1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,600 Speaker 1: What two three breaks and. 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 2: In the middle of the family is time? 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Hellos football down in the one yard line? 4 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 2: How about that? That is the ultimate kabash and we 5 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 2: are underway. 6 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Action 7 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: Network NFL podcast. I'm Matthew Friedman, the editor in chief 8 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: of Fantasy Labs. We are coming to you with a 9 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: special episode. The King has left the building. Rob Gronkowski 10 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: has announced that he is retiring after nine years in 11 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: the league. The longtime Patriots tight end has decided to 12 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: hang up the old cleats so that he can focus on. Uh, 13 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: nobody really knows what he's going to be focusing on. 14 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: He's just going to be doing what Gronk does. But 15 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: Gronk's agent has already suggested that he might come back, 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: perhaps in the middle of the season, if the team 17 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: or quarterback Tom Brady reaches out to him. But as 18 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: of now, it looks like Gronk is gone. What exactly 19 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: does that mean? Here with me to break down all 20 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: the implications of the Gronk retirement is Ian Hartitz, the 21 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: director of the Fantasy Labs NFL platform and an Action 22 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 1: Network analyst. You can follow him in the Action Network 23 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: app at Iheartitz. Also use the app to get real 24 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: time odds and track your bets for free. Ian. 25 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: How is it going, sad day, Matt sad Day. 26 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 3: I've always considered Gronk one of the goats, you know, 27 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 3: regardless of position, and I don't think there's anyone that 28 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 3: we've seen have more fun playing the game at such 29 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 3: a high level over the years. 30 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 2: So it's rare, I think, to have a team like. 31 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 3: The Patriots where pretty much, unless you're a Patriots fan, 32 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 3: you've hated them for the last two decades. Yet at 33 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 3: the same time, pretty much everyone loves Gronk, So he 34 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 3: was able to be on kind of the most unlikable 35 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 3: team in the league and still remain one of the 36 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 3: most likable athletes, and for that isolute younk. 37 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm trying to think if there's ever been anyone 38 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: like him in like another sport, Like, I don't know it, 39 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: I mean, because he was so dominant, but yet like 40 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: so likable, Like no one really hated Gronk, so, which 41 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: I think is is pretty rare. We are now in 42 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,839 Speaker 1: week eight the Alliance season, and of course we're going 43 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: to talk about that in another podcast later this week, 44 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: but right now, let's jump into some Gronk talk. Gronk's 45 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: place in the pantheon of all time tight ends and 46 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: maybe like players like I think if there's someone who 47 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: kind of defines this era that's not Tom Brady, it 48 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: really kind of might be Gronk, just because of how 49 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: dominant he's been. But then also he's like one of 50 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: the real, like versatile type of players that I think 51 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: has kind of grown up in this era. Like he's 52 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: just as good at past blocking and run blocking as 53 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,799 Speaker 1: he is at receiving. And I think this era has 54 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: been marked by like an increased desire to have players 55 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: who are multifaceted, like running backs, guys who can run 56 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: and who can catch. And because tight ends play in 57 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: this multifaceted way in that they block but they also 58 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: catch the ball, they can be like really like these 59 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 1: chess piece type of weapons that can really empower an offense. 60 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: And you look at the best offenses in the league, 61 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: and they are the teams that have had the best 62 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: tight ends just because of what those guys can do, 63 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: the mismatch that they provide when they're going against linebackers 64 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: or safeties or even cornerbacks. So Gronk is a player, 65 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: I think really special for this era. And then you 66 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: just look at him in comparison to all of the 67 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: other tight ends who came before, and it's pretty impressive 68 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: what he was able to do in only nine years. 69 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: What are your thoughts in terms of how Gronk stacks 70 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: up to the other tight ends and then just any 71 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: other players in NFL history. 72 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I accuse the goat tight end, and I recognize 73 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 3: guys like Tony guns All as Antonio Gates did it longer. 74 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 3: But I think if we took every single tight end 75 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 3: to ever play the game, we had one game versus 76 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 3: the Aliens to save Planet Earth, and we got to 77 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,279 Speaker 3: pick one of them in their prime, it'd be Rob Gronkowski. 