DU New England Patriot fans

[maryellen99]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26351121/grateful-gronkowski-announces-retirement

[CentralMass]

1. Say it ain't so Gronk :-( . However his body has taken a beating.

He is probably making a very wise decision

[Croney]

2. We knew it might be coming but it still stuns.

[Totally Tunsie]

3. This day just keeps circling the drain...

[CentralMass]

5. +1.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. It was great fun while it lasted... thanks, Gronk!

[CentralMass]

8. +1

[jmowreader]

6. I've always liked Gronk, except when my team was playing his

But, you know, that's how it's supposed to go.

Gronk doesn't commit crimes. The only reason the cops go to his house is to attend his parties. And he gives a LOT of money and time to charity. When they told him "professional athletes are role models for Today's Impressionable Youth," he took them seriously.

I expect Gronk to be picked up as a color commentator. He's way more fun than authorized.

[maryellen99]

7. That or WWE nt

[jmowreader]

11. Doubtful he'd join WWE

Gronk has had a lot of injuries in his career. I think he realized there isn't anything else in football he has to do - the guy has three Super Bowl rings and five appearances in the Pro Bowl - and if he retires now, he'll still be able to walk when he's 50.

If anything, WWE is harder on the body than the NFL.

I could also see Gronk as an actor. He'd be great in comedies.

[maryellen99]

12. Me too nt

[CentralMass]

9. +1

[Awsi Dooger]

10. As a Dolphins fan I'd say it was the correct choice

Gronkowski admirably summoned enough energy and fight to make several clutch plays in the 2018 playoffs, notably the deep sideline catch against Eric Berry late against Kansas City.

However, you could see he was on fumes and projecting forward he was going to decline quickly and be a sad shell of the great player everyone remembers.

Tight ends like that often have a relatively short career span. Jimmy Graham from that 2010 draft is still plugging at it but likewise he is not close to his prime level. Mark Bavaro of the Giants was another physical tight end who had some famous early seasons with the Giants but it caught up to him with a knee injury and waived by the Giants before age 30. Like Gronkowski, Bavaro was obviously hurting in that final 1990 season with the Giants but he had enough fight to make some key plays in the Super Bowl upset of the Bills.

BTW, I wanted the Dolphins to draft Gronkowski out of Arizona. Many Miami fans agreed and were in dismay when the Dolphins selected the legendary linebacker Koa Misi two selections before New England took Gronkowski. The Dolphins had a chance to select Jimmy Graham the next (third) round but brainstormed to take John Jerry instead.