Liking The Rob Gronkowski Signing
March 19th, 2021
Who among us does not like the Bucs re-signing foot-rubbing, car-littering tight end Rob Gronkowski? There is nothing wrong with this move.
But second-best free agency play in the NFL? That’s what a serial spreadsheeter thinks.
Folically-challenged Billy Barnwell of BSPN, one of the high priests of the spreadsheet crowd, decided to list his top-10 signings of the free agent season. And Billy believes the Bucs bringing back Gronk ranks No. 2.
… Gronk isn’t the physical wrecking ball he was during his prime, but we just saw how effective he still is both as a blocker and receiver for the Bucs in 2020.
After taking the first quarter of the season to recharge his batteries, Gronkowski became a regular part of Tampa’s crowded passing game. Over that time frame, he was fifth among tight ends in receiving yards (535) and tied for third in touchdowns (seven).
Again, Joe cannot argue with the signing. But No. 2? Bigger than tagging Chris Godwin? Bigger than re-signing Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett? Bigger than re-signing Lavonte David? Bigger than re-signing Ryan Succop?
And that’s just the signings the Bucs made. Barnwell is including all 32 teams for his ranking. Joe finds that to be a tremendous reach. But Barnwell is right in that Gronk got better as the season wore on.
He was, as Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians said, in “New England shape” early in the year. The way he played in the playoffs and the Super Bowl, that was the Gronk of old. He found his sea legs.
Another interesting thing Barnwell wrote: Park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing Bucs Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady was the biggest signing of 2020.
That’s being kind. When is the last time a free agent had positively impacted an organization like Brady to Tampa Bay? Joe is guessing maybe not since Reggie White was signed by the Packers.
Of course, if Joe wanted to be an @ss, Joe would say Brady was the biggest free agent signing since Seattle inked Michael Bennett. 🙂
March 19th, 2021 at 6:54 am
Cmon Joe go back and watch Gronk in the playoff game against the aints. Best player on the field that game and zero catches. Lose him and the offense will shrink considerably. Once he got into game shape is when offense started clicking. But yeah second best could still be a bit of a reach.
March 19th, 2021 at 6:54 am
Gronk has a huge impact in the locker room too & that’s another reason Tommy loves him i says
March 19th, 2021 at 7:19 am
Did u see how much some of the other tight ends got ? Gronk is an every down tight end who can block damn near anyone. Most of your so called too tight ends can’t block a cornerback. One of the few true tight ends out there. Clutch can’t be valued high enough.
March 19th, 2021 at 7:39 am
The preoccupation with stats on every player without considering how they affect others around them is why I saw stats are for losers.
Godwin, Suh and Gronkowski are guys that make others around them better and more confident. They put others in position to make plays when they are not.
I believe the word more often used is “intangibles.”
March 19th, 2021 at 7:40 am
Of course, if Joe wanted to be an @ss, Joe would say Brady was the biggest free agent signing since Seattle inked Michael Bennett. 🙂
Got heem!
March 19th, 2021 at 7:42 am
Of course Joe you are right about maybe the most impactful FA signing since Reggie White… An interesting story in the Reggie White GB signing…White told Holmgren he was waiting for God to tell him which team to choose. With that, Holmgren told him that he was told to tell him that God wanted Reggie in Green Bay. And based upon how that deal worked out for both of them, maybe he was right.
March 19th, 2021 at 7:54 am
Look at who the triggered patriots just signed as tight ends
Hunter henry – 3 years. 37.5 mil. 25 mil guaranteed
Jonnu smith. – 4 years. 50 mil. 31 guaranteed
—/
Again , both good tight ends no question. Hunter henry is injured a ton though. And jonnu smith had 1 year of solid production
———
Look at gronk. Yes he is older …but
Its really 8 mil with incentives up to 10 mil. I guess super bowl is extra mil. And maybe catches or tds numbers for the other mil
Joes
I hate to do this so wont mention who but one of your competitors did a great piece on gronk. Its more then him catches balls. He is probably the best run blocking tight end in the nfl and can block at second level too. And he is probably the best pass blocking tight end in the nfl as well. He can line up against the best d ends in the league and block just as good as a tackle. Ask montez sweat and chase young. Plus i agree with his football legs getting better as year went on. He literally jumped off his couch to play in a covid year. He was not in shape. This year he will be. And i have feeling they are drawing up more plays for him as we speak. Exciting times bros.
