cinn and NO with or without him.

doesntmatter1 · Sep 2, 2013

Rob0729 said:
Here are some responses:

Adalius Thomas never played again after he left the Pats because his skills were clearly deteriorated and he had an attitude problem. His story happens every year. Once a player with an attitude doesn't have at least above average skills, no team wants him. It has nothing to do with anything medical. Thomas complained about everything, not just the doctors.

Fanene hid medical information that doesn't show on a typical physical when signing a contract. Blaming the doctors is a way to deflect blame and try to keep his bonus. The NFLPA last year filed a claim vs. the Chargers' doctor. It seems a strategy for NFLPA in cases like this.

I don't get your point about Crable, Dowling, and Wheatley. Crable tore two separate ACLs. What did the medical staff do there? Dowling had an injury history that went to high school (although his pre-NFL being injury prone has been overstated). Was it the Pats' medical staff that is responsible for his injuries in college and high school? And Wheatley's problem after his wrist injury was because he lost his nerve. He played soft. It happens to a lot of young players after big injuries. It makes them play scared.

Fanene is the only real evidence of anything wrong with the Pats' medical staff. And that may be more of a legal strategy than anything really wrong with the medical staff.

You made some really good points. But adalius was 270 and could run, so I find it strange that not even the raiders took the bait.

The Crable thing. Torn acls and legs were clearly too skinny. Everyone could see his legs were probably not suited for the nfl but he went on ir with a shin injury for three years in a row. I'm thinking the doctors or somebody shouldn't have let this drag out this long and cut/trade him way sooner than they did.

The docs must of gave BB the green light to pick dowling so high. Injuries usually push guys down on draft day but not for us. Wheatley had wrist problems in college and even had rods placed in them. So once again, why was he drafted so high unless the medical staff felt comfortable.

I may be wrong, and I hope I am but I see a pattern here with our docs not being as great as we think.

signbabybrady · Sep 2, 2013

Brewskies said:
It's always a major question mark but I want him ready for the playoffs. IMO we win the first three games, Bills, Jets and TB without him and we lose the next three games Atlanta, Cinn and NO with or without him.

Why would you have us going 0-3 vs those teams? Can any one of them beat us? Sure. But if we lose all 3 that would be aweful. I would think we have a better chance of going 3-0 vs them than losing all 3.

Fear is the path of the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.

Bruins29 · Sep 2, 2013

Brewskies said:
It's always a major question mark but I want him ready for the playoffs. IMO we win the first three games, Bills, Jets and TB without him and we lose the next three games Atlanta, Cinn and NO with or without him.

This whole thread is strange. We have a guy who has never played a snap in the NFL and a JAG as tight ends. Any other time in history people would be panicking out of their minds but this year everyone is calm. "Calm" as in "We can just do it without Gronk" WTF???

This stuff is sheer comedy. First of all there may not be a playoffs this year. Gotta win games and last time I checked this team is being rebuilt in several positions and without Gronk has a weak TE group. I dont care what Suds has done in PS. Lets see him do it in a few real games with real defensive strategies and a bonified NFL safety or corner on him.

Also, Gronk being ready for the playoffs has everything to do with his game conditioning, confidence, and getting into rhythm with his 5 or 6 new team mates. Not, just being "saved for the playoffs." That is a fallacy.

Football just dosent work the way some of you think it does.

AzPatsFan · Sep 2, 2013

stcjones said:
I'm as excited as any Pats fan that Gronk will be coming back way ahead of schedule. There is hardly anyone out there that can help the O produce the way this guy can....and he is exciting for all sports fans to watch...not just us Patsfans. But I don't want to see him come rushing back early ....and be gone for another season way too early....or before we REALLY need him....in the PLAYOFFS! Say a prayer for Gronk....hopefully everything is fully healed and he will be good to go! Go Pats

Gronk is exactly on the Physician' recovery schedules. He is however, 6-12 weeks ahead of the purposely distorted and miss-understood Physicians analysis by the Mediots, seeking a worst case calamitous headline to a story to attract viewer/readers.

Get with the program. That is the way the game is now played by the Mediots.

Jackson 2 · Sep 2, 2013

Brewskies said:
It's always a major question mark but I want him ready for the playoffs. IMO we win the first three games, Bills, Jets and TB without him and we lose the next three games Atlanta, Cinn and NO with or without him.

You want him ready for the playoffs, but predict we'll be 3-3 with or without him after 6 games? 3-3 after 6 might preclude us from making the playoffs. PLAYoffs!? PLAYoffs!?

Oswlek · Sep 2, 2013

Bruins29 said:
This stuff is sheer comedy. First of all there may not be a playoffs this year.

