Baller.

One way to measure how much of a stud a player is would be how he responds in the biggest games with all the chips on the table.

And in that respect, Bucs foot-rubbing, car-littering tight end Rob Gronkowski is one of the all-time greats.

When you think of the great receivers in Super Bowl history of course you think of Jerry Rice. Lynn Swann springs to mind. Perhaps Michael Irvin, too.

But Gronk? Yeah, really. Gronk!

On the heels of Gronk balling out in the Bucs’ Super Bowl win over the Chiefs, only one pass catcher has made a bigger impact on the game’s biggest stage. That’s Rice, arguably the greatest NFL player who ever laced up a pair of cleats.

Only Rice has scored more Super Bowl receiving touchdowns and yards than Gronk. And Gronk is a tight end. That’s how dominant he has been in the Super Bowl.

Provided the Bucs get back to the Super Bowl with Gronk, he has an outside shot of tying Rice for most Super Bowl receiving touchdowns (8). Gronk currently has five and two just came in February.

Super Bowl receiving yards? Rice’s record (589) is pretty safe. Gronk is well behind at 364. However, with just one catch, Gronk would move off his current tie for second with Swann.

The Bucs have had good tight ends over the years. None can remotely touch Gronk’s production in the biggest moments.

Statistics provided by Bucs media relations staff.