Gronk Is Too Special For Special Teams
I got into a fight about this on Facebook with a guy today, so I figured there were similar sentiments out there today and I wanted to share my two cents here.
For those of you who didn't hear the news last night, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski broke his forearm during an extra point near the end of the Pats' blowout of Indianapolis yesterday.
And for those of you who don't know who Rob Gronkowski is, he set an all-time NFL record last year for touchdowns by a tight end. He was so good last year, Westford Patch went grocery shopping on his behalf.
So, here's my question for all of you: should Gronk have been out there on special teams?
Normally, blocking is an expected part of the job for a tight end, and plenty of blocking is needed on an extra point attempt. But the Pats have plenty of other people who can block.
If Gronk is as special as everyone says he is, he shouldn't have been out there, and if he's needed on special teams, then maybe he isn't as special as everyone says he is, and the sky isn't really falling.
DJ
1:00 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Andy great topical blog!
This is a tricky one I think because now you have to start debating players' value as well as in game strategy. So if your team is up by 3 points with 8 minutes to go you keep Gronk in...10pts still in...15 points hmmm...21 points take him out for sure bc its impossible the opponent can come back right? From what I have heard/read, with the Pats up 34 going on 35 points the extra point involved minimal contact, the injury was a freak one...that would have happened eventually anyways? I know the eventually part is impossible to rely on, but clearly the injury was of the freaky nature. And generally speaking in the NFL nobody roles out their '2nd team'...ever. It is an interesting debate regardless, thankfully as a Pats fan Gronk should be back before the year is out.