As part of our weekly series, Get More Sports recently caught up with former NFL player Glenn Gronkowski. Every week during the 2018 season, we’ll produce an exclusive Q&A with Glenn, whose experience, familiarity and connections within the league, its coaches and its players allow him to provide unparalleled insight and analysis.
In this week’s edition, Glenn discusses Week 1 underdog picks, Le’Veon Bell, Tom Brady and more. You can read Glenn Gronkowski’s weekly Q&A here.
All odds are subject to change and courtesy of BetDSI.com, which is open to U.S. players and accepts credit cards.
GMS: How much is Tom Brady going to miss the suspended Julian Edelman this week and over the next few games?
Gronk: Julian Edelman is a huge part of the Patriots team and obviously Brady would love to have his experience, leadership and play making abilities out on the field with the team. Not only is Brady going to miss having Edelman out there, but the whole offense will because having Julian out there helps open up other receivers because defenses put so much attention on Edelman. However, Brady has been able to make plays for 18 years with whatever receivers are out there and was able to lead his team to the Super Bowl last year without Edelman due to injury. But when Edelman does come back in Week 5 he is going to be ready and a there will be a positive change in the Patriot’s 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: I don’t believe Brady will be done. In his “Tom vs. Time” episodes he’s talking about playing until 45 and that he still wants to play five more years if his body is able to. Considering he was rated the No. 1 player in the NFL last year, I’m pretty sure his body is going to let him continue to play at least another couple years. His attitude, love and approach toward the game are unbelievable, and I do not see him stepping away until he believes he has to. Considering how good he looked last year and looked in the preseason this year, I think he continues to prepare his body in the best way possible to prolong his career.
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?
Related: Chris Gronkowski Q&A’s
Gronk: Teammates don’t like to see this happen. Grinding a season out during OTA’s, mini camp, preseason and the regular season with your teammates is something special in the NFL. To not have one of your best players there destroys the attitude and dynamic of the locker room. It is a distraction to the players and management who are trying to win games and clearly his decision was not one that his own teammates appeared to be happy with. However, the NFL is a business and sometimes a player has to do what he believes is the best for him because it is very rare for a player in the NFL to have any say since they can be traded or released at any time even if you are a star player.
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?
Gronk: Watson is a special player and he is surrounded by a great coaching staff and players as well. I think he continues to have success because he can make plays with his arms and legs and he understands the game. Although coming off a serious injury like he had is always tough, I think it is a little easier at the quarterback position because your body isn’t getting hit everyday and I think he will be able to come back 100 percent and continue to help the Texans win games.
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: As long as Ramsey can back up his talk then I think there is no problem to it. He better ball out against all these players that he keeps calling out or else I think he should quit bringing the attention to himself and his team. Coaches will billboard these quotes during the season and show the whole team what he said about their players anytime a team plays the Jaguars now. This helps teams get extra motivated to dominate the Jaguars now so it might backfire in the long run, but once again if he can back it up then I don’t see a problem with it.
GMS: Which underdog is going to cover the spread in Week 1?
Gronk: Cleveland +4. Home game and they usually play Steelers close and Pittsburgh is without Bell. The Browns have shown positive progress since last year.
GMS: Which underdog is going to win outright in Week 1?
Gronk: Seahawks +3. I think the Broncos will struggle this year especially on offense and the Seahawks defense will be able to shut them down. Russell Wilson and the offense will make enough plays to pull this one off in a low scoring game.
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
