2018 Gronk Watch

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Papelbon's Poutine

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Marsh was one of my least favorite Pats ever. Couldn’t had the edge to save his life, continually in the wrong place. For two picks —maybe as bad a trade as B.B. ever made.
Yeah that one was bad, but end of day it didn’t cost a ton.

Am I remembering incorrectly or was t he one of those ‘his position coach has ties to BB somehow, so he vouched for him’ deals?
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Yeah that one was bad, but end of day it didn’t cost a ton.

Am I remembering incorrectly or was t he one of those ‘his position coach has ties to BB somehow, so he vouched for him’ deals?
Not sure about position coach, but I do remember Seattle D-linemate Michael Bennett saying he’d stand out for the Pats.

Bennett was right, but probably not in the way he expected!
 

Van Everyman

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Only another fun loving guy, Cassius Marsh.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/28/cassius-marsh-to-patriots-fans-sorry-if-you-cant-handle-the-truth-but-thats-how-i-feel/

Preceded by an observation that JG in practice routinely went through our first team defense like shit through a goose.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/sports/cassius-marsh-garoppolo-shred-england-021302394.html

Edit — by the way, Marsh received $107,000 for the Pats going to the SB, even though he was cut by the no-funners the third week of November. I’d have probably kept my mouth shut.
Counterpunch from a guy who I actually think the Pats Missed last year:

 

InstaFace

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yeah, but I mean, he wasn't having fun. At least, not enough. Not when getting paid $450k to play a game for a living. That's the real crime here.
 

Super Nomario

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Marsh played two snaps against Oakland. So this is kind of a chicken-and-egg problem. Was he cut because he got upset, or was he upset because he was clearly on the path to being cut?
 

RedOctober3829

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Marsh played two snaps against Oakland. So this is kind of a chicken-and-egg problem. Was he cut because he got upset, or was he upset because he was clearly on the path to being cut?
Both. The incident expedited his release. He sucked against the run and likely wasn't putting in the work to make himself better at it given his comments. Easiest decision Bill had all year.
 

lexrageorge

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Marsh played 2 snaps because he had been well below replacement level all season for the Patriots. And the 2 sacks and 9 tackles he had after he joined the 49'ers just means he can a find a spot on a 6-10 team with the 25th ranked scoring defense. Most players cut by Bill don't have stellar careers after they leave; Cassius Marsh is not going to be the exception.
 

reggiecleveland

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My experience is that players are rarely super happy and comfortable on really good teams. Guys who don't get playing time are going to be unhappy. Also, only when a winning team is involved would this type of thing get media attention.
 

DJnVa

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He said BB put him in a lot of positions where it wasn't what he did well. Because if we all know one thing about BB it's not that he finds a role on a team for a guy doing the things they are good at.
 

koufax32

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He said BB put him in a lot of positions where it wasn't what he did well. Because if we all know one thing about BB it's not that he finds a role on a team for a guy doing the things they are good at.
Marsh: “Just let me do my thing and get after the QB! Just set me loose Coach!”

BB: “ But that makes everyone else have to scramble if you get too far upfield.”

Marsh: “But that’s how I do me! We don’t need to set an edge if I’m hitting the QB every drop back. This edge thing is slowing me down and cramping my style!”

BB: “rrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggghhhttttttt...”
 

McBride11

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Marsh: “Just let me do my thing and get after the QB! Just set me loose Coach!”

BB: “ But that makes everyone else have to scramble if you get too far upfield.”

Marsh: “But that’s how I do me! We don’t need to set an edge if I’m hitting the QB every drop back. This edge thing is slowing me down and cramping my style!”

