Patriots Gridiron News: Rob Gronkowski On His Way Out of New England?

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has missed games due to injury once again this season. Will the team eventually set him free?

Rob Gronkowski is undoubtedly the best tight end in the NFL…when healthy. Will his health issues and unreliability to play a complete 16-game season ultimately end his tenue with the New England Patriots?

One former linebacker believes so. Speaking on CBS Sports Radio, ex-Jets and Ravens player Bart Scott sent waves through Patriots Nation with the following proclamation:

"“Gronk’s on his way out (of New England). Because of injuries, and they don’t stick with you when they see you slipping. When you have a big man that starts having back problems – he’s only in his seventh year, and he has two years remaining.”"

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Gronkowski is once again questionable for this week’s game due to a back injury that is not deemed to be serious. But with the amount of abuse Gronkowsk’s body takes, Scott’s belief that the team will eventually give up on him stems from him simply breaking down.

"“We talk about [his] knee injuries, back injuries, elbow brace forever,” Scott said. “Listen, man, you think Bill Belichick going to stick with you? Negative. He’s not in the foxhole with you.”"

Although there is some truth to the gibberish Scott is talking, Belichick and the Patriots have already put up with a lot when it comes to Rob Gronkowski. They realize how good of a talent he is and how important he is to the offense. They appear willing to take a little bit of Gronkowski when games matter rather than no Gronkowski at all.

Bart Scott also made a point to mention that the team already has the Pro-Bowl tight end’s replacement in Martellus Bennett. While Bennett can fill the role of Gronkowski, he is more of a compliment to him rather than a replacement.

Besides, if the Patriots were already thinking about life without Gronkowski, they wouldn’t have traded the much younger pass-catching tight end, A.J. Derby.

Betting odds: New England enters this week’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams as 13.5-point favorites. The Rams could cover the point spread if they can find a way to get to quarterback Tom Brady and slow down the Patriots’ offense.

With a rookie quarterback in Jared Goff and coming off a 49-21 loss to the New Orleans Saints, it is more likely that the Patriots will cover the spread, especially playing at Gillette Stadium.

Practice squad: The Patriots signed two players to their practice squad Tuesday.

Unsurprisingly, one of those players was rookie running back D.J. Foster. The undrafted free agent was released by the team, cleared waivers, and re-signed to the practice squad.

The team also announced the re-signing of tight end Kennard Backman. Backman was originally signed to the practice squad earlier this month, but was released after just three days. To make room for both players, the Patriots must either release or promote a player currently on the squad.

Next: Boston Bruins Morning Thoughts: A Shootout Loss Still Nets A Point

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