2019 Patriots: Post-SB Roster Thread

Harry Hooper

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BSJ's Price on the release of Seferian-Jenkins had this:

By the sound of things, Austin Seferian-Jenkins might be able to come back next month once he gets some personal issues squared away, but his decision to step away is just the latest chapter in an eventful offseason for the Patriots at the position.
 

InstaFace

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That's great except that a mere 2 days ago, we had it straight from the horse's mouth:
Gronkowski, while getting his head shaved for charity at the One Mission Buzz off Kids, told reporters they could put any chance of him putting the pads again on to rest.

“Whatever I say it doesn't matter. It'll always be crazy out there. You can put 'em to rest,” he said. “I'm feeling good, [I’m in] a good place.”
(...)
Gronkowski himself made a joke about coming back early last month at the Billboard Music Awards when he was asked if he was definitely retired.

“I've got that question many times,” he said. “I mess with people, I say 'fake retired' to half the people, I say I'm coming back next week, but yes, I'm actually retired. But I like to mess around, sometimes tell people I'm really not.”
This speculative nonsense is the pro athlete equivalent of believing "no means yes". The dude said it himself. Let's believe him. This isn't Pedro sitting around in 2009 waiting for a call, nor Clemens making it clear he was available, just later in the year.
 

RedOctober3829

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That's great except that a mere 2 days ago, we had it straight from the horse's mouth:

This speculative nonsense is the pro athlete equivalent of believing "no means yes". The dude said it himself. Let's believe him. This isn't Pedro sitting around in 2009 waiting for a call, nor Clemens making it clear he was available, just later in the year.
He may say that now and totally think he’s done which seems to be the case. In September, he may be healthy and suddenly get the itch again. Until a whole season goes by and nothing happens we’ll get this endless speculation.
 

InstaFace

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so "no" might mean "yes", until they scream it from the rooftops for a really long time? Got it. Should definitely keep asking him that question, then, just in case he completely reverses his previous statements. Maybe the 117th time, it'll be different! Because he's a capricious bird, can't be trusted to know what day it is, nevermind what's best for himself on a major life decision after taking a month to think about it. That's why it's such a wise idea to keep asking Belichick about injuries, right? Sooner or later, he always relents with a smile and shares whatever you want to know.
 

RedOctober3829

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so "no" might mean "yes", until they scream it from the rooftops for a really long time? Got it. Should definitely keep asking him that question, then, just in case he completely reverses his previous statements. Maybe the 117th time, it'll be different! Because he's a capricious bird, can't be trusted to know what day it is, nevermind what's best for himself on a major life decision after taking a month to think about it. That's why it's such a wise idea to keep asking Belichick about injuries, right? Sooner or later, he always relents with a smile and shares whatever you want to know.
Jason Witten was done too until he wasn’t.
 

InstaFace

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no means yes, because a guy once said no when, farther down the line, it turned out he reconsidered and got to yes. Therefore we should assume that no means yes for everyone. Because we want the answer to be yes, so we should just ignore any nos and keep asking until we get the yes we want.
 

Harry Hooper

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I don't find the Gronk question so irksome given that BB has pulled guys out of retirement before.
 

Marciano490

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no means yes, because a guy once said no when, farther down the line, it turned out he reconsidered and got to yes. Therefore we should assume that no means yes for everyone. Because we want the answer to be yes, so we should just ignore any nos and keep asking until we get the yes we want.
Do you want a more comprehensive list of athletes who have unretired?
 

InstaFace

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no means yes, because a guy few people once said no when, farther down the line, it turned out he they reconsidered and got to yes. Therefore we should assume that no means yes for everyone. Because we want the answer to be yes, so we should just ignore any nos and keep asking until we get the yes we want.
 

dcmissle

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Jason Witten was done too until he wasn’t.
And has many months to get and stay in football shape. The notion that Gronk is going to parachute in for a plug-and-play is pretty naive, especially given his age, wear and tear and injury history.

If he is training intensely, we’ll learn about it, and I’ll pay attention. Until that happens, I consider him retired for 2019.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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And has many months to get and stay in football shape. The notion that Gronk is going to parachute in for a plug-and-play is pretty naive, especially given his age, wear and tear and injury history.

If he is training intensely, we’ll learn about it, and I’ll pay attention. Until that happens, I consider him retired for 2019.
The dude does push ups while watching Spongebob before going to bed, claims he's "addicted" to working out, and is part of this family:


Of the roadblocks to a Gronk return, staying in football shape seems to me to be the least daunting impediment.
 

dcmissle

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The dude does push ups while watching Spongebob before going to bed, claims he's "addicted" to working out, and is part of this family:


Of the roadblocks to a Gronk return, staying in football shape seems to me to be the least daunting impediment.
That is not football shape. Getting the shit beat out of you on a weekly basis and preparing for that is football shape.
 