78 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 3: We've seen him continually function at the highest level that 79 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 3: we really haven't seen any other tight end reach. I mean, 80 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 3: just looking at his per game statistics, it's absurd. He's 81 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 3: number one on all tight ends and receiving yards per game, 82 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 3: He's number one yards for target, number one PPR points 83 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 3: per game. I mean, the guy had seventy nine touchdowns 84 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 3: only one hundred and fifteen games. There's only three other 85 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 3: tight ends at all time that I've managed to reach out 86 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 3: number and took them one hundred and eighty two games, 87 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 3: two hundred and seventy games, and two hundred and thirty 88 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 3: six games. So it's truly unprecedented what he's been able 89 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 3: to do, how successful he was able to be in 90 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 3: just a short period of time. So even if someone 91 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,799 Speaker 3: again like Gonzalez or Gates has a better, not better, 92 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 3: but longer career, which it needs to be appreciated, I 93 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 3: get it, but I just think talent wise and just 94 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 3: ceiling wise, there's really no one that's a been able 95 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 3: to reach Gronk's level. And the big reason is that 96 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 3: matchup problem that you're mentioning. I mean, the Patriots have 97 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 3: lived on this for years. I remember a couple of 98 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 3: years ago, so much fun to watch them open up 99 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 3: and you know, goal line formation near the goal line, 100 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 3: then all of a sudden, spread it out and get 101 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 3: Gronk in that one on one matchup with the linebacker 102 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 3: for a fate or slant. I mean, he's way too 103 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 3: big to put a cornerbacker safety on him, way too 104 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 3: big and strong. They'll just run the ball down your throat. 105 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 3: But he's too athletic and too good of a receiver 106 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 3: for linebackers to match him. So, I mean, we saw, 107 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 3: like Eric Berry, the best of the best have a 108 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 3: little bit of success over the years, but. 109 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: Even then, Gronk's more than capable of winning those battles. 110 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 3: So it's incredible that he played for nine years and 111 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 3: really the only guy that could ever slow him down 112 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 3: was himself. It was only really injuries that ever made 113 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 3: Gronk back into even a little bit of a mortal. 114 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 3: So yeah, he's the goat tight end of all time 115 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 3: in my book, for sure. 116 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: You know, I think of like a couple of guys 117 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: come to mind when I think of Gronk, and one 118 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: of them is always Aaron Hernandez, which, like they were 119 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: drafted in the same year they had that awesome two 120 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: tight end set, which really changed the style of play 121 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 1: for at least a couple of years. Like after that, 122 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: every team was trying to roll out with two tight ends, 123 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: hoping that they could replicate that success. You know, you 124 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 1: think almost like what could have been if not for 125 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: obviously the legal issues with Hernandez and the injuries with Gronk, 126 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: Like those two guys could have been a force for 127 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: a decade, and yet they were still so different in 128 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: terms of their style of play where Gronk had the 129 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: inline capability and Hernandez really was more of a slot 130 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: or h bag type of guy, but who could also 131 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: take carries out of the backfield, which was, you know, 132 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: really kind of incredible. And then another guy I think 133 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: of is Mike Ditka, who I think of its sort 134 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: of like the original like hard nosed tight end who 135 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 1: was awesome as a blocker. But Dicka as a rookie 136 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty one and fourteen games had over a 137 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: thousand yards receiving in twelve touchdowns, like that was like 138 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: unheard of productuction at the time, like almost unheard of 139 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: for a wide receiver. And then Dicka was doing it 140 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: as a tight end and obviously went on to have 141 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: a great career, but that was sort of like the 142 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: peak of his production as a rookie. Never again had 143 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: one thousand receiving yards, never again had double digit touchdowns, 144 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: but like that one season of him, like that was 145 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: that's almost like the closest anyone came before Gronk to 146 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: being Gronk, and Dicka, as great as he was, was 147 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: able to do that for only one year. Gronk was, 148 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: I mean, even though he had his injuries, he was 149 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: able to sustain for multiple seasons, so, you know, pretty 150 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: pretty impressive. And yeah, I agree, I don't think anyone 151 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: has like at their position. I think Jerry Rice is 152 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: the only guy who has been as dominant at his 153 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: position as Gronk was at tight end. And honestly, like 154 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: I guess it would be hard to say that that 155 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: Gronk was more dominant at tight end than Rice was 156 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: a receiver because Rice just did it for so long. 157 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: But you know, like each of those guys at their peak, 158 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: I don't know, I feel like Gronk was probably just 159 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: as good at his position as Rice was at receiver. 160 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've never seen another tight end since I've started 161 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 3: watching football have the ability to literally take over games. 162 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 3: I mean I always think about that Bronco's Patriots AFC 163 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 3: championship in twenty fifteen. You know, multiple fourth down conversions 164 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 3: on the same last drive, just uncoverable. Put two guys 165 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 3: on him. It just doesn't matter. Sometimes. Obviously having Tom 166 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 3: Brady throwing the ball helps, But look at the receivers 167 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 3: that the Patriots surrounded Gronk with throughout his career. 