Gronk was the greatest TE I've ever seen but I think there's also a real question about how good he is now with a non Brady QB. Maybe the year off helped him but he was one hurting puppy in 2018.
Brady is a non-Brady QB now, so this should all be clarified in a few months.Gronk was the greatest TE I've ever seen but I think there's also a real question about how good he is now with a non Brady QB. Maybe the year off helped him but he was one hurting puppy in 2018.
For sure. Also a different offensive coordinator. Gronk's almost 31 and he's been banged up as much as anyone so color me skeptical on how great he'll be this year.Brady is a non-Brady QB now, so this should all be clarified in a few months.
Playing devil's advocate, if he doesn't bulk up to where he was before he could be flexed out more and take advantage of his size and speed. I wouldn't discount him having a really good season especially given the other WR's he's surrounded with. He's not getting doubled much with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the field.He was already not the huge matchup problem he was earlier in his career by 2018. Losing all the weight and not being a huge blocking concern for the defense makes him even less of an issue.
I'll take the 4th and be happy.
I'm glad that I am not the only one feeling that way right now. I don't wish them ill, but I am not cheering for them to succeed either. I am a Pats fan and they both chose to leave.This is beyond weird. I love TB12 and Gronk as New England Patriots. EFF them both as Buccaneers.
And then they meet in a closed park in Tampa, sit together on a bench and start comparing notes.This feels like having two respectful and loving breakups you felt okay about, and then your ex’s started dating each other and now you’re feeling kinda not so great about it.
Except neither one can bang like they used to, so it's not so bad.This feels like having two respectful and loving breakups you felt okay about, and then your ex’s started dating each other and now you’re feeling kinda not so great about it.
Yeah, this is where I am. Tom happened as COVID-19 was taking over the world so it was easy to dismiss. Gronk is reopening the wound, and I have more time to be pissed off. A miserable season for that team would not upset me at all.This is beyond weird. I love TB12 and Gronk as New England Patriots. EFF them both as Buccaneers.
I can't picture Gronk having a notebook of any sort.And then they meet in a closed park in Tampa, sit together on a bench and start comparing notes.
I've felt that way even before Gronk went to TB and now it's just plain worse. The argument about what TB did for us is an intellectual one and this is more of an emotional response. I just can't see myself watching TB next year and being happy if Tom looks great.Yeah, this is where I am. Tom happened as COVID-19 was taking over the world so it was easy to dismiss. Gronk is reopening the wound, and I have more time to be pissed off. A miserable season for that team would not upset me at all.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what Brady did for us. That's in the past. I can't help the way I feel now.
Just had this same thought. The combination of size and speed was what made him truly amazing. Too fast for most LB to cover; too big for most DB to cover. If you take a chunk out of the size, he becomes less of a matchup problem.I don't know if a lighter Gronk has the same ability to bounce off hits from safeties/LBs. If he gets banged up, I'll be sad more than surprised.
So then he just becomes a bigger version of Jimmy Graham, which is still pretty damned good.Just had this same thought. The combination of size and speed was what made him truly amazing. Too fast for most LB to cover; too big for most DB to cover. If you take a chunk out of the size, he becomes less of a matchup problem.
Gronk was retired. He wasn't counting against the cap.Does this affect the cap in anyway? My cursory google couldn't answer
Not sure about that. He'll still be the same height so he has that advantage. He is still ripped and will be hard to bring down especially for the smaller LB's and safeties now deployed by many teams. He'll gain some of the weight back. By looking at him recently, I think he is down 25 lbs. So instead of 6-6 265 he's 6-6 240. If he gains 15 lbs back he's still 6-6 255 that runs well.Just had this same thought. The combination of size and speed was what made him truly amazing. Too fast for most LB to cover; too big for most DB to cover. If you take a chunk out of the size, he becomes less of a matchup problem.
And his body will be fresh from having a year of rest. He's going to be terrific, make no mistake.Not sure about that. He'll still be the same height so he has that advantage. He is still ripped and will be hard to bring down especially for the smaller LB's and safeties now deployed by many teams. He'll gain some of the weight back. By looking at him recently, I think he is down 25 lbs. So instead of 6-6 265 he's 6-6 240. If he gains 15 lbs back he's still 6-6 255 that runs well.
Also without a ton of double teams since those will go to Mike Evans.And his body will be fresh from having a year of rest. He's going to be terrific, make no mistake.