March 19th, 2021 at 7:55 am
Hey Chris, how are Cletis, Clevis and Clovis? And are the chickens still mourning?
March 19th, 2021 at 8:08 am
A motivated Gronk is unstoppable, just look at.his girlfriend. When I grow up I want to be Gronk. Life is REAL good!
March 19th, 2021 at 8:20 am
@ Razor Ramon : Clevis has shin splits. We’re all eating ribeye steaks tonight w/ Duemig & drinking Grey Goose
March 19th, 2021 at 8:22 am
What about the Saints signing of America’s QB ?
March 19th, 2021 at 8:23 am
The Dominik-Schiano braintrust banked on Bowers. Seems like a lifetime ago. Thankfully those clowns are long gone. Bennett was ready to explode onto the scene. Those idiots convinced themselves he was injury prone. The year before Barber was predicting Bennett to skyrocket..
March 19th, 2021 at 8:42 am
“…Joe is guessing maybe not since Reggie White was signed by the Packers.”
Excellent analogy. I remember that one very well…
March 19th, 2021 at 8:43 am
“Kobe Faker thought maybe possibly Gronk’s Blondie would accept a team friendly contract
Kobe should have known better”
Kobe Faker
March 19th, 2021 at 8:50 am
Bird, you forgot to mention Gronks stats were better in 2020 than Smith and Henry comung of the couch. The blocking is a HUGE bonus. 8 mil is a steal.
March 19th, 2021 at 8:51 am
You know Bennett was signed late in free agency by Seattle. He was available as a free agent for a long time, and I’m pretty sure it was a one year $5m deal because teams were worried about his shoulder that he didn’t want to get fixed. I still feel like we should have re-signed him but unlike other numerous mistakes (Clayton, C. Williams, letting Thomas Jones go and signing Garner, Adams, Hargreaves, Aguayo,…) at least this one had a legit reason for it… they were worried about his health.
March 19th, 2021 at 9:39 am
Gronk pass blocks as well as most starting offensive tackles, better than some, even.
His role in the WFT playoff win was huge. Yeah, second best? Probably not but let them throw flowers at the big fella anyway!
March 19th, 2021 at 9:48 am
KOBE
STFU!!!!!
BL made you look foolish all year!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
March 19th, 2021 at 9:58 am
813 The Bucs made every well-known troll look foolish this year. Steve k did a great job yesterday pulling up some old posts. Ironically one of the few he didn’t bring up were those from realist. True fans, and there were a few of them, who didn’t buy into the strategy at the time did come around. But the trolliest trolls stayed quiet. Kobe now trying to sneak back in, haha.
March 19th, 2021 at 10:32 am
Rojo has to be ecstatic about the signing!
March 19th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
007
BINGO!!!….LOL…
GO BUCS!!!!
March 19th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
I am still mad as hell we let Bennett go. Dude was even willing to take a pay cut to stay. Front office talent evaluaters must have been blind back then. Who the hell let’s a beastly DE just walk away to Seattle. Thank God we are out of that losing mentality. I mean Bennet was unstoppable in seattle. He won a superbowl and he still says he regrets not staying in Tampa.
March 19th, 2021 at 2:49 pm
You guys harping on Bennet is kind of a moot point. The team wasn’t one player away from anything except a perrenial top third draft pick status.
We just win the Dang World Championship!
How freaking long ago was that Bennet crap…
Ancient History B!tche$!!!
In BA I Trust!
March 21st, 2021 at 9:09 am
Glad Gronk signed. And in the case of OJ Howard only 67% of ruptured achilles make back to nfl and at reduced performance so Gronk needed to be signed. Hope the sign Brate too.