Do you really believe your statement or are you just making a point? I'll let you take a moment and look at the rest of the AFCE for a second while you are deciding.

As for the OP, I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who hopes they are rushing him back.

PatsFanInVa · Sep 2, 2013

signbabybrady said:
Fear is the path of the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.

Yeah, which is fine as long as it's the other guys suffering.

fnordcircle · Sep 2, 2013

The team won't bring him back until the medical staff gives the OK and it is deemed that he can contribute. See: Last year.

And god help any of you if you cite a play where he dove and landed full force on his broken arm in what I'd call a freak play as proof they brought him back too soon.

Brewskies · Sep 2, 2013

Jackson 2 said:
You want him ready for the playoffs, but predict we'll be 3-3 with or without him after 6 games? 3-3 after 6 might preclude us from making the playoffs. PLAYoffs!? PLAYoffs!?

We will make the playoffs 10-6 or 11-5

Bruins29 · Sep 2, 2013

Oswlek said:
Do you really believe your statement or are you just making a point? I'll let you take a moment and look at the rest of the AFCE for a second while you are deciding.
.

I believe word "may" applies to anything. I am confident we will make the playoffs and hopefully can get 1st seed. Anything is possible however and I dont understand the notion of even going 1 game without Gronk if we dont have to.

The team has a few question marks right now. Are all these rookies going to pick up where they left off in PS. PS does not always translate to RS. We dont seem to have the weapons on the D line that I thought we would have. Safetys are still a question mark. We dont need Dennard missing any time.

Bottom line, this "rest Gronk" or worring about him coming back to soon is silly. If he is cleared to play he should play. If he is not cleared then he should not play.

Oswlek · Sep 2, 2013

Bruins29 said:
I believe word "may" applies to anything. I am confident we will make the playoffs and hopefully can get 1st seed. Anything is possible however and I dont understand the notion of even going 1 game without Gronk if we dont have to.

The team has a few question marks right now. Are all these rookies going to pick up where they left off in PS. PS does not always translate to RS. We dont seem to have the weapons on the D line that I thought we would have. Safetys are still a question mark. We dont need Dennard missing any time.

Bottom line, this "rest Gronk" or worring about him coming back to soon is silly. If he is cleared to play he should play. If he is not cleared then he should not play.

I can't disagree. I find the desire to place Gronk in bubble wrap absurd, to be honest.

I just get a headache every time I try to stare at those division standing trying to imagine another team overtaking the Patriots. They aren't without issue, of course, but for the most part, NE's problems are of the "how can you win a championship?" kind, not "how can you win a game?"

Rob0729 · Sep 2, 2013

doesntmatter1 said:
You made some really good points. But adalius was 270 and could run, so I find it strange that not even the raiders took the bait.

The Crable thing. Torn acls and legs were clearly too skinny. Everyone could see his legs were probably not suited for the nfl but he went on ir with a shin injury for three years in a row. I'm thinking the doctors or somebody shouldn't have let this drag out this long and cut/trade him way sooner than they did.

The docs must of gave BB the green light to pick dowling so high. Injuries usually push guys down on draft day but not for us. Wheatley had wrist problems in college and even had rods placed in them. So once again, why was he drafted so high unless the medical staff felt comfortable.

I may be wrong, and I hope I am but I see a pattern here with our docs not being as great as we think.

You are assuming the Pats' medical staff examined Dowling, Crable, or Wheatley before they were drafted. You are also assuming that anything that happened to these players after they were drafted could have been predicted by physical, MRI, or any other exam. Unless a prospect is brought in for a visit, it is doubtful the medical staff are involved in the decision process. I can't remember any of these players were ever examed by the Pats' medical staff before they were drafted.

Belichick and Dowling's college coach are friends and he probably went on the recommendation of the college coach.

CelticPatriot · Sep 2, 2013

We'll win the first 3 games with or without Gronk. It's games 4-5-6 that we need him for.

Archeryaddict12 · Sep 2, 2013

Gronk is pretty tough. He just got caught in the wrong places at the wrong time. You can't stop his ankle injury in 2011. His arm break was a freak. And he had to land perfectly in the playoffs to rebreak his arm in a new spot. They are injuries you really can't stop. Maybe the 2012 playoff one but the others you can't.

Hope they aren't rushing Gronk back early....

Practice Squad Player

On the Game Day Roster

PatsFans.com Supporter

Pro Bowl Player

Moderator

PatsFans.com Supporter

In the Starting Line-Up

Pro Bowl Player

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

PatsFans.com Supporter

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

PatsFans.com Supporter

The poster who James White said inspires him.

PatsFans.com Supporter

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

PatsFans.com Supporter

Third String But Playing on Special Teams

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Similar threads