538 replies to this topic

[ivanvamp]

I thought the same thing.

Me too! But I bet he wasn't thinking, "Missed field goals ain't gonna beat us!"

[Al Zarilla]

Not a comp - only using him as a guy with some talent who destroyed himself by going overboard with the partying. Natural exuberance can get a guy into trouble if he doesn't check himself now and then.

OK, I didn't know that about McDermott. Gronk seems like a big kid that just enjoys the hell out of what he does, and he gets paid for it too?!!?

[loshjott]

Pats sign TE Carson Butler; Gronk misses Thursday practice.

Gulp?

[Super Nomario]

Pats sign TE Carson Butler; Gronk misses Thursday practice.

Gulp?

They also put Doris Dickerson on practice squad IR.

[Jed Zeppelin]

Pats sign TE Carson Butler; Gronk misses Thursday practice.

Gulp?

No? Why would they risk anything in the first of two practice weeks? Giants sat a bunch of starters including Nicks and Bradshaw. Just being smart.

[loshjott]

They also put Doris Dickerson on practice squad IR.

We're doomed.

[Super Nomario]

We're doomed.

I just mean that Butler's signing probably has more to do with that than with Gronk's injury.

[axx]

I'm sure BB will do what it takes to ensure that Gronk's real condition is under wraps. We won't know for sure how much Gronk will play until the game.

[Ferm Sheller]

Pats sign TE Carson Butler; Gronk misses Thursday practice.

Gulp?

If they're going to put any doubt in the Giants' minds regarding Gronk's availability, and you know they want to, they needed to add another TE to the roster.

[Manzivino]

Let's look at the likeliest scenario:

Gronk will not practice this week. He will be "limited" every practice next week. His injury comments to the media will be sparse and in the vein of "I'm fine", "Just taking it a day at a time", "Doing everything I can to get myself ready to play the Giants", and "GRONK SMASH!" He will be listed as questionable for the game. He will play and be 100-X% effective. We will spend the first series solving for X.

Prepare yourselves accordingly.

[Dogman2]

I thought Dave Roberts Shoes said it best when Gronk returned to the last game. He wouldn't have been playing if he was seriously hurt.

[SMU_Sox]

I thought Dave Roberts Shoes said it best when Gronk returned to the last game. He wouldn't have been playing if he was seriously hurt.

Logic has no room in a good old fashion conspiracy theory medley.

[DrewDawg]

They likely need another TE to run through their sets in practice no?

[EddieYost]

They likely need another TE to run through their sets in practice no?

That's what I was thinking. Another body for practice.

[Ferm Sheller]

Let's look at the likeliest scenario:

Gronk will not practice this week. He will be "limited" every practice next week. His injury comments to the media will be sparse and in the vein of "I'm fine", "Just taking it a day at a time", "Doing everything I can to get myself ready to play the Giants", and "GRONK SMASH!" He will be listed as questionable for the game. He will play and be 100-X% effective. We will spend the first series solving for X.

Prepare yourselves accordingly.

See Terrell Owens in Super Bowl 39. Reports all week had him near amputation and what did he do? 9 catches for 122 yards.

[snowmanny]

See Terrell Owens in Super Bowl 39. Reports all week had him near amputation and what did he do? 9 catches for 122 yards.

Well if you recall he did sleep in a hyperbaric chamber.

[Harry Hooper]

That's what I was thinking. Another body for practice.

Well, it is the practice squad after all.

[Ferm Sheller]

Well if you recall he did sleep in a hyperbaric chamber.

Gronk sleeps in a race car bed. I'm sure of it.

[Salva135]

I hope Mayo is buying the drinks among that crew.

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

I thought Dave Roberts Shoes said it best when Gronk returned to the last game. He wouldn't have been playing if he was seriously hurt.

Yeah, what he said. Besides, I'm not just some shitty dermatologist, I know things about ankles and shit.

[Ferm Sheller]

Yeah, what he said. Besides, I'm not just some shitty dermatologist, I know things about ankles and shit.

To be fair, though, it doesn't take a doctor to reach that conclusion.

[PaulinMyrBch]

Just saw the miked up half hour special on NFL network. Post game, Gronk is on the field near the podium and Belichick leans down from the stage to get his ear. BB says that's why we brought you here, are you OK? Gronk replies I'm good. That footage also showed him coming back to the sidelines from the locker room, he wasn't just meandering, he was outright bouncing out to the huddle. No noticeable restrictions. I think we've got a weeks worth of conservative news, doing nothing to inflame it, and tight tape and a full go for Indy.

[ivanvamp]

Just saw the miked up half hour special on NFL network. Post game, Gronk is on the field near the podium and Belichick leans down from the stage to get his ear. BB says that's why we brought you here, are you OK? Gronk replies I'm good. That footage also showed him coming back to the sidelines from the locker room, he wasn't just meandering, he was outright bouncing out to the huddle. No noticeable restrictions. I think we've got a weeks worth of conservative news, doing nothing to inflame it, and tight tape and a full go for Indy.