168 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 2: It's all underneath guys. 169 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 3: I mean, here's a list of pat Patriots receivers with 170 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 3: over one hundred catches since Kronk entered the league, Julian Edelman, 171 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 3: Wes Welker, James White, Danny Amandola, Aaron Hernandez, Dion Branch, 172 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 3: Brandon Lafel, Chris Hogan, and Shane Bourin. All those guys 173 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 3: are underneath receivers that I don't think would be nearly 174 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 3: as successful if they didn't have someone like Gronk routinely 175 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 3: taking double coverage, routinely showing the ability to stretch the field. 176 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:02,839 Speaker 3: And really Gronk has been in the straw that's helped 177 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 3: us third this second kind of dynasty of Patriots I've 178 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 3: put together over the last decades. So it's been incredible 179 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 3: to see him take over games throughout these years, both 180 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 3: as a badass blocker, badass receiver. 181 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 2: Grox the ultimate go to tight end man. I don't 182 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 2: know anything. I'll say with it. 183 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: One more thing that is in this sort of like 184 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: what could have been category in twenty ten, when Gronk 185 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: and Hernandez were drafted, you were still in this era 186 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,839 Speaker 1: of Randy Moss was with the team, Wes Welker was 187 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: with the team. Moss was traded in the middle of 188 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: the season. But if Moss could have hung on for 189 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: another year or two, you know, and if Welker could 190 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: have hu, like just imagine what that team could have been, 191 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: like you never really had like the era of the Patriots, 192 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: like the two thousand and seven type of Patriots offense 193 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: mingling with the Gronk and Hernandez offense, if they could 194 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: have sustained that, like that would have been so amazing 195 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 1: to see. Like, Okay, so kind of perspective on this, 196 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: and it's not nearly the same thing, but like I'm 197 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,079 Speaker 1: a Mavericks fan, and this is I think, like it 198 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,839 Speaker 1: going to be a really awesome season years from now 199 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: in retrospect to where it's like the one season where 200 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: Naviski was with the team and Luca was with the team, 201 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: like that one year where they played together and it 202 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: was sort of like a passing of the torch. I 203 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: think it would have been cool with the Patriots if 204 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: there had been some overlap of Moss still being a 205 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: really great player with Welker there and then seeing Hernandez 206 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: and Gronk come into their own Never got to see that, 207 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: but that would have been cool. But talking about the 208 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: Patriots now, obviously Gronk hasn't been in twenty eighteen what 209 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 1: he was in the years prior, but he was still 210 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: an important part of that offense. He's still got targets 211 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: when he was on the field. What do we expect 212 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: of the Patriots now that Gronk is gone? 213 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, good points all around with the masa Gronk, 214 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 3: and we'd never We've never gotten a chance to see 215 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 3: Gronk function as anything less than the Patriots number one receiver. Which, yeah, 216 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 3: adding a true field stretcher that could have maybe helped 217 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 3: open up those intermediate areas of the field would have 218 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 3: been great to see with him. 219 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 2: But yeah, the big problem is obviously, I mean, we see. 220 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 3: A lot of quarterbacks we were talking about with Eli 221 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 3: with him without OBJ. But Tom Brady, believe it or not, 222 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 3: has been worse with thousand number one receiver over the years. 223 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 3: I mean, since Gronk enter the league in twenty ten, 224 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 3: Brady's averaged eight point one yards per attempt in a 225 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 3: sixty six percent completion rate with Gronk on the field. 226 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,319 Speaker 3: You take Gronk off the field and those numbers dropped 227 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 3: to six point nine yards per attempt and just a 228 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 3: sixty percent completion rate. So again, I mean, I think 229 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 3: the problem is Brady Lives has always lived on you know, 230 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 3: figuring out the defense pre snap and then getting ato Edelman, 231 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 3: James White, all these underneath guys, and they're able to 232 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 3: make plays after the catch, get open. All that you 233 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 3: take away Gronk, the guy that's almost allowing those underneath 234 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 3: receivers to function. Without linebackers and safeties being able to 235 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 3: jump their routes, things get a lot more tight, things 236 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 3: get a lot more difficult. So we've seen Chris Raybon 237 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 3: have a really good article about the different splits from 238 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 3: Edelman and James White with and without Gronk, And yeah, 239 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 3: we've seen both guys average more points per reception without 240 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 3: Bronk in the fold. But a lot of that has 241 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 3: just been enhanced target share, which you know, fantasy football 242 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 3: a lot of times that's all we care about. But 243 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 3: I do think there's a real concern here with how 244 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 3: the ceiling is going to be in this Patriots offense 245 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 3: as long as they don't have a true number one 246 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 3: wide receiver. Maybe Josh Gordon comes back, I don't know. 247 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 3: Even then, I don't think we saw quite the same 248 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 3: specimen last season as we saw in his Cleveland prime. 