Rob Gronkowski status

[DZ]

Gonna keep track of the info on his injury in this thread. I happen to think this injury is much worse than they're letting on. We know the Pats aren't gonna give anything away on this, but did you guys see that injury? I though it looked gruesome when I first saw it during the game. The only reason we know anything about this is because his dad chimed in saying it was a high ankle sprain. We know he'll probably play, but how much? How effective can he be?
Here's a collection of videos and info from around the web:


Latest from Rotowire:

Rob Gronkowski (ankle, questionable) missed Patriots practice Monday.
ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported Gronkowski won't be 100 percent for Super Bowl XLVI, and there is some question as to whether he'll practice at all before Sunday's game against the Giants. He is still expected to be active. Jan 30 - 4:19 PM

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Rob Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) will be at less than 100 percent -- and perhaps significantly so -- against the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.
"There are very people -- nobody -- who fully expects him to be 100 percent," Schefter said on Monday's SportsCenter. "The Patriots are going to have to get used to having a limited Gronkowski" against the Giants. Gronkowski is fully expected to play, but it sounds like he could be susceptible to re-injury. Jan 30 - 2:24 PM

 

[DZ]

Video link to the injury

Video link to the injury

NFL.com doesn't let you embed video...

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/09000d5d8263935b/Rob-Gronkowski-injured

Watch carefully on the third replay where they play it back a few times. You can see the bone from his leg dislocating from the foot for a brief second. I'm no doctor, but I know the ankle is not supposed to bend like that.

DISCLAIMER: Not suitable for you squeamish types.

 

[DZ]

More specifics on the injury

More specifics on the injury

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JZIWAX3P6z8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


"this takes more than a few weeks to quiet down..."

"...you worry about cutting, jumping..."

Also, I think those stats about yards after first contact are important... You can bet he wont be dragging the Giants defenders around the field like he did to the Redskins in that game earlier this year. Not with a bum ankle anyway.

 

[DZ]

Gronk on the runway in Indy...

Gronk on the runway in Indy...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rPCDyHlZ_cQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

...nice boot

 

[DZ]

Gronk's boot

Gronk's boot

Guess that last one didn't work. Here's the link:

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski on the runway after team flight to SB46 on 1/29/12

 

[DZ]

My take:

Obviously the guy is a huge part of the offense. He set records for receptions and TDs for a TE this year and dominated practically every team he went up against. He's a huge guy with huge hands who can really get up for the ball. Will the injury effect his ability to jump, cut and get to balls that aren't perfectly located when Brady has that ferocious front line of the Giants in his face?

The reason I'm posting this info is two-fold. First, I am interested because I've bet a bunch of props under for Gronkowski and over for Hernandez as a result. If Brady can't go to him or if he is ineffective, he will surely throw to equally sure-handed Hernandez.

But the other reason I post this is to entertain some ideas on how this might affect the outcome of the game. I think one of the more underrated aspects of Gronk's game and a huge factor people might overlook is his blocking ability (as demonstrated in this video). Surely, they are going to need to block the outside of that monster front line for the Giants as they can bring guys off the edges in waves with Osi, Tuck, JPP, Kiwanuka & Boley. How does an injury like this effect his ability to plant his feet and block an angry 6'5" 275lb pass rusher coming full force? He might be a liability on important passing downs as the game wears on forcing the Patriots to abandon their 2-TE sets. I'm sure Belechick is game-planning for this, but it's hard to change the way you've done it all year with the same guys even if you've had 2 weeks to prepare. It figures to create problems in practice this week when you don't know if a guy, who plays in a specialized two-TE set, will play or not or how long he will be able to be in there.

Remember what happened with Pouncey last year. He said for two weeks that he would play on Sunday and the Steelers ended up scratching him a day or two before:
"Rookie center Maurkice Pouncey was officially ruled out of the game with the ankle injury he suffered early in the AFC Championship Game against the New York Jets. Puncey had said yesterday he was "75%", but he couldn't practice at all this week making it impossible for the Steelers to play him.
Same situation here: High ankle sprain. Early in the AFC Championship. A key part of the blocking game. Didn't practice all week.

I know that Gronkowski came back into the game against the Ravens late. He got a pain shot, got wrapped up and toughed it out, probably playing on a ton of adrenaline. But what you don't see is the day after the game when he wakes up and his ankle is swollen to the size of a grapefruit. It's always much worse the day after with these injuries and anybody whose had a bad ankle sprain will tell you that.

