Last week, Patriots fans throughout the country suffered from a terrible case of déjà vu. With Rob Gronkowski’s being placed on the injured reserve list due to a repeated issues with a herniated disc, warranting a third surgery, Super Bowl prospects for the Patriots are beginning to fade away.
Further focus on Gronkowski’s injury record shows worrisome trends that might conclude with a familiar move from Patriots management. Accounting for all of his back, forearm, and knee issues, Gronkowski has undergone nine surgeries since 2012. With this in mind, it is hard to believe that Gronkowski’s outstanding performances will be as frequent as they once were. But the reality Patriots fans suffer from now is a natural byproduct of Gronkowski’s playing style: catch-and-bash your way to the end zone.
Packaged into the injury frame is also the dilemma with Gronkowski’s consistency. Any impartial observers will acknowledge that Gronkowski has not been a reliable player for quite some time. One assumes that with a six year, $54 million contract, with a $8 million bonus, comes a certain level of reliability.
This brings another question into the fold: is Gronkowski even the best tight end in the league? At least, an intriguing and debatable question. Frankly, it is hard to argue that he is this season. With names like Travis Kelce, Jason Witten, and Kyle Rudolph occupying NFL positive headlines week to week, Gronkowski is a distant thought from anyone outside of Foxborough. Even the Patriots’ #2, Martellus Bennett produces more plays week to week, but that train seems to be breaking down as well with recent injury reports.
Woven into all of the madness and doctor recommendations is a nuanced question pertaining to Gronkowski’s future to the Patriots. Nobody can refute that Gronkowski is the best tight end to wear a Patriots jersey and, perhaps, to play for the NFL. But, many great players have walked into Patriot Place only to be booted by security at the most obscure and unexpected times. Historically, one can look at Lawyer Milloy, Richard Seymour, and Randy Moss for examples of the ruthless negotiation style employed by Bill Belichick. If you are not “doing your job” or playing by Bill’s rules, enjoy a final, live Belichick press conference because you cut or traded way pretty soon.
No matter your playmaking ability or your potential for greatness, team culture overrides all. Just ask Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins. I have no reason to believe that Belichick will continue to deal with Gronkowski’s health instability and lack of reliability. Belichick loves football, but, being an economics major at Wesleyan, Belichick understands business. Long-term success of a business demands demands ruthless inefficiency, cutting waste, and, in the world of football, maintaining a healthy salary cap standard.
It is not a matter of if, but a matter of when Rob Gronkowski will flaunt a different jersey or, perish the thought, bid farewell to the game.
As it pertains to the remainder of the Patriots’ season, the Super Bowl is a long expired aspiration. Competition in the AFC is laughable except for the AFC West. The Chiefs continue to dominate defensively with a rising tight end while the Raiders have the making of an underdog. All characteristics infamous for eliminating the Patriots from the playoffs.
Pessimism inundates this article, but when the stars of negativity align, it is hard to go against it. In this case, the stars show that this will not be a Patriots year and the future might not be in Gronkowski’s hands.
