dave mcbride

They did miss it in 2002 (9-7). They went 10-6 in 2005 and lost to Denver in Denver in the divisional round. Brady was fine both seasons. He missed the 2008 season.

Nope: The 2002 and (to a lesser extent) 2005 seasons?

The greatest RB of all time retired at exactly the same age as Gronk. He played 118 games, but fewer than Gronk overall because the latter's postseason appearances.

Chris Simms speaks truth here: https://www.nbcsports.com/video/new-england-patriots-rob-gronkowski-retires-after-nine-seasons?ls=pftvod

Mere counting stats. I can go through any number of postseason games in which HE made the play as much as anyone. To start, the amazing fourth and long catch against Denver in the 2015 AFC championship that put them in position to tie the game. His catches against KC late in the AFC championship game this season. His blocking vs the Chargers this year and vs the Colts in the 2014 afc championship game. His embarrasment of Darby in the Super Bowl last season. it goes without saying that he was a MUCH better blocker than Gonzalez ever was.

Compare Gonzalez’s postseason stats with Gronk’s and pro-rate the numbers: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GonzTo00.htm https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GronRo00.htm

These are mere counting stats. No TE dominated the game like Gronk in his prime. Don’t get me wrong - Gonzalez was a terrific player. But he was nowhere near as good as Gronk. Arguing that he was better than Gronk is like arguing that Don Sutton was better than Sandy Koufax. Primes matter in evaluating a player. Also, look at Gronk’s postseason stats. Seriously.

I think he is the greatest TE in NFL history and that it ain’t even really close. Just look at his postseason stats.

I don’t know what this actually means, although I recognize it’s supposed to be some form of snark. My point is that some people are interested in things that others find boring. For those bored by particular topics to intervene in a thread to criticize those who are interested in the topic seems to me both wrong-headed and a waste of people’s time.

Yeah, that’s basically what I meant. Thanks for the correction.

Every scouting report I’ve read says he has a huge arm.

If you are bored by the topic, why comment at all?

Wow - 10 surgeries on the same knee. I liked him as a player too.This is why players try to get longer deals, and we as fans need to keep that in mind. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/03/23/former-patriots-receiver-malcolm-mitchell-retires/

I have to think that this is what they'll do. If he has a huge year (not likely), he'll be worth that franchise tag money anyway.

I think the situation with both of these guys is that they're oft-injured of late, and we have no idea if their situations are chronic.

I think they absolutely need one at TE. I also think that they could use an elite receiver, an LT better than Dawkins (who isn't that good), and arguably a pass rushing DE (unless you're wedded to a Murphy/Shaq combo). And of course ... DT, where they're currently relying on three guys who generated low-to-minimal production last season.

You are missing my point. An AV rating of "2" equates with a backup non-contributor. There's clearly an error. It was his best season by far yet his Approximate Value rating was the lowest he ever received.

That's screwed up - PFR gave him an AV of only 2 in 2016 despite 9 sacks, 10 TFLs, and 25 QB hits. That's wrong; those numbers are good.

I think it was a little more complicated than that, if I recall correctly. Obviously, though, Graham was a key part of it. It is the case, though, that a couple of the anti-Graham people became full-scale crusaders about the issue, which was not only annoying, but also a pretty lame way to live one's online life. I myself had no dog in that fight.

She's a good person and should be remembered as such.

??? It seems to me that he was clearly expecting him to square in, and he placed it high where only Cook could get it. It looks like a perfectly fine--albeit garden-variety--throw to me. Carr actually had a pretty good season, btw, and played well late. His passer rating in the four previous games was 106.2, and he hadn't thrown a single pick in the previous NINE games.

... and this is comment right here is why Cook is a problem in the eyes of teams, I think. Multiple people here who frankly should know better are blaming the QB (and somehow deciphering a character flaw to boot!) despite the fact that a) it was entirely Cook’s fault and b) carr made the correct read and throw because he had gotten Cook in single coverage against a smaller defender. I don’t think a GM like Beane (and other GMs with young qbs) who are trying to build confidence and faith in their qb among coaches, teammates, the media, and fans want a guy who can stir up the sort controversy that sucks in the qb, who in any event should clearly be held blameless when something like this happens.

It could be argued that Gronk is the ONLY good blocker among good pass catching TEs at the moment, and I think he'll retire. The other good pass-catching TE who comes to mind as a good run blocker is Delanie Walker, but he missed basically all of last season and is old. He may in fact be done; he'll be 35 when the 2019 season begins and he's coming off a serious, Theisman-esque injury to boot. Dual threats at the position are very hard to find.

Yeah, but ... "not a process guy" is my working assumption. To reiterate, that play was a big deal. Carr blew up at him, and rightly so.

Believe it or not, teams watch film! All joking aside, this play from late this past season is already infamous: