Weei's Kirk Minihane: Gronk Needs to Change is act.

[Celtic AL]

We’ve reached intervention stage with Rob Gronkowski.

Now, that’s not meant to suggest we are dealing with an alcohol issue when it comes to the best tight end on the planet, though I suspect if he had been completely sober there’s a chance the video we’ve all seen on TMZ wouldn’t exist.

Before we get to the areas of concern, though, let’s be very clear about this: Rob Gronkowski, by every account, works incredibly hard, is a terrific teammate, has production off the charts, plays hurt, has done more than his share of charity and seems to truly enjoy being a professional football player in New England. The fact that there is no filter is a reason for his popularity. And that’s why people, by and large, are OK with all the extracurricular activities. Put it another way: If video surfaces of John Lackey dancing and wrestling at a club in Fort Myers sometime over the next couple of weeks there will be a very different reaction in this city (of course correctly so). Lackey being Lackey isn’t viewed as a good thing.

Also this: I didn’t care about Bibi Jones and whatever they did or not do in his or her bedroom or anywhere else. I’m pretty sure these were consenting adults, I’m not really interested in passing judgement in the (presumed) sexual activities of two single people doing nothing illegal. I thought it was a massively overblown story and absurd that Gronkowski felt the need to apologize to Bob Kraft.

And the dancing controversy after last the Super Bowl last year was equally ludicrous. This was an opportunity for a vocal minority in the media to act outraged over something that didn’t deserve a second glance. Gronkowski was clearly limited with an ankle injury in that game — he would have surgery on the ankle a week later — and deserved praise for trying to play through it, not scorn for failing to grieve about a loss in the way the way some would have liked to see. Do I think Rob Gronkowski was just as upset about the loss to the Giants as everyone else on that team? Yup. Did I care that he chose to blow off some steam by removing his shirt and dancing at a postgame party? I did not.

Now what happened in Las Vegas on Sunday night is different. Lots of times we don’t know what right or wrong is but lots of times we do, and what Gronkowski did on that stage was potentially damaging to the New England Patriots. Not the brand, not some image, not the Patriot Way, but the actual on-field product. Lifting a friend in the air and attempting wrestling moves (and that was a hideous DDT) is inviting further damage to a left arm that has been broken twice in the last three months. This isn’t taking a picture with a porn star or dancing a week before surgery, this is pure recklessness. Rob Gronkowski is a $54 million investment for the Patriots ($18 million guaranteed) and a massive part of the future of the franchise. This is a guy who could easily end up in Canton if he can stay healthy. So is there any upside to his actions in Las Vegas, does it make any sense for Gronkowski to risk another setback?

I’m all for Gronk being Gronk — all we in the media do is bash the Patriots for not having personality, for following every Belichick command, so it seems inconsistent that Gronkowski’s individualism is being criticized — but there are limits, and it was crossed in Las Vegas. The act has to change just a little, some tweaking is needed. That’s all, the world isn’t ending, no criminal acts were committed. It was a 23-year-old acting like a 23-year-old without a $54 million contract and all the serious responsibilities that go along with that deal.

So Bill Belichick or Bob Kraft or Tom Brady (maybe all three, who knows?) needs to have the talk with Gronkowski (I’m guessing he’s already had the other talk). The TMZ footage was the tipping point, plain and simple.

And the message should be this: Don’t put yourself or the New England Patriots in danger. Enjoy being a single, famous and rich 23-year-old, but don’t cross the line again.

http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/...hange-his-act/

Thoughts?

[ManRamForPrez24]

My thoughts: Gronk gon' Gronk.

[subroc]

Well, Minihane criticized others in the media and then came up with a convoluted way to get "his story" to be OK.

The guy is living the dream. At 23, who could ask for more.

That said, he is becoming a bit of a boob.

[Superdude]

I think the Patriots need someone like this.

the media focuses on his shenanigans instead of making up idiotic crap because the Patriots literally give the media nothing.