Now, nobody is saying that he's not going to play. The question is, how much and how effective will he be? Will it give an extra edge to the Giants pass rush? Everybody loves to talk about offenses playing indoors on the fast turf and a lot of this has to do with how the defensive backs are reacting to the offense, mainly the WR's running their routes. What they neglect to mention is how the blockers have to react to the quick first-step moves of the oncoming pass rushers. When the Pats are relying on their TE to block and as well as ailing RT Sebastian Vollmer (foot, back), who is expected to play, you've got to wonder, again, how much time will Brady have to throw back there?

 

[DZ]

Photo of the walking boot

Photo of the walking boot

Courtesy of AOL Sporting News

 

[DZ]

ESPN's physical therapist Stephania Bell's take on Gronkowski

Monday, January 30, 2012
Stephania Bell on Gronkowski's ankle
By James Walker

INDIANAPOLIS -- The big injury news during Super Bowl week is the left ankle of New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The extent of the injury hasn't been revealed by the Patriots, who would only say Gronkowski is day-to-day. But Gronkowski's father, Gordy Gronkowski, said his son has a high ankle sprain, which is one of the worst forms to the ankle joint.

Assuming Rob Gronkowski's dad is accurate, the AFC East blog caught up with ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell to examine the issues of the injury. Bell provided insight into the challenges Rob Gronkowski potentially faces.

Stephania, besides the location, what are some differences with a regular ankle sprain and a high ankle sprain?

Stephania Bell: Standard ankle sprains tend to be what we call lateral ankle sprains. Many people refer to them as basketball sprains, because it's what you see a lot in basketball when a guy goes up for a shot and maybe lands on another player's foot. His ankle rolls and turns in, which sprains and injures the ligaments on the front and lateral side of the ankle. In a high ankle sprain, the injury is usually a little bit different. The foot is typically pointed outward and is a rotational injury most of the time. If you go back and look at the view of when Gronkowski sprained his ankle, you can actually see some of that when he got caught from behind. It kind of forced his foot to twist so his toes were pointing outward. So that rotational component injures the ligament that basically attaches to the top of the ankle, which is called the "high ankle." It attaches the two lower leg bones where the roof of the ankle is formed.

Players often complain that the injury is very painful. Where does the pain come from?

SB: What makes it difficult functionally is every time you step on your foot, it creates a force that wants to spread those two lower leg bones apart. Every time you take a normal step and your shin bone, if you will, advances over your ankle, which is what normally happens when you step forward, those ligaments are under stress. They are attached there to help prevent those two bones from spreading. When there's injury there, because of the stress on those ligaments, that's why it's so painful. That's why when you saw Ben Roethlisberger's high ankle sprain, he couldn't step into his throws. Why couldn't he step into them? He couldn't put that full weight over the ankle because he couldn't advance the leg bone over the ankle joint without recreating that severe pain. And [Steelers center] Maurkice Pouncey, the reason he couldn't play in the Super Bowl with it is because of the stance he has to get in. That really stresses full weight bearing over that ankle joint.

You mentioned Roethlisberger and Pouncey, who play quarterback and center, respectively. Does Rob Gronkowski have any advantage or disadvantage over those two playing tight end?

SB: I think it's tough for him. Every time he takes a step it's hard to have your normal mechanics. Part of what Gronkowski does is he moves down the field. So everything mobility wise will be compromised. It's going to be harder for him to run. I'm not saying he won't be able to. One thing that's important to emphasize is we don't know the degree of his injury. So it's hard to know what kind of problem it will be. But the bonus the Patriots have is two weeks. Last week I wasn't surprised at all that he didn't practice. The idea is to keep him non-weight bearing, keep him in a boot, protect that area and accomplish as much healing in that area as you can. Really the key is to ensure he has as much maneuverability as possible by the time he gets to the game.

 

[DZ]

Gronkowski Injury Key Factor:

Gronkowski Injury Key Factor:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OuhlNsYXUfU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Gronk high ankle sprain could make a difference on how NE executes in SB46.

 

[Shleprock]

Isn't this what we heard last super bowl about steelers center? Same thing it would be a medical miracle for this guy to play at 50%. It is a big deal and hurts Patriots alot.

