Tag: Rob Gronkowski

Brian Hoyer explains why Rob Gronkowski was better tight end than Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce is a phenomenal tight end, but he isn’t Rob Gronkowski, per QB Brian Hoyer

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is widely regarded as the greatest tight end of all time, and one of his former teammates took the time to explain why.

Quarterback Brian Hoyer played with Gronkowski for four seasons and got to see his production firsthand. Gronkowski was an offense catalyst for New England for nine seasons, recording 7,861 receiving yards and 79 touchdowns. He immediately burst onto the scene, catching 17 touchdown passes in his second season in 2011. The touchdown catches are an NFL record to this day.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is certainly having a strong career in his own right, and he has started receiving comparisons to Gronkowski in terms of his playmaking ability. On top of that, the Chiefs are being compared to the Patriots as the next great dynasty. Hoyer was a guest on the “Pats from the Past Podcast” and made sure to give Gronkowski his flowers.

While Hoyer did not diminish Kelce’s efforts, he noted that blocking is something that separates the two.

“Having played with him, maybe I’m a little biased, but [Gronkowski is] the greatest tight end of all time,” said Hoyer. “Not only because of his size, speed, and when you think of a tight end’s ability to run routes and catch. But, because he was such a great blocker that teams had to honor that. And I think that’s what made him so dynamic.

“We look at Travis Kelce today, phenomenal tight end, but really, Travis isn’t blocking anybody. Rob would block like he was the right tackle. …Rob really changed the game in that matter because he was a lineman, who was the premier pass catcher at the same time.”

It’s hard to argue with Kelce’s accomplishments, especially with the Kansas City Chiefs primed to make another Super Bowl run in 2024. However, Gronkowski still reigns supreme as the best overall tight end, at least for now.

Rob Gronkowski makes his choice for Patriots third overall draft pick

Who does Rob Gronkowski believe the Patriots should select at No. 3 overall on the draft board?

The New England Patriots are in a prime position to take a quarterback with the third overall selection in the upcoming NFL draft.

Analysts and personalities alike have spent the last couple of months predicting who the Patriots will take at No. 3 overall. Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski offered another prediction on Monday.

The Patriots need a franchise quarterback, and New England is in a position to select either Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye with the pick. The team has done its homework on both players with multiple meetings, including pro days and top-30 visits.

Gronkowski believes the Patriots may be selecting the UNC star third overall, as he told Rob Hardy and Jon Wallach.

“Oh yeah, I think the Patriots definitely need to go quarterback, or if they don’t go quarterback, they need to get Marvin Harrison Jr. I think he is the best skill player in the draft. If they don’t go quarterback, you would have to take him then instead.

“…I think they’re gonna go quarterback though. I think they’re going to go in that direction. I think Drake Maye is going to be the guy that is going to be available at number three for them.”

Maye would certainly be an ideal choice, given his athleticism and ability to throw the deep ball. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best receiver in the draft this year, so he would not be a bad selection by any means.

However, New England needs stability in the quarterback room, and Maye would be an ideal fit

Rob Gronkowski spiked his first pitch for the Red Sox and, honestly, what did we expect?

What better way to honor Patriots Day than with a Patriot legend doing the thing that helped make him legendary?

Rob Gronkowski found a way to make one of the NFL’s oldest and simplest touchdown celebrations — the spike — and make it his own. He did this not through a clever twist or innovative move, but because he’s big as hell and found the end zone a lot. 107 times in nine seasons as a pro, in fact.

While the final two years of that career came as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, he’s best remembered for the seven he spent in New England. Gronkowski won three Super Bowl rings alongside Tom Brady in the Patriots’ second dynasty era. Thus, it made sense for him to be invited to Fenway Park to toss out the ceremonial first pick of the Boston Red Sox’ annual Patriots Day game.

And Gronk made sure to remind everyone what holiday it was once he took the mound.

Rather than risk the humiliation of a horrible first pitch — known these days as a 50 Cent but previously a dishonor claimed by Baba Booey and Michael Jordan — Gronkowski leaned in and smashed the ball into the mound. Though it didn’t have the resilient, unpredictable bounce of a football, the point was made. Gronk remains Gronk, whether he’s at Gillette Stadium or Fenway Park.

