A game is the right penalty, I think. His hit was a bit worse than Evans', to me, but not so much so that it warranted an extra game tacked on.
Even if it could stretch to the Pittsburgh game he would appeal. I could be wrong but I think that every suspension is appealed as a matter of course by the NFLPA given that it is one of the few meager defenses the players have against the Park Ave. overlords.Does this mean he could potentially miss the Pittsburgh game? Because if that's even a remote possibility, there's no way he should appeal.
The fact that everyone on ESPN was calling for four games was legit reason to be concerned, given how the league can blow with the wind.Is this an Ed H overreaction special? By God, I think it is!
Why would they stop him from appealing? It's Gronk's issue not theirs.Does he even appeal it? The team has tomorrow off, will he head to Park Avenue or sleep late?
I'm sure it's BB and maybe Kraft's decision more than his.
You're right. And Reiss already says he'll appeal.Why would they stop him from appealing? It's Gronk's issue not theirs.
I think the union would have a significant issue with Belichick or Kraft suggesting Gronk not appeal. Or at least they should.Does he even appeal it? The team has tomorrow off, will he head to Park Avenue or sleep late?
I'm sure it's BB and maybe Kraft's decision more than his.
Neither BB nor Kraft have the slightest say as to whether Gronk can appeal. They have absolutely nothing to gain by getting involved, and a lot to lose.Does he even appeal it? The team has tomorrow off, will he head to Park Avenue or sleep late?
I'm sure it's BB and maybe Kraft's decision more than his.
I think he deserved a suspension. I think I said otherwise in the game thread last night, but I didn't see the hit by Gronk as clearly as I did on replays this morning, and didn't notice the elbow to the head, however, I want to bring up a couple points.
Everyone seems to be claiming that Gronk gave him a concussion with this hit. Is that fact now? I know the guy has a concussion, but do we know it was because of Gronk, and not because of how he landed (on his back and head) after the interception? On replay, it looked to me like he was groggy before Gronk hit him (which explains why he was still laying on the ground at that point, and not celebrating his interception).
Second, what's the penalty for the Bills guy who ripped off Amendola's helmet 15 yards away, at the exact same time the Gronk hit was taking place? You know, after the whistle? Or is ripping someone's helmet off by violently twisting it not as malicious or potentially injury causing as what Gronk did? Does anyone even know the name of the Bills player that did it, which happened right in front of a referee who threw a flag? Just wondering where the outrage is for that.
3rd and 7 at NE 36
(4:50 - 4th) (Shotgun) T.Brady pass deep right intended for R.Gronkowski INTERCEPTED by T.White at BUF 41. T.White to BUF 41 for no gain (P.Dorsett). BUF-T.White was injured during the play. Penalty on NE-R.Gronkowski, Unnecessary Roughness, offsetting. Penalty on NE-D.Amendola, Unnecessary Roughness, offsetting. Penalty on BUF-M.Hyde, Unnecessary Roughness, offsetting. PENALTY on BUF-J.Hughes, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Unsportmanlike conduct foul against an official, penalty assessed after chains set, results in 1st-and-25 for BUF.
I doubt that’s a defense he brings at all, other than maybe to explain his irrational outburst. The defense they’ll likely feature is that he’s never had an event anything like this in 7 years. Since it’s just one game, it might actually work to get him just a massive fine. I’m interested to see how Belichick would react if Gronk got off.With an appeal, Gronk can state his case that he's officiated differently than any other player. While it probably won't help him escape the suspension, maybe it could end up with him getting more holding and PI calls.
Well, there’s no way Gronk would know he was concussed. Had the guy popped back up, he probably would have avoided a suspension, but that’s just life. Lots of people get pulled over for DUI and get a small license suspension. Other drive drunk and kill people and spend years in jail. It might not be “fair,” but when you engage in risky behavior you assume the risk.I'm not sure hitting a guy that's already concussed makes it better.
Maybe. And maybe it will drag out the process long enough that he'll play against Miami and then have to sit against Pittsburgh.With an appeal, Gronk can state his case that he's officiated differently than any other player. While it probably won't help him escape the suspension, maybe it could end up with him getting more holding and PI calls.
No. Again, just no. This will be settled tomorrow, Wednesday latest.Maybe. And maybe it will drag out the process long enough that he'll play against Miami and then have to sit against Pittsburgh.