 

[DZ]

ESPN - Rob Gronkowski out of walking boot
Tuesday, January 31, 2012

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INDIANAPOLIS -- New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski showed up at Super Bowl XLVI media day Tuesday without a walking boot on his sprained left ankle, but took a Belichickian approach to questions surrounding his availability for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

Rob Gronkowski said Tuesday the walking boot was off his left foot for good.
"I don't know yet (if I'll be able to play Sunday)," Gronkowski told a throng of reporters at Lucas Oil Stadium. "We're going day by day. Making new steps every day, feeling better every day. That's a positive sign and you just want to keep going in the right direction. I want to be out there with the team obviously. I want to help out the team obviously. Just taking it step by step, getting better every single day."
Earlier this week, Patriots coach Bill Belichick dubbed Gronkowski "day to day" as well.
Gronkowski said the walking boot was gone for good -- "It's off. No more boot" -- and said he would spend Tuesday's non-practice day with trainers.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady took Gronkowski losing the boot as a positive sign.
"Well, he's obviously making progress, he's out of his boot today, which is making me feel better," Brady said. "I told him to write ''Hi Mom' on his sock, because there will be a lot of pictures today. ... No one is as tough as him, he makes our offense go. Hopefully we have him out there."
Can Gronkowski imagine not playing in the Super Bowl?
"Yeah, but I'm not really worried about whether I'm playing or not yet," Gronkowski said. "That's on Sunday. The only thing I'm worried about is Tuesday, which is today, to get better today. Keep on improving today. Keep on getting stronger today, keep on progressing today. Just keep on moving forward, going in a positive direction. That's what counts."
The 25-year-old tight end hasn't practiced since spraining the ankle in the AFC Championship Game and wasn't sure whether he would practice this week, either. When asked if he thought he could be effective against the Giants without practicing, Gronkowski said he trusted the team to do whatever was best.
"?I?'m not sure (if I could be effective without having practiced). That's why I?'m with the training staff," he said. "I trust in the organization here. I trust in the coaches. I trust in all the trainers to get me ready for whatever I gotta do. When Sunday comes along, they'll have me at my best, where I need to be."
Gronkowski called the high ankle sprain "nagging, sore" and added he didn't "want to look back and say you didn't try everything to get on the field."
Gronkowski has dominated headlines at Super Bowl XLVI, in part because of his importance to the Patriots' offense. He totaled 90 receptions for 1,327 yards and a tight-end record 17 touchdowns in the regular season and at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds is a dominant presence in the red zone. He started all 16 games and seldom, if ever, comes off the field.
Considering the Patriots don't have a backup for Gronkowski on the roster and that they run more than 80 percent of their snaps with two or more tight ends on the field, it's no wonder his status is being monitored so closely.
All indications point to Gronkowski suiting up for the Super Bowl. The bigger question is how effective he will be and how much the Patriots have to alter their game plan.
"There is a difference between hurt, sore and banged up," Gronkowski said. "In the NFL you definitely have to play hurt."
Gronkowski also joked about his father revealing the nature of his injury to a New York television station, telling reporters to give his father a call if they wanted information.
"He'll give it up," Gronkowski said.
Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.

 

[THE KOD]

My take:

Obviously the guy is a huge part of the offense. He set records for receptions and TDs for a TE this year and dominated practically every team he went up against. He's a huge guy with huge hands who can really get up for the ball. Will the injury effect his ability to jump, cut and get to balls that aren't perfectly located when Brady has that ferocious front line of the Giants in his face?

The reason I'm posting this info is two-fold. First, I am interested because I've bet a bunch of props under for Gronkowski and over for Hernandez as a result. If Brady can't go to him or if he is ineffective, he will surely throw to equally sure-handed Hernandez.

But the other reason I post this is to entertain some ideas on how this might affect the outcome of the game. I think one of the more underrated aspects of Gronk's game and a huge factor people might overlook is his blocking ability (as demonstrated in this video). Surely, they are going to need to block the outside of that monster front line for the Giants as they can bring guys off the edges in waves with Osi, Tuck, JPP, Kiwanuka & Boley. How does an injury like this effect his ability to plant his feet and block an angry 6'5" 275lb pass rusher coming full force? He might be a liability on important passing downs as the game wears on forcing the Patriots to abandon their 2-TE sets. I'm sure Belechick is game-planning for this, but it's hard to change the way you've done it all year with the same guys even if you've had 2 weeks to prepare. It figures to create problems in practice this week when you don't know if a guy, who plays in a specialized two-TE set, will play or not or how long he will be able to be in there.