Rob Gronkowski wants to see this Tom Brady trait from next Patriots QB

Rob Gronkowski wants the next Patriots quarterback to have a certain trait.

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski wants the next Patriots quarterback to have at least one trait synonymous with Tom Brady.

New England is entering a crucial phase in the development of their franchise with an opportunity to draft a top quarterback prospect with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

The organization could use the stability after getting inconsistent quarterback play from both Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe over the last two seasons.

One of the main aspects of evaluating a quarterback is identifying their intangibles and what they’re best at. However, there is a lot more to it than that.

Gronkowski spoke on MassLive’s “Eye on Foxborough” podcast earlier this week and broke down what he would like to see, as transcribed by MassLive.com’s Chris Mason.

“The one quality I would say that a quarterback really needs is the will to win,” Gronkowski said. “The will to want to be better. If you’ve got talent but you don’t have the will to want to be better every single day, you’re not going to make it. The talent is going to fizzle out. That’s what Tom had: He had the will to want to be better every single day. If you want to be a quarterback in the NFL for a long time, you’ve gotta have that trait.”

New England needs a spark at the quarterback position, and a determined rookie under center would certainly be a good place to start. Whether or not they can surround him with the necessary talent to be successful is still to be determined.

Rob Gronkowski responds to Robert Kraft’s Taylor Swift dating comments

Rob Gronkowski comments on Robert Kraft suggesting Taylor Swift should have dated him over Travis Kelce

Rob Gronkowski got a good chuckle out of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s joking suggestion that Taylor Swift should have dated him instead of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

But as far as Gronkowski is concerned, he’s perfectly happy with his current girlfriend, Camille Kostek. When appearing on MassLive’s “Eye on Foxborough” podcast, the legendary tight end responded to Kraft’s comments.

“Kraft is always being silly,” Gronkowski said. “He’s always being silly. But I’m very happy to be with with my girl, Camille. She’s a sweetheart. She was actually a Patriots cheerleader. We go down in history. but Mr. Kraft always has a job. And he’s always got silly jokes out there too. So that’s just Mr. Kraft for you.”

Kraft was obviously having fun with the comments, while also praising Swift for her run of success.

When it comes to Swift and Gronkowski, maybe that superstar pairing will exist in another lifetime. Both are obviously happily coupled up right now and off the dating market.

Devin McCourty recognizes Chiefs’ push for next great dynasty

Devin McCourty believes the Kansas City Chiefs will go all in to try to surpass the Patriots’ dynasty

Former New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty believes the Kansas City Chiefs have a real chance at asserting dominance in the NFL the way the Patriots did over the years.

Kansas City is fresh off their third Super Bowl victory in five years, and they are showing no signs of slowing down. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is already being thrusted into the conversation as one of the all-time greats, even though he feels he isn’t ready to be compared to Tom Brady.

McCourty knows a thing or two about winning Super Bowls. He was part of three Super Bowl-winning teams with the Patriots.

McCourty appeared on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Wednesday and put into perspective what the Chiefs are doing.

“Travis Kelce will be hanging on as long as possible to play,” McCourty said. “I think the Hunt family will be pouring in whatever amount of money that [general manager Brett] Veach and [coach Andy] Reid think they need. Like, why wouldn’t you? You’re this close and you have, like, we keep seeing all of these graphics where they keep putting Mahomes and Brady after his first seven years or six years—whatever it is, or at the age of this.

“They understand we have somebody who is very rare and as awesome as Brady was. We’re one year removed from him playing football, and we’re already talking about a guy that could possibly catch him. I think Kansas City will pour every single resource into not just trying to catch the Patriots or be even, [but] to, like, set something that will never be caught.”

There have been tons of debates as to whether or not Mahomes is ready to surpass Brady. Fans are even debating on whether Travis Kelce or Rob Gronkowski is the greatest tight end of all time.

One thing that isn’t a debate, however, is that the Chiefs are the next great dynasty.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

WATCH: Rob Gronkowski misses promotional field goal kick wide right

Gronk’s 25-yard field goal kick was no good on Sunday

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had an opportunity to redeem himself in his “Kick of Destiny”, courtesy of FanDuel, ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.

