Gronk gone, will it matter to Brady and Belichick?

[cardsunsfan]

Probably one of the Tight Ends to ever play the game.. and I have a feeling they will adjust. Whoever we pick at 1st, if it isn't a QB I think we would be more than happy if he had an impact like Gronk.. but I think it will show again how having the right QB is so much more important.

 

[az jam]

He was special but over the last couple of years injured a lot.

 

[Veer]

The Pats have always found solutions when Gronk was injured. Almost made it look like they didn't need Gronk. But they still love their TEs because a good TE is the ultimate chess piece on the football field. Blessed like they are, it happens that this and next year's TE draft classes are supposed to be the best in recent memory. Hard to tell if there will ever be another Gronk in the league, but I think the Pats will take advantage of the strong TE draft class and find somebody who will do a good job. Or they will sign some castoff like Gresham and make him look like "Gronk lite". The Pats are just too smart for all the other teams and will survive Gronk's retirement without a doubt.

 

[overseascardfan]

Maybe they draft his replacement this year. Some good TEs like Fant or Hockenson could be there at #32.

 

[oaken1]

Probably one of the Tight Ends to ever play the game.. and I have a feeling they will adjust. Whoever we pick at 1st, if it isn't a QB I think we would be more than happy if he had an impact like Gronk.. but I think it will show again how having the right QB is so much more important.

I agree. He was in fact one of the tight ends to ever play the game....one of the better ones too.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

did u know ..... 7 of the 8 HoF TEs PLAYED AT LEAST 1 year during the 70's. 6 of 8 played almost entirely in the 60s and 70's.

ps. I loved Charlie Sanders the most. Who never heard of him?

 

[AZ Native]

I agree. He was in fact one of the tight ends to ever play the game....one of the better ones too.

I knew that was coming.

 

[NJCardFan]

They've won with or without Gronk. So, no, it won't matter.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

He was special but over the last couple of years injured a lot.

He has been injured on and off since college. It is what stopped him from being the greatest of all time

 

[DRM08]

Creates $9m of cap space for Belichick. I’m sure he will use it in an effective manner.

 

[az jam]

He has been injured on and off since college. It is what stopped him from being the greatest of all time

I'm old but have seen them all. IMO the best TE ever was Mike Ditka. He is the first TE elected to the Hall of Fame. He changed everything by being a TE that could catch and score TEs. He was a real tough SOB. Gronk reminds me a lot of Ditka. Both were really hard to bring down after a catch.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

I'm old but have seen them all. IMO the best TE ever was Mike Ditka. He is the first TE elected to the Hall of Fame. He changed everything by being a TE that could catch and score TEs. He was a real tough SOB. Gronk reminds me a lot of Ditka. Both were really hard to bring down after a catch.

Ditka then Kellen Winslow (the father not the son)

 

[az jam]

Ditka then Kellen Winslow (the father not the son)

I forgot Winslow. You are right, he was very good.

 

[Veer]

Maybe they draft his replacement this year. Some good TEs like Fant or Hockenson could be there at #32.

Very unlikely. Both are among the very best TE prospects we've seen in recent years. There is no elite WR or OL prospect in this draft. I bet both Iowa TEs will be off the board by the early 20s.

I see the Pats draft the Bama TE or Steinberger with the 32nd pick. Both are legit 1st round TEs but could slip due to the Iowa TEs stealing the show. I don't believe we will pick a TE at #33.