Like I said, it most likely won't impact the suspension. But, he can use the audience as an opportunity to express his frustrations with how he's been officiated.I doubt that’s a defense he brings at all, other than maybe to explain his irrational outburst. The defense they’ll likely feature is that he’s never had an event anything like this in 7 years. Since it’s just one game, it might actually work to get him just a massive fine. I’m interested to see how Belichick would react if Gronk got off.
Precisely. The reason why he lost his cool in the first place stems from this issue which has been particularly bad this season.With an appeal, Gronk can state his case that he's officiated differently than any other player. While it probably won't help him escape the suspension, maybe it could end up with him getting more holding and PI calls.
That.Maybe. And maybe it will drag out the process long enough that he'll play against Miami and then have to sit against Pittsburgh.
Typically, yes, but Volin (apologies) says that Gronk will not be able to practice or be with team.Can players practice and attend team activities while the appeal is still being adjudicated? If so, that is a good reason to appeal.
Yes, if he thought they were trying to make him miss PIT by dragging out the process, he can always drop the appeal.Maybe. And maybe it will drag out the process long enough that he'll play against Miami and then have to sit against Pittsburgh.
I was mostly tongue in cheek at the concussion part, because I thought parsing whether he "caused" the concussion was silly. IMO, whether Gronk "caused" the concussion, or merely unknowingly drove his forearm into the back of an (unknown to him, but already concussed) prone defenseless player's head really doesn't matter.I doubt that’s a defense he brings at all, other than maybe to explain his irrational outburst. The defense they’ll likely feature is that he’s never had an event anything like this in 7 years. Since it’s just one game, it might actually work to get him just a massive fine. I’m interested to see how Belichick would react if Gronk got off.
Well, there’s no way Gronk would know he was concussed. Had the guy popped back up, he probably would have avoided a suspension, but that’s just life. Lots of people get pulled over for DUI and get a small license suspension. Other drive drunk and kill people and spend years in jail. It might not be “fair,” but when you engage in risky behavior you assume the risk.
Bill Barnwell cited the time a few years back he kept on blocking the Colts guy when he was out of bounds. That seems like a stretch to me, but I suppose it's something.The defense they’ll likely feature is that he’s never had an event anything like this in 7 years.
A suspension does not start until an appeal is adjudicated. See: Elliott, Zeke.Typically, yes, but Volin (apologies) says that Gronk will not be able to practice or be with team.
Volin: Gronk isn't just suspended for the MNF game at Miami. Per a league spokesman, Gronk's suspension starts immediately, and he is not allowed to practice or participate in any football activities this week
I imagine this will be settled before whenever early Wed morning the Pats have to report back (Tuesday is day off).Not being able to be around the team changes the optics some, I assume BB has some level of the standard "if you don't practice you don't play" policy that a lot of coaches use. The number of practice days available comes into play then, so it being MNF helps his chances to be able to timely win his appeal and get several practices in.
I agree it'll be decided by end of Wednesday. I sincerely doubt his appeal will be successful, in which case it's all either ego or optics.
I'm shocked by a lot of the replies here. This wasn't intensity. It was incredibly dirty and dangerous. He should get at least one game and not because boo hoo people hate the Pats or Goodell's a stooge. I'm still a Pats fan, obviously, but fuck Gronk. That was vicious.
Glad to see the sanctimonious “fuck Gronk” bullshit has been relaxed.A game is the right penalty, I think. His hit was a bit worse than Evans', to me, but not so much so that it warranted an extra game tacked on.
"loading Gronk's laptop with Pittsburgh film" sounds like a euphemism Gronk would use to describe the contents of his laptop.Video staff are loading Gronk's laptop with Pittsburgh film as we speak.
Sorry your favorite player wearing your favorite team's jersey acted like an a total asshole. It's not sanctimonious at all. Spend more time around people with head injuries and tell me how poor Gronk lost his temper because some pulled his jersey and he's just some affable guy who only wanted to elbow drop a prone player's skull and neck.Glad to see the sanctimonious “fuck Gronk” bullshit has been relaxed.
This may be correct, but didn't Elliot have an court injunction?A suspension does not start until an appeal is adjudicated. See: Elliott, Zeke.
That’s incredibly weak. He played through the whistle and it was the right call, but it wasn’t dirty. Sergio was equally as engaged, he just got destroyed.Bill Barnwell cited the time a few years back he kept on blocking the Colts guy when he was out of bounds. That seems like a stretch to me, but I suppose it's something.
well... he did get fined for thatThat’s incredibly weak. He played through the whistle and it was the right call, but it wasn’t dirty. Sergio was equally as engaged, he just got destroyed.