BB: “rrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggghhhttttttt...”
This is funny. I wanted the guy to be good. Hey look a pass rushing specialist! Yay! From a strong D in Seattle?! Yay! But all i recall is him getting toasted on several seam routes in his short career here
 

mwonow

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I like the sound of this, from Andy Hart's post-mini-camp Patriots stock watch:

"Rob Gronkowski – Simply put, Gronk was by far the best player on the field for mini-camp practice. He had an obvious bounce in his step as he made plays all over the field. He was quite expressive both physically and vocally after many of his receptions. Whether it was big plays down the seam or fades in the end zone, Gronkowski was practically uncoverable (it’s a football word, just go with it) on the practice field."
 

DegenerateSoxFan

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Brady has a couple of strong campaigns left in him. So does Gronk, if he stays in one piece (and FWIW at this point I’m on board with anything keeping him pliable and on the field). The Pats have a potentially monster O-line shaping up under Dante, and I see a lot of Brady to his queen-on-the-chessboard binky coming. Good times...
 

Saints Rest

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I like the sound of this, from Andy Hart's post-mini-camp Patriots stock watch:

"Rob Gronkowski – Simply put, Gronk was by far the best player on the field for mini-camp practice. He had an obvious bounce in his step as he made plays all over the field. He was quite expressive both physically and vocally after many of his receptions. Whether it was big plays down the seam or fades in the end zone, Gronkowski was practically uncoverable (it’s a football word, just go with it) on the practice field."
BSJ noted that Gronk made a point of saying how "when you feel good, football is fun." Sounds like he was having lots of fun. Hence, he must be feeling good.
 

dcmissle

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Bryce Harper will today confirm that anonymous source is often a synonym for cowardly manipulators. And it seems awfully convenient that this one has the last solicitation-of-interest phone call coming one day before Gronkowski re-committed to the program.

That said, I would not be surprised if they were shopping him before Gronk re-committed. Not for Mayfield necessarily, but just because. Sensible people here were asking for exactly that.
 

RedOctober3829

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Bedard on BSJ behind the paywall discussing the fact that some executives believe Gronk is still available in a trade.

"One of the biggest unanswered questions — at least in league circles — is the status of Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots looked into trading the tight end prior to the draft, stood down once Gronkowski told Belichick that, despite his tasteless press conference on Patriots soil, Gronkowski was all in for 2018, and there were reports (in May, mind you) that a tweak of Gronkowski’s contract was near.

Yet when the Patriots start training camp, teams around the league will be keeping track of Gronkowski’s situation because they still think he could be made available at some point. One move or non-move will the indicator.

“Where’s the restructure of his contract?” said one AFC personnel executive. “Until that’s done, I think he’s still available. I wouldn’t be surprised if Belichick is going to test Gronk’s buy-in with the contract.”

Some snippets of what Bedard is hearing around the league.
  • Three of the five personnel executives I spoke with feel that Belichick is just testing Gronkowski’s mettle and the tight end will eventually have his contract tweaked at some point and he’ll finish out this season with the Patriots.
  • The other two execs said they think the Patriots make Gronkowski play under his current contract. They feel Gronkowski put himself in this situation with his talk about retirement, and then his decision to stay away from the voluntary workouts. “I would be surprised if Belichick gave in on that,” said one exec.
  • However, the longer the contract issue lingers, the possibility increases that Gronkowski could become unhappy and trigger a reaction from Belichick.

  • Tom Curran reported Gronkowski contemplated retirement last year in training camp. Gronkowski admitted retirement was “definitely” on his mind at the mini-camp and he wants something done to his contract. Is it much of a stretch to think Gronkowski could once again become disenchanted if he’s not being paid what he thinks he’s worth?
  • This would be Belichick’s test of Gronkowski’s buy-in. Belichick could very well let the contract situation continue. If Gronkowski continues to do his job well — he had a rough stretch around the same time when he was reportedly contemplating retirement — then the extension will happen. If Gronkowski starts to slump again…
  • If that happens, Belichick could deal Gronkowski. Remember, since Gronkowski was already available, Belichick has already contemplated life without his All-Pro tight end and was fine with it.
  • From my March story: A Bill Belichick-friendly source agreed with my thinking that once a player makes Belichick start to contemplate life without him, Belichick starts to warm to being without that player. “He imagines you gone,” he said. The longer Gronkowski goes without saying he’s all in, the chances of him being traded increases, the source said.
  • The Patriots, according to sources, were looking for a first-round pick in the April trade talks. They should be able to receive that. “Belichick will be able to find a team that thinks it’s one player away and you know one of those owners will love the buzz that comes from acquiring Gronk before the season opener,” said one NFC exec. Injuries could also make a team desperate.
  • Unless something unforeseen happens (injury, etc.), the Texans are off the list of possible destinations for Gronkowski. 49ers, Rams and Lions lead the pack. Injuries would very much ramp up the interest from those teams.
https://www.bostonsportsjournal.com/2018/07/09/bedard-teams-havent-given-hope-gronkowski-becomes-available/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
 