249 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 3: So yeah, one last thing from Raybon's article that we 250 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 3: saw just the points per game. I mean, the Patriots 251 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 3: averaged thirty point seven points per game with Gronk since 252 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,840 Speaker 3: twenty ten, and only twenty six point eight points per 253 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 3: game without. 254 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 2: So I think even if we. 255 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 3: Can more accurately get some target share in James White 256 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 3: join Edelman, I'm sure we'll see more of a run 257 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 3: first offense with Sony and Michelle. I think the overall 258 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 3: ceiling and floor of the Patriots offense has cruse. 259 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree with that, And as you mentioned, Rayvon 260 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: has an article at actionnetwork dot com and also Fantasy Labs, 261 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: and you have a piece there as well, two fantastic 262 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: pieces placing the Gronk retirements in a proper context. But yeah, 263 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: I think bottom line is that the Patriots are going 264 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: to miss Gronk. You know, last year wasn't quite his youthful, 265 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: dominant self, but even as he's gotten older, he's never 266 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 1: really had a problem performing getting up for the big game, 267 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: if you know what I mean. If the internet rumors 268 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: are to be believed, if I had to bet, I 269 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: would say that it's a rare occurrence for gronk to 270 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 1: experience erectile dysfunction, but not all of us can be gronk. 271 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: You know, some guys, for one reason or another, aren't 272 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: always able to get it into the end zone and 273 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: spike that ball with everything you've got On top of that, 274 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: study show seventy percent of guys who experience ED don't 275 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: get treated for it. Thankfully, Roman created an easy way 276 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: to get checked out by a doctor and treat online. 277 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: Roman is a one stop shop where licensed US physicians 278 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: can diagnose ED and ship medication right to your door. 279 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: With Roman, there are no waiting rooms, awkward face to 280 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: face conversations, or uncomfortable trips to the pharmacy. You can 281 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: handle everything discreetly online. All you have to do is 282 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: visit get roman dot com slash nfl pod, fill out 283 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: a brief medical onboarding chat with the doctor, and get 284 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: FDA approved ED meds delivered to your door in unmarked packaging. Guys, 285 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: go online and get checked out by the doctor. Get 286 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: into the end zone with Roman. For a free online visit, 287 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: go to get Roman dot com slash NFL pod. That is, 288 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: get Roman dot com slash nfl pod for a free 289 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: online visit. Get Roman dot Com slash NFL pod. Okay, Ian, 290 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: I think I just transitioned into that and you didn't 291 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: even know I was doing the ad read. 292 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was actually one of your best ones. Yeah, 293 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 3: I thought you were about to go in on a 294 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 3: Gronk statement and before I knew what we were talking about. 295 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 3: Ed again, So you're Maine undefeated on ad reads. 296 00:14:59,280 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 2: Hats off to you. 297 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: It's I actually feel this this mounting pressure with each 298 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: each ad read where I don't. It's like the two 299 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: thousand and seven Patriots, like I don't. I don't want 300 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: to lose. I don't want the streak to be unbroken. 301 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: So anyway, I'm. 302 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 3: Pretty sure over half of our positive feedback on these 303 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 3: pods has been your ad reads, so. 304 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: Please Yeah, basically we should just have an entire pod of. 305 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 2: That we're moving towards. 306 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, all right, let's let's look at this from something 307 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: of a fantasy perspective, and so we talked about what 308 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: the implications might be in terms of fantasy and production 309 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: for the Patriots, but in terms of the tight end position, 310 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: the tight end landscape. Obviously, Gronk last year entered the 311 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: season as a presumed top three tight end. Didn't live 312 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: up to that draft position, and now there's another top 313 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: three Kelsey, Ertz and Kittle. But people, I think we're 314 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: still kind of thinking, well, maybe Gronk could have some 315 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: of a I don't know, like a bounce back campaign, 316 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: even if he's not, like, you know, the number one 317 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: tight end. I think some people were drafting Gronk, you know, 318 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: it's the seventh eighth guy off the board, thinking that 319 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: he still had some top three upside, and now that 320 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: option is no longer available. What do you think of 321 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: the tight end landscape without Gronk. 322 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 3: I think it's more imperative than ever to try to 323 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 3: get one one of Kelsey, Ertz and Kittle because those 324 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 3: are now the only tight ends we have in the 325 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 3: league that are locked in as top two options in 326 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 3: their offense. I mean, we saw Kelsey and I believe 327 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 3: all thie those guys actually did lead their offense and 328 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 3: targets last year. Not a guarantee that'll happen again, but 329 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 3: either way, I mean, they're the closest things we have 330 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:43,239 Speaker 3: to a guarantee triple. 