I have zero doubt he'll play. I also suspect he won't be 100%. But a 90% Gronk is still a force of nature. My only real concern is if the Giants (who were targeting Williams of SF, if the reports are accurate, because he had suffered a concussion and they wanted to knock him out) go after it...make a hard tackle there.

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

To be fair, though, it doesn't take a doctor to reach that conclusion.

Yeah, but I'm the only one who will charge you a co-pay for the privilege.

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

I have zero doubt he'll play. I also suspect he won't be 100%. But a 90% Gronk is still a force of nature. My only real concern is if the Giants (who were targeting Williams of SF, if the reports are accurate, because he had suffered a concussion and they wanted to knock him out) go after it...make a hard tackle there.

So you are suggesting that Gronk might catch a ball and a Giant's defender might try to make a hard tackle on his ankle? So basically you are expecting someone to dive at his feet instead of making a sure tackle, knowing full well that Gronk is likely athletic enough to avoid them and keep romping down the field. Yea, let the Giants try that.

[SemperFidelisSox]

Some compulsive gambler will take the Carson Butler for MVP prop bet.

[Freddy Linn]

Gronk sleeps in a race car bed. I'm sure of it.

I'm picturing the set of Silver Spoons, with Deion Branch as Alfonso Ribeiro. Hopefully with Belichick playing the role of John Houseman.

[Ferm Sheller]

Yeah, but I'm the only one who will charge you a co-pay for the privilege.

Yeah, and send me your bill 50 times at 44 cents per mailing to get that $10.

[wiffleballhero]

My only real concern is if the Giants (who were targeting Williams of SF, if the reports are accurate, because he had suffered a concussion and they wanted to knock him out) go after it...make a hard tackle there.

It is interesting to see this because I've always (maybe wrongly) generally thought that football was the sport least likely to have players trying to take out another guy. It seems that if NY is seen as trying to take down Gronk, you are only one play away from more sever retribution. The game seems to self regulate because it is so damn easy to all but kill each other pretty near the actual rules? No?

[NomosRubber]

You would think so, but I kept waiting and nothing happened to Pollard, so . . .

[Adrian's Dome]

You would think so, but I kept waiting and nothing happened to Pollard, so . . .

Because Pollard's hit wasn't dirty? Some of you are acting like the guy intentionally superman'd straight into Gronk's ankle.

[Salva135]

Those pics give a good sense of just how big Gronk is. There are regular people trying to squeeze under his armpit, he's far and away the biggest dude in the room.

[ivanvamp]

So you are suggesting that Gronk might catch a ball and a Giant's defender might try to make a hard tackle on his ankle? So basically you are expecting someone to dive at his feet instead of making a sure tackle, knowing full well that Gronk is likely athletic enough to avoid them and keep romping down the field. Yea, let the Giants try that.

No, but you could form tackle him (a hard enough task as it is), and as you slide down his legs, you could give the ankle a little extra jolt. There's no way in the history of football there haven't been situations like this.

[DegenerateSoxFan]

As long as no one gets pics of Gronk taking bong hits, I'm fine with it.

Gronk doesn't need bong hits. I strongly suspect that his brain contains some some natural substance that closely mimics the effects of cannabis.

[TheoShmeo]

Yeah, what he said. Besides, I'm not just some shitty dermatologist, I know things about ankles and shit.

Dave, my non-doctor conclusion was that we learned when Gronk returned that he had no structural damage but not much else. I'm mouthing words here but I assume that the adrenaline played a role in his return and that his ankle swelled up on Monday.

Should we conclude from the fact that he had no structural damage that he'll be close to 100% two weeks later? Will the Pats give him some kind of a shot before the game?

[Salva135]

Gronk doesn't need bong hits. I strongly suspect that his brain contains some some natural substance that closely mimics the effects of cannabis.

That's not the substance I'm thinking about when I think about Gronk and his behavior.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Personally I'm not going to fret about Gronk's participation in practice until next week at the earliest.

[RedOctober3829]

Personally I'm not going to fret about Gronk's participation in practice until next week at the earliest.

I'm not going to fret at all about him practicing. Get him as healthy as possible and if that means no practice time then oh well. Mental reps are just as important as physical reps and Gronk(all joking aside) will be studying with the rest of the offense.

[Reggie's Racquet]

I think this scenario is about as perfect as it can be for a coach like Belichick. Keep your opponent guessing about your biggest offensive weapon.

[TheoShmeo]

Personally I'm not going to fret about Gronk's participation in practice until next week at the earliest.

For sure. It's not in the least bit surprising that they're keeping him out of practice now. Based on all that we know and past examples like TO, I think the only time to fret would be if the Pats declare him out. Until then, no manner of caution regarding practice is going to worry me.

[Bucknahs Bum Ankle]

I think this scenario is about as perfect as it can be for a coach like Belichick. Keep your opponent guessing about your biggest offensive weapon.

