New England Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski hasn't played a full season since 2011, and an old rival said nagging injuries will lead to the Patriots parting ways with him.
“Gronk’s on his way out (of New England),” former Ravens and Jets linebacker Bart Scott said on CBS Sports Radio. “Because of injuries, and they don’t stick with you when they see you slipping. When you have a big man that starts having back problems – he’s only in his seventh year, and he has two years remaining."
Gronkowski was questionable heading into Sunday's win over the Jets with a lung injury. He played but left the game with a back injury. There hasn't been any official word regarding the talented tight end's status, but ProFootballTalk claims the injury isn't serious.
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However, Scott believes the new injury is grave because it's slowly crumbling Gronk's 6-6 frame.
“We talk about [his] knee injuries, back injuries, elbow brace forever,” Scott said. “Listen, man, you think Bill Belichick going to stick with you? Negative. He’s not in the foxhole with you.”
Belichick and the Patriots front office is notorious for replacing contributing players over depreciating play, injuries and most recently, contract negotiations. Why then, Scott asks, would it change for Gronk?
Scott thinks the team already has a replacement for him in the older Martellus Bennett.
“Don’t matter,” Scott said about Bennett being two years older than Gronkowski. “Less wear and tear on the body. Listen, we had some great players in basketball. When did you know it was over with Larry Bird? When he would go to the sideline and put that hot pack on his back.”
Gronkowski, who is under contract through the 2019 season, has 10 or more touchdowns in five of his six NFL seasons prior to 2016. This year he has 540 receiving yards and three touchdowns in eight games.