Marciano490

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That is not football shape. Getting the shit beat out of you on a weekly basis and preparing for that is football shape.
He’s done it coming off injuries mid season. He’s been in the system forever and is an athletic freak. Top level athletes reacclimate themselves very quickly. It’s why fighters have 6 week training camps.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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It's more than a little possible part of his workout motivation is a future with WWE. A friend of mine was recently named their new head of production/development, and when I asked her half-jokingly to send my love to Gronk when she got to meet him, she said she was already two meetings in.
 

InstaFace

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Hat tip to you, sir. But I'm not sure they were actually retired... at least not Bruschi. I'll give you Seau, who had a Favre-like relationship with retirement.

On the other hand, a great anecdote from that article:
Benjamin Watson caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter, but he was penalized 15 yards for his excessive celebration.

The tight end stuffed the ball under his shirt, patted it, and pointed to the heavens, a salute to his pregnant wife, Kirsten. The officials threw the flag because he used the ball as a prop, and Stephen Gostkowski had to kick off from the 15-yard line. Ultimately, no damage was done, as the Seahawks couldn’t convert the good field position to points.
I guess it was the third pump that did it.
 

Marciano490

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Hat tip to you, sir. But I'm not sure they were actually retired... at least not Bruschi. I'll give you Seau, who had a Favre-like relationship with retirement.

On the other hand, a great anecdote from that article:

I guess it was the third pump that did it.
What? Conceived the child?
 

Eddie Jurak

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If Gronk was absolutely set on a midseason return, wouldn't the Pats have just found a way to put him on the PUP list?

I do think it is possible that he comes back, but more likely than not, he's finished.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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It's more than a little possible part of his workout motivation is a future with WWE. A friend of mine was recently named their new head of production/development, and when I asked her half-jokingly to send my love to Gronk when she got to meet him, she said she was already two meetings in.
Yeah, I don't see him retiring for health problems and then going on tour with the WWE, but I get why people do. Spot appearance, sure, but it's not like the WWE is actually based on physical workouts to succeed, but I'm sure you know that.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Yeah, I don't see him retiring for health problems and then going on tour with the WWE, but I get why people do. Spot appearance, sure, but it's not like the WWE is actually based on physical workouts to succeed, but I'm sure you know that.
Oh I doubt he actually wrestles much ...more like cameo appearances at events and starring in WWE-produced movies and the like.
 

Super Nomario

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The Detroit Lions are trading tight end Michael Roberts to the Patriots for a future, late-round draft pick.

https://twitter.com/Justin_Rogers/status/1139144672113287168
Apologies but not sure how to embed tweets since the forum upgrade.
Makes sense. They needed an Allen replacement. Ryan Izzo might be that guy but he was a 7th rounder who missed all of his rookie year. Roberts provides competition.
 

Harry Hooper

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Interesting section {boldface added} of PFF's guest column for Peter King:

we found that not only does pass coverage (as measured by PFF grades) explain team success better than pass-rushing, but predicts it better as well. This helps explain why the winningest team in the league (New England) has used its only two big-name defensive free-agent signings on cornerbacks over the past decade (Stephon Gilmore and Darrelle Revis), and why defensive end Trey Flowers is currently a Detroit Lion. One need only to go back to last year’s playoffs to see how the quick passing game of today’s NFL mitigates even the strongest pass rush, with the Patriots racking up 78 points en route to the Super Bowl despite facing the vaunted pass rushers on the Chargers and Chiefs.

The caveat to this finding? As a trait, coverage tends to be less stable year to year. The upshot? Invest a lot into coverage, so that some subset of five or six of these players give you an elite group.
 

CaptainLaddie

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Having Gordon would completely flip this roster on its head. He immediately becomes a WR1 in fantasy and changes how the offense looks in a way that no FA or reasonable trade could do so at this point.

I am still hoping and praying that he ends up getting to play at least 6 games this year.
 

Bowhemian

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NFL has to suspend Gordon for at least a few games, right? If he really did fail a drug test as was reported last year, I would think 8 games?
 

dcmissle

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I think so. No clue on the number. League recently said no news on Josh so no timetable.

Brady working with him probably advances at least the timetable on a decision. It also has ramifications for the season if Josh is reinstated during 2019. And it’s decent thing to do for its own sake.

Josh’s problems are not typically this time of year problems. They pop up mostly in season when his anxiety spikes.