New England Patriots: The Pats don’t need Rob Gronkowski
By Sam Minton
The question all offseason has been will Rob Gronkowski return to the New England Patriots. As time goes on it is much easier to imagine the big fella leaving.
There is no doubting Rob Gronkowski’s talent. He has redefined the tight end position. He will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but with Gronkowski pondering retirement, New England Patriots fans may be able to picture life without Gronk.
Now if Gronk doesn’t return, the Patriots will lose a big part of their offense. Gronk is a guy who you can throw the ball up to and he will be able to fight off defenders to get the pigskin. He is deadly in the red zone. In his career with the Patriots, Gronkowski has 474 catches 7,179 receiving yards and 76 touchdowns. You don’t find that type of talent just laying around.
But, the New England Patriots have the best quarterback in the league. Tom Brady could probably make this 5’7″ college student a pro bowler. He has played better with lesser talent (remember Josh Boyce, Brandon Tate, and Aaron Dobson). The Patriots also have a great wide receiving corps. Brandin Cooks, Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, and Cordarrelle Patterson are a great group of guys. Brady will still have plenty of targets to throw to. He also will still have Rex Burkhead and James White catching balls out of the backfield.
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A new and improved backfield
The Patriots also made an important free agent signing in the offseason. As Chowder and Champions own Tarringo Basile-vaughan put it, “Jeremy Hill should not be slept on.” In 54 games for the Cincinnati Bengals he had 704 rushes for 2873 yards and 29 touchdowns. He is a power back, something the Patriots are in desperate need of. The Pats have been looking to fill the hole that was left by LeGarrette Blount ever since he left.
This has been one of the most interesting offseasons in recent New England Patriots history. There is a lot of questions as the season approaches. The most important being will the best tight end in the NFL be returning to New England?
Next: Trading Gronk would be Belichick's worst move
There is no doubting his talent, but life without Rob Gronkowski may not be that bad.