“He’s Kind Of A Savant”
August 13th, 2021
Rob Gronkowski is a coach and quarterback’s dream, and apparently a fellow tight end’s dream, too, but only if you’re paying attention.
Asking Gronk for help might not go too well, explained Cameron Brate.
The Bucs’ eighth-year tight end, Brate, entered the league four years after Gronk and obviously has a lot less experience. So he’s been focused on learning from the future Hall of Famer and has picked up plenty — with his eyes.
“He’s got an unbelievable work ethic. You know, he’s in his 11th year or whatever, and he really just grinds every single day, never asks for any time off, does all the little things, really finishes every play to the whistle,” Brate said of Gronk during a visit to WDAE radio. “So I’ve picked up so much just watching him, because if you ask him he doesn’t always have a good answer.
“He’s kind of a savant, you know.”
Fun answer there by Brate, who added that Gronk is as advertised when it comes to personality and energy, and Brate added that the two of them have become close.
Expectations are sky high this season, Brate said, and he feels the Bucs are ready for the scrutiny and the best shot from every opponent.
As for that famous Super Bowl trophy catch on the Hillsborough River, Brate said most of what he recalls is from various reports. “I wish I hadn’t drank so much before that [so] I could remember it.”
August 13th, 2021 at 2:10 pm
Before Gronk retires…maybe we should look to draft a tight end with great blocking ability and can be a special teams stud to add to our group of young talented pass catching group of tight ends….just a thought!!
August 13th, 2021 at 2:41 pm
Hard to believe the pats gave 87 to Tre Nixon.
August 13th, 2021 at 2:59 pm
People generally put IDIOT before savant, a Harvard educated Brate knows that.
Talk about your backhanded compliments.
August 13th, 2021 at 3:38 pm
American English Dictionary definition says:
savant (noun): a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist.
Savant is a word that has been around since the 18th century. Describing Gronk with it is not backhanded at all.
August 13th, 2021 at 3:41 pm
“So I’ve picked up so much just asking him, because if you ask him he doesn’t always have a good answer.” I assume you meant to type “just watching him,” orther wise it doesn’t make sense. I know, rather nitpicky.
Gronk is always a clown when asked a question, but that’s him, not some pretend persona. He’s a genuine fun loving guy that doesn’t let his off-field demeanor affect his on-field professionalism. I think Brate is already a hell of a player, but if he can up his game just watching Gronk, all the better.
August 13th, 2021 at 3:42 pm
A Harvard grad would also know the first definition of savant not the second is what was meant in Brate’s choice of the word to describe Gronk, wouldn’t he?
August 13th, 2021 at 4:17 pm
“I wish I hadn’t drank so much before that [so] I could remember it.”
Show of hands! 🖐️
August 13th, 2021 at 4:20 pm
I agree PSL bob , reading that paragraph made me feel like medicated Pete for a moment. Confusing Joe.
August 13th, 2021 at 4:27 pm
I vote Jason for post of the day.
August 13th, 2021 at 4:36 pm
My favorite Brate quote on the parade is that he said something to the effect that if he dropped the Lombardi Trophy he would have retired right there. LOL!
August 13th, 2021 at 4:43 pm
Hard to believe Brate has been here 8 years already. Seems like a lot less. Some people here keep wanting to run him out of town but I hope he stays as long as he can. Good player, great hands.
August 13th, 2021 at 5:05 pm
I think Cam is referring to the incongruous contrast between what he has learned about Gronk’s genius level understanding of playing tight end and the jovial personality which at times could be mistaken for that of a dimwit.
August 13th, 2021 at 6:27 pm
Gosh fellas, I was just having some fun. No reason to take things so seriously.
August 13th, 2021 at 7:13 pm
Brate: How do I improve my inside move on routes across the LBs?
Gronk: Boat parade, Bud Light.
August 13th, 2021 at 7:20 pm
I would of thought Pat’s would of retired Gronks 87, I also assume he would be in the Patriots HOF unless they’re just soar losers.
August 13th, 2021 at 7:34 pm
Listnfrmafar – you normally retire numbers after a play retires. I would have been weird for the Bucs to retire Sapp’s 99 while he was playing with the Raiders.
August 13th, 2021 at 10:15 pm
Some people like to undercut others the comment about a savant with idiot as a prefix, is a perfect example of someone who thinks he is educated and therefore smart???, and can judge others , who he is likely jealous of. No wonder this world is so screwed up. We have people who don’ t want us to judge others yet continously are themdelves judging!!!
August 13th, 2021 at 11:33 pm
Wow,Len has second great post👍
August 14th, 2021 at 1:18 am
Id take Brate over OJ any day.
August 14th, 2021 at 3:37 am
Len – sorry dullard, but you got the wrong guy, I always want people judged and made fun of. Words don’t hurt, so you should use words in a way that is entertaining, unlike yourself who uses words as a replacement for ambien.
August 14th, 2021 at 3:43 am
Colin in Canada – Will you take Brate with the game on the line? Say in the 4th quarter, at home, against the Texans, with just under 3 mins left, on 4th down and 4, at the Texans 30, needing a TD to win the game… Is that when you’d take Brate?
Because we saw what happens, he drops the easiest ball he’s ever thrown when the pressure is on and cost the Bucs the game.
Brate is the Humphries of TE’s… and does anyone on this board (outside of me of course) even know where Humphries is playing any more? That comes after years of people here telling Humphries was a starting caliber WR who could start for almost every other team in the NFL… That’s Brate, he’s a very good depth TE who should never ever ever be counted on to start.
That’s also where OJ is different. If he could ever stay healthy, he’d be someone that could start and be an asset down the road. Again, IF he can stay healthy, and that’s a legit counter argument for sure. But there’s a reason the Bucs cut Brate’s salary once again this offseason while, in a total cash crunch, they paid $6m to bring back OJ as a backup. OJ has a future as a starter… if he can stay healthy.
August 14th, 2021 at 11:50 am
Nobody (rest of NFL)understands what’s coming for them. Brady bouncing around like a kid. AB is healthy,so is Evans and the rest of the best receiving corp in the NFL. Not to mention the beastie boys at the and running backs. Barring catastrophe injuries across the board. I forsee Brady breaking single season passing records. I’ve followed Brady since michigan ,20 yrs with the patriots. My boy has never had this many weapons. His 43 yr old brain may lock up from trying to decide who to throw to!
August 14th, 2021 at 1:27 pm
M. Steelman
Spot on!