[hugepatsfan]

I think Gronk's a great guy to have on the team. Gotta have some personality that keeps things fun. That's more important than people realize. And more importantly he produces at an all time great level. His injuries were freak occurrences - otherwise he's pretty tough.

[grandsalami]

I dont give a **** what he does, He can party as long and as much as he wants... as long as he is not doing stuff against the law, or DUI, or etc then I dont care

[Celtic AL]

For me i don't think its a big deal again. he isn't partying in During the season. i dont see whats the big deal about it

[griff141]

For heaven's sake, enough is enough with this nonsense. Rob isn't doing anything that any other 23 year old guy wouldn't be doing. The only thing he's guilty of is being a horrible dancer. He isn't causing a distraction for the team during the season, he isn't doing anything illegal, he works his butt off and produces on the field. I don't understand why some people are getting carried away.

[grandsalami]

For heaven's sake, enough is enough with this nonsense. Rob isn't doing anything that any other 23 year old guy wouldn't be doing. The only thing he's guilty of is being a horrible dancer. He isn't causing a distraction for the team during the season, he isn't doing anything illegal, he works his butt off and produces on the field. I don't understand why some people are getting carried away.

anyway he is still "college" age in a sense

[BradyIsTheMan12]

I thought Rome said it best today. Some people fish, others like to go to the beach, and Gronk likes to go clubbing. As far as we know, he isn't doing drugs or in with a bad crowd, so I don't really care. You can't build a football team with a roster of robots.

[Sportfan]

Question.


If he messed up, and did re-injure his arm during this wrestling match he had with his friend, would you guys still disagree with the author?

There is nothing wrong with what he said. The bibi jones and dancing after the super bowl isn't that big of a deal, but potentially injuring your fractured arm by doing something as stupid as this is a a problem. He needs to use his head

[B'sCeltsPatsSox]

I'm fine with his partying, but just don't wrestle your brother with a broken arm. That's just dumb. That being said though, the media up here is definitely overreacting to it a little. Tanguay essentially said on Sports Tonight that Gronkowski should basically do nothing at all because "his arm is property of Robert and Jonathan Kraft."

[PatsSoxKnicks]

It was a good article. I think a lot of the stuff with Gronk has been overblown (I really could care less if he posed with a porn star, and don't see why he needed to apologize for it). However, when you have a broken forearm, wrestling with that same forearm isn't exactly smart. There's the potential to re-injure it and why would you want to risk that? He can go out partying if he wants, he can have sex with pornstars, whatever- as long as it isn't affecting the team's ON-FIELD product- which is exactly what he could've done here.

I agree with most that he's great for the team and he really seems to be a fun guy to be around but him being injured is why the Pats don't have 2 more SBs perhaps so there's no need to risk further injury by doing something where you're putting yourself in a high likelihood of re-injuring it.

Honestly, if he wants to go crazy- stick with the ****ing pornstars. There's no way he's going to get injured that way

[subroc]

Let's be clear, the media doesn't care about Rob Gronkowski, Rob Gronkowskis arm, if he is dancing, the New England Patriots or anything else for that matter. All the media cares about is if they can generate a story. And, does that story have a shelf life. If he didn't take the guy down, they still would have wrote a story.

[Patriot Pride]

Question.


If he messed up, and did re-injure his arm during this wrestling match he had with his friend, would you guys still disagree with the author?

There is nothing wrong with what he said. The bibi jones and dancing after the super bowl isn't that big of a deal, but potentially injuring your fractured arm by doing something as stupid as this is a a problem. He needs to use his head

Question: If we keep Gronk out of the PAT blocking does this thread even exist? Hindsight is 20/20.

Should he be straining his arm? Absolutly not. Should this be a front page story for the newspaper? Absolutly not.

I don't think Gronk would wrestle his brother if he thought he had any chance of re-injuring his arm.