He tried a kick from 25 yards out and missed wide right.

It was the second year in a row that the former Patriots star missed a kick. It certainly had the distance, but it wasn’t even close to making it through its intended target.

Patriots fans know a thing or two about missed kicks considering rookie Chad Ryland struggled throughout the season, going 16-of-25 on the year. Gronkowski’s kick, which you can see below, clearly wasn’t any better.

Gronkowski should probably close the book on any hopes and dreams as a kicker. But then again, who needs kicking dreams when you’re a future Hall of Fame tight end and four-time Super Bowl champion?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

The Morning After…Chiefs comparisons to Patriots grow louder

The Chiefs and Patriots comparisons grow louder, but how warranted are some of those comparisons?

Patrick Mahomes hoisted his third Lombardi Trophy on Sunday after knocking off the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

It marked the first time a team has gone back-to-back since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots did it in 2004. It also solidified the Chiefs’ dynasty by giving them their third Super Bowl victory in five years.

Sports fans are naturally prisoners of the moment, and there will be every attempt possible to unseat the Patriots’ greats to make room for the next contenders to the throne.

Some of the chatter out there deserves conversation, while some of it feels a bit premature. Here are some leftover notes from the Super Bowl in relation to the Patriots:

Former Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski again misses field goal in FanDuel promotion

Gronk is 0-2 in Super Bowl Sunday’s FanDuel event. Tight end might be more his speed.

Former Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski has attempted a field goal as part of a FanDuel promotion for the past two Super Bowls, and based on his results, he may want to stick to playing tight end.

Gronkowski participated in the “Kick of Destiny 2” on Super Bowl Sunday, a follow-up from last year’s event. FanDuel gave out $10 million in free bets dispersed among users who correctly predicted a make or miss. Last year, Gronk kicked it wide left. This year, it was much of the same in the opposite direction.

Gronk’s 25-yard kick went wide right this time, much to the dismay of anyone on FanDuel who truly believed in him this time around. Whether or not there will be a “Kick of Destiny 3” remains to be seen.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1364]

Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski praise new Patriots coach Jerod Mayo: ‘He knew everything about everything’

Jerod Mayo may not have a lot of experience, but his former teammates detailed what he brings to the table in Foxborough.

The New England Patriots are about to embark on a new era in Foxborough.

After 24 seasons, 30 postseason wins and six Super Bowl titles, legendary head coach Bill Belichick and the franchise mutually agreed to part ways. New England moved quickly to name his successor, promoting inside linebackers coach and longtime former Patriots player Jerod Mayo.

It’s a big step up for Mayo, who is a relatively unknown name in the coaching ranks. After an eight-year NFL career, all of which was spent in New England, he began coaching inside linebackers for the team in 2019.

While Mayo, who is 37 years old, is fairly inexperienced, he got a ringing endorsement from a pair of his former teammates. Reflecting on playing with Mayo while in Las Vegas ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl with For The Win, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski had glowing things to say about Mayo, particularly his intelligence.

“Anytime you talk to Mayo, he was like one of the smartest guys talking. He knew everything about everything,” Edelman said. “Very relatable with guys, even though he was a captain… he made everyone feel comfortable. So I’m really excited for his opportunity coming along.”

Gronkowski concurred, praising his understanding of the game of football and ability to make adjustments on the fly.

“He’s very intellectual. The guy knows the game of football to the T,” Gronkowski said. “I remember playing versus him, and he’d make some mess-up on the field, but he knows how to make that adjustment just like that. And he was the captain of the defense, and every time I put my hand down, he was getting all the guys in place around him… because he knows what he’s doing, and he knows the game of football well.”

Edelman also called Mayo a “baller” on the field, while Gronkowski said he was “a beast” prior to dealing with injuries, which ultimately cut his career short in 2015.

Mayo has big shoes to fill, but based on his former teammates’ characterization, it’s clear New England landed a coach who embodies the attention to detail that led to one of the greatest dynasties the sport has ever seen under Belichick.

Watch our full interview with Edelman and Gronkowski here:

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=146952]