As part of our weekly series, Get More Sports recently caught up with former NFL player Chris Gronkowski. Every week during the 2018 season, we’ll produce an exclusive Q&A interview with Chris, whose experience, familiarity and connections within the league, its coaches and its players allow him to provide unparalleled insight and analysis.
GMS: How much is Tom Brady going to miss the suspended Julian Edelman this week and over the next few games?
Gronk: Edelman will greatly be missed in the next few games for Brady and the Patriots. This slot receiver type player has been a staple of the Patriots offense since Wes Welker, and without Edelman in the game there is no one to fill this roll. Edelman’s quickness and toughness make him one of the best slot receivers in the game, and until he returns from suspension the Patriots will be missing a big element to their offense.
GMS: BetDSI is offering odds on a few players retiring, what are you thoughts on Tom Brady hanging up the cleats? Is this year the final chapter of his storied career?
Gronk: Brady retiring? I didn’t think that was ever an option for him. Tom Brady looks as good as ever and I can’t see him retiring anytime soon unless he gets a season-ending injury. Brady is the ultimate competitor and still has all the tools needed to be extremely successful. I don’t think Tom Brady will leave the game until his body forces him to leave the game. The way Brady takes care of his body, he should be able to play for many more years.
GMS: Looking at the Le’Veon Bell situation, what kind of problems does a holdout like that create internally, in the locker room, among the players?
Gronk: Holdouts are tough on everyone. This is a last resort for any player, you feel like you have deserted your team, and sitting at home while your team is playing is not easy to do. Your teammates understand for the most part, they are in the grind with you day in and day out and know that a player has to get what he deserves. Your window of opportunity is extremely small in the NFL and you want to get what you deserve because that salary doesn’t last forever. If a player doesn’t fight for what he deserves, it is just hurting him and future players coming in. A holdout is super frustrating for everyone and the fans think it is all a player being greedy, but a player needs to fight for what he feels is right and if they don’t get what they deserve then a holdout may be necessary.
GMS: Deshaun Watson is coming off a season-ending injury, and defensive coordinators have a good amount of film on him now. Do you expect to see any regression from the second-year signal caller?
Related: Q&A’s with Chris and Glenn Gronkowski
Gronk: The good old sophomore slump. There is a reason why second-year quarterbacks and players struggle. You come off this amazing first year where you had fire under your belly and had to prove a point. Now in year two, you are a lot more comfortable and that same fire is not always there. On top of that, teams now have an entire offseason to dissect your film and see what that player was doing that made them so successful and what other teams that stopped him were doing. So Year 2, everything changes and I think that you will see this with Deshaun Watson as well.
GMS: Every season there seems to be a new, trash-talking cornerback that constantly runs his mouth at the media, and Jalen Ramsey has embraced that role this year. What do you make of these guys and their chatter, is it just a case of “little man syndrome” or is there more to it?
Gronk: It seems to be a great way for a corner that no one has ever heard of to make a name for himself. The media coverage on one comment is crazy and every player knows that. Just say something insane and analysts/websites will be talking about that one comment for months. Really it’s a smart play if you are looking for some media coverage, but it really sucks when you can’t back up your talk.
GMS: Which underdog is going to cover the spread in Week 1?
Gronk: I think San Francisco and Buffalo both cover the spreads.
GMS: Which underdog is going to win outright in Week 1?
Gronk: I think Seattle goes into to Denver and comes out with the win.
The Gronkcast Episodes:
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 9: Inside The NFL: Featuring Rob Gronkowski’s bodyguard Bobby Goons
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 8: Inside The NFL: Inside A Players Life in the NFL
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 7: Inside The NFL: An Interview with WWE superstar Mojo Rawley
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 6: Inside The NFL: NFL Week 2, BulletProof Picks, NFL Head Coaches
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 5: Inside The NFL: A Day In The Life of An NFL Player, NFL Week 1
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 4: Inside The NFL: NFL Betting Strategies, The Best NFL Prop Bets
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 3: Inside The NFL: What It’s Like To Be A Rookie In The NFL