Does it really matter that much though? Coughlin and his staff are going to game plan primarily for Gronk being there. They'll also game plan for situations where Gronk won't be available. But I don't think that latter game planing will detract from the amount of work they'll be putting in to preparing for the Gronk. I think the only situation it might make a difference in is if it turns out Gronk isn't available. Then maybe the Giants will be under prepared for how Belichick will try to make up for his absence, but that's not a situation that's likely benefit the Pats at all.

[Groovenstein]

Yeah, what he said. Besides, I'm not just some shitty dermatologist, I know things about ankles and shit.

Everyone here knows how good of a dermatologist you are.

[8slim]

Does it really matter that much though? Coughlin and his staff are going to game plan primarily for Gronk being there. They'll also game plan for situations where Gronk won't be available. But I don't think that latter game planing will detract from the amount of work they'll be putting in to preparing for the Gronk. I think the only situation it might make a difference in is if it turns out Gronk isn't available. Then maybe the Giants will be under prepared for how Belichick will try to make up for his absence, but that's not a situation that's likely benefit the Pats at all.

Yeah, it doesn't really matter. It's not like Coughlin is sitting there in his office with his defensive game plan paralyzed because Gronk's in a walking boot.

[abty]

The Giants have to assume he's 100% and act accordingly. If they are stupid enough to think for a second they can plan any other way then they deserve to lose this game.

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

No, but you could form tackle him (a hard enough task as it is), and as you slide down his
legs, you could give the ankle a little extra jolt. There's no way in the history of football there haven't been situations like this.

Guys in the NFL are amazing athletes but you give them too much credit. Gronk has 40-50 pounds on many of the DBs often trying to tackle him. And he is easily bigger the. Many lbers as well. To think that someone is self aware enough to form tackle someone that much bigger then you at full speed and remember to give te ankle an extra twist is not realistic. After the play might a guy try to step on it, sure maybe.

During the play gronk probably has guys at his feet and ankles all the time and that rise more risk this week the others due to the injuries. But there is a difference between attacking a guys feet because he is hurt and trying to tackle him low/tangle him up because he is bigger then you

[DaveRoberts'Shoes]

Dave, my non-doctor conclusion was that we learned when Gronk returned that he had no structural damage but not much else. I'm mouthing words here but I assume that the adrenaline played a role in his return and that his ankle swelled up on Monday.

Should we conclude from the fact that he had no structural damage that he'll be close to 100% two weeks later? Will the Pats give him some kind of a shot before the game?

Based on what I've seen from the plays when he came back and the footage after the game, he was moving and feeling pretty good. It's true that adrenaline can play a role in this, but if he had a very significant injury he still would have been more limited, I think. I would expect that he would be a little less than 100% but still able to be a significant factor. As for an injection, if he does have a "high ankle sprain", this is a hard thing to inject - the area of injury is much bigger than can really be effectively injected. He'll get the usual toradol pre-game, but probably not a local injection.

[jsinger121]

Gronk's dad says its a high ankle sprain.

http://www.csnne.com...70790501903-932

[drleather2001]

Um... is his dad familiar with Bill Belichick's preferred way of doing things? Like...at all?


EDIT:

The elder Gronkowski also told WIVB sports reporter John Murphy off camera that his son suffered a high ankle sprain.

That's some pretty low shit right there. Guy pretty clearly A) was not talking about the injury during the actual interview; and B) thought it was off the record.

If I were the Patriots I'd be pissed off to the nth degree.

Edited by drleather2001, 27 January 2012 - 11:50 AM.

[dcmissle]

Based on what I've seen from the plays when he came back and the footage after the game, he was moving and feeling pretty good. It's true that adrenaline can play a role in this, but if he had a very significant injury he still would have been more limited, I think. I would expect that he would be a little less than 100% but still able to be a significant factor. As for an injection, if he does have a "high ankle sprain", this is a hard thing to inject - the area of injury is much bigger than can really be effectively injected. He'll get the usual toradol pre-game, but probably not a local injection.

The last one of these we had was with Big Ben, who appeared much more hobbled after the injury than Gronk.

I recall a lot of confusing back and forth about whether Ben took the needle in later games, but i think the end of it was that he didn't, cause you end up medicating the entire lower leg, which is a non-starter. Is that right?

[steveluck7]

Um... is his dad familiar with Bill Belichick's preferred way of doing things? Like...at all?


EDIT:



That's some pretty low shit right there. Guy pretty clearly A) was not talking about the injury during the actual interview; and B) thought it was off the record.

If I were the Patriots I'd be pissed off to the nth degree.

I agree to an extent. It's not like there is much doubt as to "what" the injnury was, esp. when watching the NFL films piece with Gronk saying "my ankle." I do think it was kind of smarmy of the reporter to spill it if it was said off camera. At the very least, he took advantage of Mr. G's politeness and ignorance of they way things are, vis a vis comments on the record vs. off.

Edited by steveluck7, 27 January 2012 - 12:05 PM.