331 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 2: Digit target share. 332 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 3: So I really think, especially in season long, I mean, 333 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 3: just getting one of these really good tight ends is 334 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 3: just so essential and I don't think. 335 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 2: I still think we're living. 336 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 3: In a kind of five year ago LAMB where we 337 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 3: think of tight ends as more burly blockers and just 338 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 3: less as receivers. And look at I mean, these top 339 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 3: three guys again, they spend over half their's snaps like 340 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 3: in the slot. 341 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 2: Or out wide anyway, so they're more or less wide receivers. 342 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 3: They get the target shares of wide receivers, and their 343 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 3: production usually matches that of receivers. 344 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 2: So being able to. 345 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 3: Lock in one of those guys, it's going to cost 346 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 3: you a higher pick, but I just think it really 347 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 3: helps us separate your lineup from these other people that 348 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 3: are going to be forced to draft one later in 349 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 3: the draft, because after these guys we've got right now 350 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 3: in ADP, it goes Eric Ibron, OJ Howard Hunter, Henry, 351 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 3: Evan Ingram, Dave Nijoku, Delandy Walker, and then Vance McDonald 352 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 3: to round out the top ten among that group. I mean, 353 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,639 Speaker 3: I'm all here for a Hunter Henry bounce back year. 354 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 3: If he's healthy, I think he could slide in as 355 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 3: a number two option in that Chargers offense. Evan Ingram 356 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 3: obviously had some opportunity open up without Obj same thing 357 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 3: can be said for Vance McDonald, but just a lot 358 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 3: more questions with all these guys, and even if there's 359 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 3: a they have that litibility to make some plays, the 360 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 3: targets are nowhere near as secure as those top three options. 361 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 3: So the only notable guy I want to bring up 362 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 3: is Chris Herndon from the Jets, because I think we 363 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 3: saw some really good things from him as a rookie, 364 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 3: and I think that is a situation where it wouldn't 365 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 3: be shocking if he does emerge as a number two 366 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 3: receiver considering a Darnold's knack for kind of checking it 367 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 3: down and targeting his slot and tight end. Came across 368 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 3: an interesting stat during my you know this random March 369 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 3: NFL research, but we've had fourteen rookie tight ends average 370 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 3: at least eight yards for target since two thousand. Listen 371 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 3: to this list. O. J. Howard, Doug Jolly, He's the 372 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 3: only mediocre one. Antonio Gates, Gronk Hunter, Henry Heath Miller 373 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 3: and Hernandez, Jordan Reed, zach Ertz, George Kittle, Dallas Clark, 374 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 3: Jimmy Graham, Aljie Crumpler, and then Chris Herndon. Also Mark 375 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 3: Andrews for the Ravens. That's a little bit of a 376 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 3: different situation. But Chris Herndon has really flashed the ability 377 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:45,919 Speaker 3: to operate at a high level, and he did it 378 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 3: as a rookie, and I'm really looking forward to what 379 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 3: he can do next year with potentially even more target share. 380 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: I agree with the assessment that it is now more 381 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 1: imperative than ever to get one of those top three 382 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 1: guys because all of the guys who follow them, you 383 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,640 Speaker 1: can poke holes in the assessment of them or kind 384 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 1: of project some regression or expect them not to get 385 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: the target chair that they had previously gotten. Gronk was 386 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 1: the one guy that was locked in for a high 387 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 1: target chair. The only question was would he be able 388 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: to stay healthy. But you know Eric Ebron, his production 389 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 1: was fueled primarily by touchdowns that can be very fluky. 390 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 1: With the addition of Devin Funches there, he could get 391 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:28,360 Speaker 1: fewer touchdowns next year. Oj Howard someone who is intriguing 392 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,959 Speaker 1: but coming off of an injury and now paired with 393 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: an offensive play caller who's never really made strong use 394 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 1: of the tight end position, Hunter Henry coming back from injury. 395 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: Evan Ingram, you think that he would get some enhanced 396 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 1: action now that Odell Beckham Junior is gone. But the 397 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: team did just sign Golden Tate, and so you would 398 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: expect some of those targets now to go towards Tate. 399 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: Unjoku didn't really develop much of a connection with Baker 400 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 1: Mayfield last year. Now Odell Beckham is there, so there 401 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: would be questions as to how many targets he's going 402 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: to get. Landy Walker is old returning from injury, Vance 403 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:05,360 Speaker 1: McDonald and now it's like we're on like the eleventh, 404 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,160 Speaker 1: twelfth guy on this list, you know. So like all 405 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: of these guys after the top three, like there are 406 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: legitimate concerns about them. So it is interesting Gronk was 407 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: kind of the one guy in that group that you 408 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,439 Speaker 1: could project a lot of usage for. So yeah, I 409 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: think it definitely changes the landscape. So for the NFL Draft, 410 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 1: thoughts on