dcmissle

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Per source. The sun will rise in the East.
He needs a "source" to tell him that something no one has said will happen won't happen?
Source: Tom Brady won't be spending the weekend in a Bolivian prison.
As long as the Bedards are going to Bedard, I appreciate Schefter updates.
 

joe dokes

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As long as the Bedards are going to Bedard, I appreciate Schefter updates.
Yeah, I get it. But it's like hiring Schefter to catch all the jackalopes on your property or to circulate their air above your house so that the chemtrails dont seep in.
 

RedOctober3829

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Rob Gronkowski now can earn $1.1 million for 70 or more catches, $1.1M for 80 percent playtime, $1.1M for nine or more TD catches, $1.1M for 1,085 receiving yards. He can make three of those four, boosting salary another $3.3M. Base salary remains 8M. Still has two years left.
 

steveluck7

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Considering he fell under those milestones last year... does that make these incentives "not likely to be earned" and thus not count towards the cap yet?
 

RedOctober3829

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“During the offseason, while he stayed away from the team and mulled retirement, the Patriots engaged in trade talks centered around star tight end Rob Gronkowski. They had several interested parties, and at one point, it appeared a deal would get done to send Gronk to a new team, sources say.

But when Gronkowski learned of his new reality, he strongly resisted. He informed the Patriotsthat he would rather step away from football and retire than play for another team, coach or quarterback. He told people close to him that he only wants to catch passes from Tom Brady.

Any trade likely would have come with a new contract for Gronkowski, and without his cooperation, no trade was consummated. the 2017 season had been difficult for Gronkowski, and he openly mused about retirement after the Super Bowl. He wanted to work out with guru Alex Guerrero because he believed the trainer helped him feel as good as he's ever felt.

This all led to an in-person meeting with coach Bill Belichick, Gronkowski's longtime agent Drew Rosenhaus and Gronkowski, one that culminated in Gronk's Instagram announcing he was back. Two weeks ago, the two sides agreed on a reworked contract to give him higher upside.“

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000959229/article/rob-gronkowski-resisted-potential-trade-from-patriots
 

Mugsy's Jock

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And just like that, SoSH lost its last best chance for the Pats to acquire Larry Fitzgerald.

If any of this is true, “I only want to catch passes from Tom Brady” is epitaph-worthy.
 

Ed Hillel

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Schefter reporting Belichick and Patricia had a deal in place for Gronk the week of the draft, but at the meeting with Belichick Gronk threatened to retire rather than play in Detroit and they worked things out.
 

RedOctober3829

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Schefter reporting Belichick and Patricia had a deal in place for Gronk the week of the draft, but at the meeting with Belichick Gronk threatened to retire rather than play in Detroit and they worked things out.
Not sure why Schefter is reporting this as new news. Didn't we already know that Gronk was almost traded in the offseason and threatened to retire if he was?
 

DJnVa

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Not sure why Schefter is reporting this as new news. Didn't we already know that Gronk was almost traded in the offseason and threatened to retire if he was?
Almost traded to unnamed team versus, apparently, deal agreed to with specific team before Gronk threatened retirement.
 
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