Evans might be the third best receiving option on the team once Gronk is back in shape. Which is terrifying. I’d probably double Gronk or Godwin since both are less likely to drop the ball. And while he’s damn good at them, Evans really runs a more limited route tree.Also without a ton of double teams since those will go to Mike Evans.
There will be a safety over the top on Evans' side because that's what he does well. So if you're playing double-high safeties you either double Godwin and leave Gronk 1-on-1 or double Gronk and leave Godwin 1-on-1. If you're playing single high, well you're screwed. I will predict that teams don't double Gronk early on and he'll make them pay.Evans might be the third best receiving option on the team once Gronk is back in shape. Which is terrifying. I’d probably double Gronk or Godwin since both are less likely to drop the ball. And while he’s damn good at them, Evans really runs a more limited route tree.
My guess is Gronk is on a pretty strict pitch count through most of the season since there is no lack of receiving options on that team. Plays maybe 50% of the snaps with an emphasis on red zone and 3rd down packages. Then if the Bucs make the playoffs, training wheels come off.
Well unless there's something we don't already know about you, you're just upset missing out on getting to watch the hot girl on girl action....This feels like having two respectful and loving breakups you felt okay about, and then your ex’s started dating each other and now you’re feeling kinda not so great about it.
I guess the twist is I have Brady and Evans on my dynasty team, so three's a crowd here. At least in the red zone.Well unless there's something we don't already know about you, you're just upset missing out on getting to watch the hot girl on girl action....
Ohh, judges were looking for the “end” zone there.I guess the twist is I have Brady and Evans on my dynasty team, so three's a crowd here. At least in the red zone.
I hate that I'm not this gracious, and generally incapable of taking the high road. We got dumped by both(feels like), I'm pissed, and hoping they don't make the playoffs................... and then when they both wrap it up down there, I'm full blown in love with them again.Eh. I now have a favorite NFC team to root for.
You got it backwards, Belichick dumped Brady. And I’m ok with that, as well as Brady taking more and leaving for a team that wanted him more and could surround him with better talent.I hate that I'm not this gracious, and generally incapable of taking the high road. We got dumped by both(feels like), I'm pissed, and hoping they don't make the playoffs................... and then when they both wrap it up down there, I'm full blown in love with them again.
Yep, I'm with ya. I don't begrudge others their annoyance or ill wishes from feeling spurned, I get that even if I don't feel that way myself. But I do kinda want to see Brady and Gronk succeed and have fun while doing it. Least I could do, it feels like, after all they've done for us.Eh. I now have a favorite NFC team to root for.
Plus there probably isn't proper drug testing going on right now.Having read various "Gronk has slimmed down and it doesn't matter because it will be fairly easy for him to put some back on if need be" reports and tweets over the last year, I don't understand why some here seem to be suggesting that he is somehow locked in at 240 or whatever. He's rejoining the league, he'll put back on the weight if that's what they want him to do. No?
They would almost have to violate Zoom's terms of service.Plus there probably isn't proper drug testing going on right now.
Stuff lasts in your system awhile I think. And you gotta be on at least 8 weeks to get any real kick.Plus there probably isn't proper drug testing going on right now.
True, but who knows what the mad scientists at Wwe have been working on.Stuff lasts in your system awhile I think. And you gotta be on at least 8 weeks to get any real kick.
It’s the runs well that I’m not so sure about. He’s older, has a bad back, didn’t run as well in 2018 as he had in the past. Image is a great equalizer.Not sure about that. He'll still be the same height so he has that advantage. He is still ripped and will be hard to bring down especially for the smaller LB's and safeties now deployed by many teams. He'll gain some of the weight back. By looking at him recently, I think he is down 25 lbs. So instead of 6-6 265 he's 6-6 240. If he gains 15 lbs back he's still 6-6 255 that runs well.
I’m sure he’s in the clear.True, but who knows what the mad scientists at Wwe have been working on.
The other reality is that those 6 games could be the duration of the NFL regular season.Gronk's first three games will be decent as he shakes off the rust; his next three will be awesome as his size/hands/talent take over; and then reality will strike and injuries or atrophy will "get" him.
That’s where I am. I hope they have a great season and win their conference. I just hope the pats win it all.I wish both TB and Gronk nothing but the best, but I just don't think they both make it through a full season unscathed. Maybe a shortened season will help them stay healthy.
Weirdly -- and I never imagined feeling this way -- I'm excited to see TB play, just as I'm excited to see how the post-TB Pats do.