Remember what happened with Pouncey last year. He said for two weeks that he would play on Sunday and the Steelers ended up scratching him a day or two before:
"Rookie center Maurkice Pouncey was officially ruled out of the game with the ankle injury he suffered early in the AFC Championship Game against the New York Jets. Puncey had said yesterday he was "75%", but he couldn't practice at all this week making it impossible for the Steelers to play him.
Same situation here: High ankle sprain. Early in the AFC Championship. A key part of the blocking game. Didn't practice all week.

I know that Gronkowski came back into the game against the Ravens late. He got a pain shot, got wrapped up and toughed it out, probably playing on a ton of adrenaline. But what you don't see is the day after the game when he wakes up and his ankle is swollen to the size of a grapefruit. It's always much worse the day after with these injuries and anybody whose had a bad ankle sprain will tell you that.

Now, nobody is saying that he's not going to play. The question is, how much and how effective will he be? Will it give an extra edge to the Giants pass rush? Everybody loves to talk about offenses playing indoors on the fast turf and a lot of this has to do with how the defensive backs are reacting to the offense, mainly the WR's running their routes. What they neglect to mention is how the blockers have to react to the quick first-step moves of the .oncoming pass rushers. When the Pats are relying on their TE to block and as well as ailing RT Sebastian Vollmer (foot, back), who is expected to play, you've got to wonder, again, how much time will Brady have to throw back there?

........................................................................

to think that the Falcons could have had him before they stunk up their pick ahead of him, makes me sick like dog.

 

[hedgehog]

he is playing, dont listen to the bs, he will be in there, its the superbowl

 

[DZ]

he is playing, dont listen to the bs, he will be in there, its the superbowl

Thanks Hedge. Wasn't saying at all that he's not going to play. I think its pretty obvious he'll be out there. The purpose of the thread is mainly to discuss the effect of his injury on the game. Some people might be interested in prop bets on or against him and how the injury might affect his counterpart Hernandez in addition to the ability of the Pat's line to block the Giants pass rushers.

:0003

 

[DZ]

From Rotowire:

Rob Gronkowski (questionable, ankle) missed Patriots practice Wednesday.
Gronkowski is expected to be active for Super Bowl 46, but there are no guarantees about his practice participation leading up to the game. The Patriots are considering giving Gronkowski a specialized cleat to lessen the pressure on his high left ankle sprain. He will not be 100 percent on Sunday.
Feb 1 - 5:36 PM

 

[hedgehog]

Thanks Hedge. Wasn't saying at all that he's not going to play. I think its pretty obvious he'll be out there. The purpose of the thread is mainly to discuss the effect of his injury on the game. Some people might be interested in prop bets on or against him and how the injury might affect his counterpart Hernandez in addition to the ability of the Pat's line to block the Giants pass rushers.

:0003

I am not singling you out, I am just giving my opinion...he will be 100 percent I think :shrug:

 

[StevieD]

I am not singling you out, I am just giving my opinion...he will be 100 percent I think :shrug:

What if Belichick had him take the boot off just to mess with Giants. I mean whats wrong with keeping the boot on if there is nothing wrong and then playing the whole game. Or take the boot off to get the Giants to think he is ok. :142smilie

 

[DZ]

I am not singling you out, I am just giving my opinion...he will be 100 percent I think :shrug:

Doubt he'll be 100% Hedgy. It's hard to heal from that injury in 2 weeks. What I'm trying to get at here is if this 90% or 75% or some other % will affect how many downs he's on the field for and if he'll be able to finish that game.
Fortunately for us, Belichick and the Patriots are incredibly generous when it comes to giving away the injury status of their players. :facepalm:

 

[DZ]

Rob Gronkowski (ankle) participated in the second-half of a nearly two-hour practice session on Thursday.
"He did some things. He didn't do everything," coach Bill Belichick said. "We'll see how he is tomorrow. I think that will be the big key -- how he responds to this today. ... But it was a good test for him, too. At least he was out here and did some things to see how it feels." Feb 2 - 6:43 PM

What a revelation... :mj07:

 

[joeyd]

Isn't this typically a 4-6 wk injury? I mean Christ I saw that ankle bend flat to the ground,he will be 50% at best,and if the get a chance accidentally step on it.:toast: not suh stomping but a liitle accident