Thanks for the excuse for me to do this, though.
Interestingly, the CBA says that the hearing is to be held the Tuesday following the suspension appeal if during the regular season. But that doesn't seem to be how it works in practice. They seem to decide them very fast.Volin is as usual half right. Suspension is technically pending while under appeal, so Gronk could potentially join the team until his appeal is ruled upon. Appeals for on field incidents normally happen very quickly. Basically, the appeal is heard by a two person committee, who basically will interview Gronk and make a decision.
There is no danger of Gronk playing in Miami but missing the Pittsburgh game. Actually, there technically could be a risk if Gronk was to take the full 3 days to file the appeal (which would mean Thursday), but I really don't see that happening. If Gronk files the appeal today or Tuesday, I'm quite sure a decision will be made by Wednesday.
The scheduling refers to suspensions under section 1(a), which was the section under which Brady and Elliot got suspended. Gronk is being suspended under section 1(b), which pertains to suspensions due to unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct. There is no requirement of scheduling for appeals under Section 1(b), but from a practical matter they are decided upon rather quickly, as they are heard by the discipline committee, not the Commissioner.Interestingly, the CBA says that the hearing must be held by the Tuesday following the suspension appeal if during the regular season. But that doesn't seem to be how it works in practice. They seem to decide them very fast.
Still, it seems like a bit of a loophole if you can appeal the suspension and thereby practice with the team but then serve the suspension later that week and so have avoided part of the suspension -- the part where you don't get to practice.
Reading the CBA (and it's article 46), it sure looks to me as though the idea was to postpone the suspension by a week when the player appeals (if affirmed), but, again, it doesn't seem to work like that in practice.
I've been thinking since this happened that you can draw a straight line between throwing Sergio out of the club and this incident. When Gronk gets enraged on the field, he wants to physically dominate someone. He expresses his frustration physically. In the case with Sergio it was over trash talk, there wasn't great video of the most egregious part of the play (minus the above still which made the rounds), and most importantly, Sergio didn't get hurt and there wasn't a head-injury element to the incident, although there easily could have been. And then there was the great quote after the game that cast the incident in a funny light rather than a predatory/malicious one. He was fined for the play, but everyone had a laugh.That’s incredibly weak. He played through the whistle and it was the right call, but it wasn’t dirty. Sergio was equally as engaged, he just got destroyed.
Thanks for the excuse for me to do this, though.
Phew, league went with actual precedent, but hard not to have been worried with the media Gronk’s a murderer takes. This is the right call, he might even get it overturned on appeal.
The fact that everyone on ESPN was calling for four games was legit reason to be concerned, given how the league can blow with the wind.
No it was a typical gross overreaction by you. Sometimes some of your posts are a complete joke. You should do better.
Typical overreaction by you Ed. Sometimes your posts are idiotic. Please try to do better next time.ESPN talking heads all calling for four games, so be prepared. We know how this goes.
I will now say he gets 3, appealed down to 2. Possibly costs them homefield and the Superbowl. I’d be pleasantly surprised if he’s playing in Pitt at this point.
Got it -- so I guess so long as they agree to a telephonic hearing then it will get decided this week. I would think an actual hearing hearing might take longer. But I'm guessing those don't happen under 1(b).The scheduling refers to suspensions under section 1(a), which was the section under which Brady and Elliot got suspended. Gronk is being suspended under section 1(b), which pertains to suspensions due to unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct. There is no requirement of scheduling for appeals under Section 1(b), but from a practical matter they are decided upon rather quickly, as they are heard by the discipline committee, not the Commissioner.
For completeness, it should be noted that there is no risk of the penalty increasing as a result of the appeal, as 1(b) penalties cannot be increased upon appeal.
Sure, but I think it’s weak evidence to suggest he’s a dirty player, especially if it’s the best example someone has over a career of his length. I would hope the league office wouldn’t use it to consider someone a repeat offender.well... he did get fined for that
This is right. This is not a "small" penalty. This is potentially massive given the incentives in Gronks' contract, so he has to appeal, and frankly, appeals like this are successful fairly often based on what I remember, although I'm not certain.Small detail on this, if not already mentioned. This makes it very unlikely that Gronk can earn his $5.5 million incentive for this year without being first team All Pro -- and missing this game may hurt him there. He's very close to the $3 million incentive, but in the end this could well be a $2.5 million penalty.