Patriots Gridiron News: Rob Gronkowski is simply an All-Pro football player
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is not catching passes like he used to, but he is still having an impact on football games.
Forget the retirement talk, forget the season of failed incentives. What New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has done thus far this post season has proved him to be an All-Pro football player.
It’s really as simple as that. Typically, when a player starts to hit a decline, Bill Belichick shifts them off before they fully hit that decline. If all the rumors are true about an offseason trade involving the Detroit Lions, then that is exactly what the Patriots coach tried to do.
If that trade actually went down, Belichick would’ve been right about that decision. With just 47 receptions for 682 yards and three touchdowns, the Rob Gronkowski Patriots fans know and love showed obvious signs of decline. He wasn’t able to separate or accelerate like the beast he was even a season ago.
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Some of that was due to the injuries he played through and some was due to the way teams begin to cover Gronkowski, but what stood out was his inability to use his speed on routes. The most feared offensive playmaker in the NFL became an average tight end as far as the numbers were concerned.
But, like his future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Tom Brady, you can’t count out greatness in big games. With just one catch in the AFC Divisional Round game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Rob Gronkowski found a way to impact the game with his blocking.
He was key in the running game and also an asset in pass blocking. He took that attribute to the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs. This time, however, the playmaker in Rob Gronkowski re-emerged.
With six catches for 79 yards, (two of which being huge receptions to set up touchdown drives), Gronkowski proved why he is still better than his counterpart Travis Kelce in the ways he is able to impact a football game beyond the offensive production. NFL analysts are seeing it and praising it and his teammates certainly know it.
"“His name is Robert Gronkowski, and he’s probably the best tight end that’s ever laced ‘em up,” Patriots captain Matthew Slater said during an appearance on Monday Night Patriots, as transcribed by Yahoo! Sports. “You can never count him out as long as he’s on the field. And again, this kid’s been through so many challenges over the course of his career, and what has he done every time? He’s stepped up, he’s found a way to play himself back into things. We knew he had something in there, and we saw it tonight.”"
What the New England Patriots and Rob Gronkowski have done is re-invent his importance within the offense. No longer is he the focal point of the offense, but now he is a vital piece to the offense who can do multiple things to help the team execute game plans in whichever facet they come.
Doing whatever it takes to win
These two playoff games have really shown the maturity of Rob Gronkowski. It is players like him doing whatever it takes to win that is the reason for the New England Patriots success, particularly this year.
He is willing to block, play special teams and obviously still catch the ball. Whatever the coach orders, he is willing to do. Although he has always been that type of team player, it is really standing out now.
"“Whatever it is.” Gronkowski said following the AFC Championship Game. “I have to block, I have to receive. It’s crucial. The team depends on me in many situations in the run game and in the pass game. I’ve just been fighting all year long so when situations come like this I’m ready to go and ready to make some plays. So whatever coaches ask me to do I’m always down to try my best and give it my all.”"
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While Gronkowski is not giving credence to the retirement talks, if he doesn’t decide to hang up the helmet, these last two games has showcased his ongoing value to the team. What once seemed inevitable that he was playing his last games in a New England Patriots uniform, now appears not so easily the case.
Maybe there’s a new version of Rob Gronkowski that can continue playing on for a few more seasons. Or, at least while Tom Brady is still throwing a football.