(Still one of the greatest catches of all time)
Supposedly, according to five hall of fame voters, Robert Gronkowski would not be a first ballot hall of famer if he were to retire after this season. Um, excuse me? Their reasoning was he doesn’t have the numbers to put him in after his first year of eligibility. He’s only played 115 games. He is only 28th all time in touchdowns, 130 in receptions, and 104th in receiving yards. However, if you hump stats to get your point across you don’t see how dominant Gronk is.
Lets start with the stats. If we compare him to his contemporaries that are in the conversation with him as best TE of all time, Gonzalez and Gates, they look like this:
- Gronk- 115 games, 521 catches, 7861 yards, 79 touchdowns
- Gonzalez- 270 games, 1325 catches, 15127 yards, 111 touchdowns
- Gates- 236 games, 955 catches, 11841 yards, 116 touchdowns
If we extrapolate Gronks numbers out to, say, 200 games, they look like this
- 200 games, 906 catches, 13,615 yards, 139 touchdowns.
If he were to be blessed with consistent health and longevity like Gates and Gonzales, he would have more yards and touchdowns that Gates in 36 less games, more touchdowns and only 2000 less yards on 400 less catches in 70 less games than Gonzalez. Health is a bitch, and unfortunately Gronk was not granted with it like those two. When you factor in being able to play a full season consistently for as long as those two have, in even less games he surpasses or comes damn close to those two in every category. Which leads me to my next, and most important point.
No player in NFL history has been more dominant at any position that Gronk has. For nearly 10 seasons he has been the best TE in the league when healthy and it isn’t close. 4 first team all-pro’s, record for most touchdowns for a TE in a single season, and one of, if not the best blocking TE’s of all time are just some of his accolades. Since 2012 he has been double teamed every time he goes out for a pass, has his own set of rules to limit his impact, and still puts up numbers. Oh, and he makes plays like this, this, and this.
Aside from his prolific highlights and NFL best numbers in limited games, his blocking is what separates him from everyone else. Neither Gates nor Gonzalez liked to touch defensive lineman and linebackers, let alone seek them out and make them invisible. Frequently being 1-on-1 with teams outside linebackers or edge rushers, you can count on one hand where he was beaten in a 10 year career. No TE of this era was as good or enjoyed blocking as much as gronk.
My only fear is both he and Gates retire the same year and the committee does not want to have two first ballot TE’s in the same class. IF that were to happen I think Gates gets the nod, even though Gronk was not just better, but simply more complete and more dominant a player than Gates or, arguably, any skill position player ever.
Bowles' Blog 