“I Don’t Care If He Can’t Run Anymore”
April 22nd, 2020
Rex Ryan loves the Rob Gronkowski move for the Bucs and has very firm opinions on what Gronk can bring to the table.
So how will unretired and beastly new Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski really impact the team on the field?
Rex Ryan, who faced Gronkowski and Tom Brady countless times as Bills and Jets head coach, served up his answer on ESPN.
“On third down and in the red zone, that’s where this guy’s going to play. And in a two-minute situation, game on the line, also,” Ryan said. “So to me, he’s going to be a situational player. He doesn’t have to be a full-time player.
“… I’m going to tell you right now; the impact this young man has in the red zone, I don’t care if he can’t run anymore, it makes no difference. In the red zone, this guy is such a target. We talked about Mike Evans, [Godwin], all those guys, they’re going to be the benefactors of this as well. So I think it’s a huge [acquisition]. I had Tampa Bay already being the favorites in that division. We’ll see now if this takes them over the top.”
“… It’s a perfect situation. Gronk comes in, he doesn’t have to be an every down player. His body won’t hold up. We saw that at the end of his time in New England. He can’t play full-time.”
Ryan went on to say he can’t believe the Bucs got the deal done and that Gronkowski returned.
Again, he loves the deal but emphasized that Gronk was not the same player late in his Patriots tenure. “He looks like he’s running with a piano on his back,” Ryan said, adding that anyone who thinks Gronkowski will play full-time with the Bucs “is out of their mind.”
The snap-count charts reveal Gronkowski averaged 77 percent of the snaps through his final two seasons in New England, plus a heavy load in the playoffs.
Joe’s fine with Gronkowski cutting that down to 65 percent with the Bucs. As Ryan notes, productivity and overall impact is what matters.
April 22nd, 2020 at 12:38 pm
I think Rex Ryan just hit the nail on the head.
April 22nd, 2020 at 12:44 pm
rex got it right….between brate, tanner and OJ, he doesnt need to be a full time player….
GO BUCS!!!!
April 22nd, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Where the Bucs in red zone efficiency last year (3rd in the league). So we should go up to first now. Why are we mentioning Tanner, unless he put on some weight and can block he may not be on the team. Going against practice squad players in a preseason game and when the real game is on is 200% different. If O.J. doesn’t get traded, which Bucs say they are not doing “wink wink”, Tanner will be on the practice squad. Simple math, only one ball. Let’s make sure the defense has some depth, if we score like they think we will, defense will be on the field a lot.
April 22nd, 2020 at 1:25 pm
Hopefully that year off allowed his back to heal up. Factor that in with the above mentioned fact that he won’t need to be relied upon as much with our other TE options, it could be a recipe for success!!!
April 22nd, 2020 at 1:42 pm
I think we will trade either Brate or OJ Howard.
Of the two, I would rather see us trade Brate, but the stupid contract Licht gave him, may make that difficult.
April 22nd, 2020 at 2:22 pm
Well so much for him helping the run game I guess… Agreed about the red zone though, he’s a huge target. (As is Evans, OJ, etc.)
Better draft a tackle to keep Brady upright though!
April 22nd, 2020 at 2:36 pm
…yet we let him hang unto a 10mill $ contract ….he can’t run …can’t block. ….and has lost his hands meaning he can no longer hold unto the ball ….Drunk’n Gronk should not be able to pass a physical…The SHIELD black balled Mr. 5,000 but allow the BUCS to be fleeced by Brady & Drumk’n Gronk…in the words of that great Green Bay coach “What the hell is gong on here!!!
April 22nd, 2020 at 3:09 pm
^^^^jerk alert
April 22nd, 2020 at 3:28 pm
It would have been nice if he would have adjusted his contact to 5mil to have the opportunity to get the band back together. Should have toldBrady we love Gronk but not at 10 mil a year. We need to spend the money to keep you upright and provide a running attack.
April 22nd, 2020 at 3:36 pm
People who cry about a the team not paying winston 30 million to keep losing are whats wrong with this fan base….
We got grunk and Tom brady!!!
2 years of a real chance to win it all..
Winston lost the trust of his coaches and teammates..
Meaning he was not the solution nor ready to lead a team.
Brady lost more superbowls the winston has even attended as a fan.
Gronk can bring all the te up to what brady needs and expects from them and his desire to give his all for his qb is infectious
I personally like to keep oj n gronk and have them play like Hernandez and Gronk…i really hope oj loses the attitude and buys in.
It’s football yeah you can always potentially be traded specially when you have developed to the hype..is the playbook fault play call Winston idk but any great player doesnt look out he looks within.
I personally don’t believe that gronk would come back nor brady continues to play unless they both think it will lead to wins and a larger legacy…
Neither is playing just for more money.
This team now has another tool to teach and protect brady this is by far a smart move. Also Edelman is available next year don’t discount him having intrest in year 2 of the bucs n brady show.
The bucs desired a game manager to keep the defense fresh and control the clock and put up points. Now we gotta get a rb safety and tackle..depth on both lines and we’re good team
April 22nd, 2020 at 5:04 pm
I know.
Big hog is a moron troll
Man you want jameis bad. I meAn real bad.
So creepy
April 22nd, 2020 at 5:06 pm
Don’t be that way Jenny !!!….
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:38 pm
Bird : Be carful and step lightly …..or I will come for ya in a nasty way!