what Gronk's retirement might mean for the Patriots 411 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: in terms of the twenty nineteen NFL Draft. So I 412 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: have always had, like in my earliest iteration of the 413 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 1: draft for the mock of round one, I've always had 414 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: the Patriots taking a tight end at number thirty two, 415 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: And I think that becomes almost even more crucial now 416 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: for the team. Although you never know what they're gonna do. 417 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:54,200 Speaker 1: It's Bill Belichick. I doubt that they trade up because 418 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: so there are three tight ends I think are worthy 419 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 1: of a first round selection, and TJ. Hawk and Noah 420 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,679 Speaker 1: Fan are the two real obvious ones from Iowa. And 421 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 1: then the third one I think is earth Smith Junior 422 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 1: from Alabama, who has good athleticism, is only twenty one 423 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: years old. There are a lot of things to like 424 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: about him. Hockinson and fans are almost certainly going to 425 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: go before pick number thirty two. Like I think both 426 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 1: of those guys have pretty good shots of going in 427 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 1: the top twenty. You never know how it works whether 428 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 1: a team needs a tiight end, but they maybe need 429 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,640 Speaker 1: something else more so maybe they pass on the position. 430 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 1: But both of those guys have a lot of potential, 431 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:35,919 Speaker 1: and I would say certainly by pick thirty two they 432 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 1: will be gone. Earth Smith Junior is someone I think 433 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: could be there at pick thirty two. The Patriots haven't 434 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: historically traded up in the first round to go get 435 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: a guy, but maybe if they really feel it's a 436 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: position of need and they like Hockinson or fans enough 437 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: they have the draft capital to be able to move 438 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: up if they want to do it, so that is 439 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 1: something that they might do. But yeah, I think it 440 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: really means that early in the draft they will probably 441 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 1: look for tight ends. 442 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, it seems like a match made in Heaven was 443 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 3: one of those Iowa guys like you mentioned, but we'll 444 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,440 Speaker 3: see if they follow that much. Looking at their depth 445 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 3: chart right now at tight end, Dwayne Allen is the 446 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 3: latest Patriots reject to make his way to Miami. So 447 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 3: now we're left with Matt Lacosse, who is with Denver 448 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:22,239 Speaker 3: for portions of last year. Jacob Hollister, who's been a 449 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,120 Speaker 3: popular kind of streamer whenever Gronk misses time but has 450 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 3: never really cashed in on much. Steven Anderson is the 451 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 3: interesting one from Houston. I believe he plays some wide 452 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 3: receiver in college. At least he's got the athletic traits 453 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 3: of one that could be an interesting guy. 454 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 2: And then Ryan is who I don't know much about. 455 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:42,439 Speaker 3: But obviously the Patriots have had some of the more 456 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,439 Speaker 3: successful fantasy tight ends over the last nine years, but 457 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 3: I think that's been more because of Gronk and Hernandez's 458 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,880 Speaker 3: individual talent and less of any kind of scheme thing. 459 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 3: And we've seen the Patriots consistently switch their scheme to 460 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 3: match their talent. So even if they get one of 461 00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:59,719 Speaker 3: these high first round tight ends, I don't see them 462 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 3: being much of a fantasy factor early on. 463 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 1: Yeah. The one thing that gives me maybe some hope 464 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,919 Speaker 1: is I'm gonna need to kind of think about this 465 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,439 Speaker 1: a little bit more. But Benjamin Watson, I believe, was 466 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 1: a first round pick by the Patriots, like in twenty fourteen. 467 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: Sorry sorry, sorry, two thousand and four. Yeah, two, but yeah, okay, 468 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: I'm looking this up now. Yeah, first rounder selected with 469 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: the thirty second pick overall, so exact same situation. And 470 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 1: he actually went on to have some pretty decent production 471 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: with the Patriots in the following seasons. And then, like 472 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: we've seen like what he's been able to do as 473 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:41,640 Speaker 1: an aged veteran, kind of outproducing what anyone would expect 474 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: a guy, you know, in his mid to late thirties 475 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:46,439 Speaker 1: to be able to do. But to your point, in 476 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 1: his first year, he did absolutely nothing. You know, So 477 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:54,440 Speaker 1: even if the Patriots spend significant draft capital on someone, 478 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean that they're going to be doing much 479 00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: at the tight end position. 480 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 2: This just such demanding position general. 481 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 3: Not only did they have to figure out the new 482 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 3: playbook and route tree, but they also got to be 483 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 3: already physical enough to handle blocking assignments and stuff, and 484 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 3: expecting someone to be able to kind of step in 485 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 3: and do what Cronk's been able to do just isn't 486 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 3: super realistic. But also a quick shout out Ben Watson 487 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 3: for the best chased down tackle of all time on 488 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:20,120 Speaker 3: Champ Bailey back in the day. 489 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 2: That was nuts. 490 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: I don't remember that. 491 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 3: But a Champ Bailey gets a pick like the one 492 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 3: yard line, runs all the way down the field. He's 493 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 3: like walking by the time he gets the Patriots end zone, 494 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 3: and Watson comes completely out of the screen and levels him, 495 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 3: forces a fumble I believe got the Patriots the ball 496 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 3: back and one of those Broncos playoff games. Look it up, man, unbelievable. 497 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: Okay is that? I mean, we're going for our field here, 498 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: but is that better than you? Probably weren't even a 499 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:53,640 Speaker 1: lie for this, leon Lett having the ball stooped out 500 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: of his hand, and I think was it Steve Tasker 501 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 1: who came from behind in the Super Bowl to knock 502 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 1: the ball out of his hands and the fumble which 503 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: became a touchback. 504 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 3: Okay, I think the Leon lettwoe was more of an 505 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 3: early celebration and the Ben Watson one was more of 506 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 3: a great individual played by Watson, not to take anything 507 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 3: away from Steve Tasker, one of the Special Team Goats. 508 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 1: Okay, let's talk about what Gronk might do next. Is 509 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:22,719 Speaker 1: he going to fight in the WWE. Is he going 510 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: to be an NFL commentator? Is he going to be 511 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 1: an actor? Is he going to host a podcast? Is 512 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:29,720 Speaker 1: he going to return to the NFL, which I think 513 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:33,400 Speaker 1: that's actually a sneaky possibility. Is he going to play 514 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,199 Speaker 1: in the AAF that's not happening, the XFL. Is he 515 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: going to be a male stripper? One of my questions 516 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 1: is what if he plays a male stripper in a 517 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: movie account as being an actor and a male stripper. 518 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 1: Does he play in the CFL? Does he become president 519 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,679 Speaker 1: of the United States? Or does he become a professional 520 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 1: singer and a pop band. There are odds attached to 521 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 1: all of these things. What do you think he is 522 00:25:58,160 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: likely to do? 523 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 3: I'm pretty sure he has like seven more years so 524 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 3: he can legally or six more years whatever, so he 525 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,640 Speaker 3: can legally run for president across that one off the list. 526 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 3: But I do like him becoming an actor. Plus five 527 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 3: hundred odds we got right now fighting in WWE is 528 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,200 Speaker 3: the favorite. You know, we got WrestleMania around the corner 529 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 3: of Gronk's been a long time a professional wrestling fan, 530 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 3: so it wouldn't shock me if. 531 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,480 Speaker 2: That cash is in. But I like your pick. 532 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 3: Mean, I'm not sure if they're still making the Magic 533 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 3: Mics anymore, but Gronk's always been more than willing to 534 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,200 Speaker 3: you know, take his shirt off whenever he wants. So yeah, 535 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,119 Speaker 3: I could see a maybe parlay male stripper or an 536 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 3: actor and get all the money. 537 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,399 Speaker 1: Okay for a dynasty even though he's retired. So and 538 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 1: this all depends on how your league works for guys 539 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 1: who have retired, But for a lot of dynasty leagues, 540 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: if a guy retires like officially announces that he's retiring 541 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 1: and then he comes back, the team that had him 542 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 1: when he retired has the rights to pick him up 543 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 1: or you know, to use him. So anyway, my thought 544 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: is that there's a chance he's going to come back 545 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: at some point, you know, like kind of pull like 546 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: a marsh on Lynch type of situation, and maybe as 547 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: soon as like the middle of the season he could 548 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:16,400 Speaker 1: come back. So if there's the possibility of trading a 549 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 1: future low round pick for his rights, that might be 550 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 1: something to consider. The question would be like, how how 551 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: good is he if he comes back. I think he 552 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 1: could actually be pretty close to what he was before. 553 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,719 Speaker 1: Considering that, I think he's probably going to stay in 554 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 1: physical shape. His body I think would probably benefit from 555 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: not you know, being hit for you know, months at 556 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: a time. So that's something I would actually think about, 557 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: just you know, it obviously has to be the right price. 558 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: And then I think also you maybe have to have 559 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 1: a need at the tight end position. Actually I don't 560 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: know if that last part is quite as important, but 561 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: that's something that people might want to think about. Do 562 00:27:58,119 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 1: you have any thoughts on that? 563 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, least, I mean if you're able to get a 564 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 3: future I mean, like I said, trade a future low 565 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 3: round pick for him if he does come back, I'm 566 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:08,960 Speaker 3: assuming you can then flip him again for a higher 567 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:11,119 Speaker 3: pick and kind of make your money back in that 568 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 3: way if you if you're already said at the tight 569 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 3: end position. 570 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:14,439 Speaker 2: But yeah, I don't see a. 571 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:17,160 Speaker 3: Scenario where if he does return, that he wouldn't immediately 572 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 3: step back in as at a minimal you know, the 573 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 3: number two option in the offense behind Edelman, maybe behind 574 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 3: White if his snap shares aren't super high to begin with. 575 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,160 Speaker 3: But I think it makes sense if he returns later 576 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 3: in the season. I mean, at this point, Gronk doesn't 577 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 3: need to be out there. 578 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 2: For training camp. 579 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:33,880 Speaker 3: He knows what he's doing there, and I think he's 580 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:36,439 Speaker 3: so used to making playoff runs that he's probably thinking, 581 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 3: I will why not come back in week eight and 582 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 3: play my ten game season at that point, actually when 583 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 3: they start to need me, because we see a Patriots 584 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,479 Speaker 3: take weeks one through four off pretty much every year anyway, 585 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 3: you know, we all start freaking out after their two 586 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 3: and two or three and one start and wonder if 587 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 3: this is the year, So maybe Gronk's just you know, 588 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 3: I would to be shocked if we hear the Gronk 589 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 3: rumors start circulating around week five that he's getting back 590 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 3: in shape and then yeah, you know, maybe one week 591 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 3: warm up. But again, if he returns, we know we 592 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 3: still saw make the biggest playing in Super Bowl. Down 593 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 3: the sideline made some big catches against the Chiefs. I 594 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 3: think he wasn't as usual dominantself last season, but he 595 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 3: was still a useful fantasy contributor at times and still 596 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 3: was able to win one on one matchups. So yeah, 597 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 3: I think if he gets back out there, there's reason 598 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 3: to believe he can still be a big time fantasy contributor. 599 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, thinking about this a little bit more, going off 600 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: of what you said with the Patriots always take weeks 601 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 1: one through four off. It's not so much that I 602 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 1: think they take those weeks off, and I don't think 603 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: you meant that eye, but like they they experiment quite 604 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:38,680 Speaker 1: a bigger in those weeks, and so like the production 605 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: that you see on the field, like what you see 606 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 1: isn't really representative of what they will be doing later 607 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: in this season, but so many people act as if 608 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: it is. It's I think it's it's pretty likely the 609 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: Patriots start out two and two, you know, and then 610 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: I think people will be freaking out because there's no gronk. 611 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 1: You know, you have this team that looks like they're struggling. 612 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 1: I think that would be the time to invest in 613 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: their futures for people who wanted to do that. And 614 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 1: then you have like the added upside of Gronk potentially 615 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: coming back in the middle of the season, and I 616 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 1: think at that point people aren't really going to be 617 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 1: factoring that, and they're just going to be freaking out 618 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: that the Patriots don't look like the Patriots anymore. 619 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, one hundred percent agreed. Definitely not take it off, 620 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 3: but use it more as a learning experience. I mean, 621 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 3: I've heard Mike Lombardi talk about this on end but 622 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 3: the Patriots just realize that you don't you shouldn't be 623 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 3: peaking in September or even trying to peak in September, 624 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 3: you know, trying to figure out what your team is, 625 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 3: what areas need to be you know, enhanced in which 626 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 3: areas you're already good at. So I think it's very 627 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 3: smart to use that weeks one through four for that period, 628 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 3: and I don't think it's a surprise that we consistently 629 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 3: see the Patriots start to take over in the second half. 630 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 1: All right, So, Ian, we have the Alliance podcast coming 631 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 1: up later this week. What are you working on right now? 632 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 1: I'm assuming just grinding Alliance film and looking at all 633 00:30:58,880 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 1: those stats. 634 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 2: You got it, man was grinding some filmuler today. 635 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:06,880 Speaker 3: I'll have the DFS Fanball Breakdown out probably sometime tomorrow. 636 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 3: Ultimate AF Guide on Thursday as always, And yes, we 637 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 3: will be having another pod with all your AF info, 638 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 3: your heart cout ever desire. 639 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 1: And I'm sure we're going to talk about Johnny Manziel 640 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:20,480 Speaker 1: on that pod. That's a little bit of a little 641 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 1: bit of a tease, a little bit of a cliffhanging 642 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: teas there. 643 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 2: Brandon Silvers, if you're listening to this, man, what the hell? 644 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 3: I've been waiting years to cheer for Johnny Manziel and 645 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 3: all of a sudden, something named Brandon Silvers is keeping 646 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 3: him on the bench. So I'm tilted, man. But it's 647 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 3: all right, Johnny football talent's gonna win out. Come back season. 648 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 2: Let's go. 649 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 1: All right, We're gonna talk about AF on the Future 650 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 1: pod for this episode. That is going to do it 651 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 1: for the Action Network NFL podcast. Please rate and review 652 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 1: the show on iTunes, Subscribe, unsubscribe, and resubscribe for Ian I, 653 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: Matthew Freeman, Mattathew Workle See again next episode. 654 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:02,360 Speaker 3: Come