Report: Patriots “optimistic” Rob Gronkowski will be cleared

Posted by Darin Gantt on January 22, 2018, 11:14 AM EST
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The Patriots were able to beat the Jaguars without Rob Gronkowski.

Whether he’s available for the Super Bowl depends on the word of an independent neurologist.

According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, the Patriots are optimistic Gronkowski will be cleared. While that’s nice that they feel good, unless that source was a brain injury specialist, it might not be the most reliable in cases like this.

The Patriots tight end was removed from the field after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jaguars safety Barry Church in the second quarter. The league’s concussion protocol was followed this time, and Gronkowski was taken directly to the locker room for testing.

The only other reported concussion for Gronkowski was in 2013, from the same game when he tore his ACL and MCL. But as we have learned over the years, brain injuries don’t follow the same timeframes of other problems, so there’s no way of knowing at the moment whether he’ll be well or not.

He’ll have to go through the steps of the protocol and be cleared by an independent neurologist before he can return. That might impact the league’s media day, but the Patriots are clearly hopeful he’ll be back on the field in two weeks.

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42 responses to “Report: Patriots “optimistic” Rob Gronkowski will be cleared”

  1. Can someone explain to me why BOTH players in a collision like that don’t go through the protocol?

  4. He will play. This is the Super Bowl. He has two weeks to rest and heal up. Gronk knows history will be made and he will be a part of winning their 6th ring. No chance he misses this game. He will play.

    #6ringsdeep #needtwohands

  6. He’s going to be fine in two weeks but the Eagles won’t. An epic beatdown awaits them in Minny.

  9. Here is the unintended consequence of our improved awareness of concussions: Defenders know exactly what it takes to remove an offensive weapon from a game.
    As soon as we see a helmet-to-helmet hit, we ask: (1) Is there a flag?; (2) Is the offensive player going to be evaluated?; (3) Is the offensive player going to be declared “out” for the game?
    In this case, the college targeting rule would have helped –although the Jags would likely be OK with Barry Church and Gronk both exiting.

  11. Good news.

    The Eagles corners and linebackers match up poorly with him. Decent chance Gronk goes off like he did against the Steelers a few weeks ago.

  12. steaksandwichandsteaksandwich says:
    January 22, 2018 at 11:28 am
    Here is the unintended consequence of our improved awareness of concussions: Defenders know exactly what it takes to remove an offensive weapon from a game.
    As soon as we see a helmet-to-helmet hit, we ask: (1) Is there a flag?; (2) Is the offensive player going to be evaluated?; (3) Is the offensive player going to be declared “out” for the game?
    In this case, the college targeting rule would have helped –although the Jags would likely be OK with Barry Church and Gronk both exiting.

    —
    I don’t believe it was a deliberately dirty hit, just an unfortunate one.

    Should be an automatic ejection though, that’s a no brainer rule change.

  13. Gronk knows history will be made and he will be a part of winning their 6th ring. No chance he misses this game. He will play.

    —
    It’s not up to him though.

    But with that said, the reports are the team is optimistic that he will be cleared, and that’s reason for us to be optimistic too.

  15. terripet says:
    January 22, 2018 at 11:26 am
    He did nothing in the game jags punished him

    He did nothing because he went out in the SECOND quarter. The worst thing that happened to the Jags was knocking Gronkowski out. Instead of Brady forcing him the ball. it forced Brady to spread the ball out to the RB’s and WR’s.

  16. I really think they need to look at adjusting the rule where if you are called for a personal foul that results in a player entering concussion protocol and missing the game then the player that caused the hit is ejected. 15 yards for taking out the best player on a team isn’t enough regardless if there is any intent.

  18. The ONE time the NFL follows the protocol. Mariota, The Texans QB. now they randomly choose to follow it.

  19. He will be there in two weeks. Though I find it comical that Seahawks are complaining about the Pats getting breaks yet their boy Russell Wilson went through protocol for 5 seconds and got a slap on the wrist for it.

  20. I posted this on another related topic, and thought it would be useful

    Observable symptoms for concussion
    There are seven observable symptoms used to identify players with concussions.
    Those are:

    1. Any loss of consciousness
    2. Slow to get up following a hit to the head (“hit to the head” may include secondary contact with the playing surface)
    3. Motor coordination/balance problems (stumbles, trips/falls, slow/labored movement)
    4. Blank or vacant look
    5. Disorientation (e.g., unsure of where he is on the field or location of bench)
    6. Clutching of head after contact
    7. Visible facial injury in combination with any of the above

    When spotters or other medical personnel see those signs, that’s when the protocol goes into effect.

    Return to play process
    In addition to the in-game protocol, there is also a “Return-to-Participation Protocol” that can keep players out of action for more practices or games until they pass through and are cleared to return.

    It is a five-step process without any set timeline for a full return from a concussion:

    1. Rest and recovery: Until a player returns to the “baseline level of signs and symptoms and neurological examination,” (this exam is done at beginning of season when player is healthy ) only limited stretching and balance activities are recommended. Electronics, social media and team meetings are all to be avoided.

    2. Light aerobic exercise: The NFL recommends 10-20 minutes on a stationary bike or treadmill without resistance training or weight training. The cardiovascular activity is monitored by an athletic trainer to “determine if there are any recurrent concussion signs or symptoms.”

    3. Continued aerobic exercise and introduction of strength training: Increased duration and intensity of aerobic exercise with strength training added. An athletic trainer will supervise to watch for recurrent concussions signs or symptoms.

    4. Football specific activities: The cognitive load of playing football will be added and players will participate in non-contact activities for the typical duration of a full practice.

    5. Full football activity/clearance: A player returns to full participation in practice, including contact without restriction.

  21. “The league’s concussion protocol was followed this time, and Gronkowski was taken directly to the locker room for testing.”

    But but but the Pats get away with murder, ask any troll. Here’s another question for them, since the league always rolls over for the Pats why was Gronkowski held out of the game when other star players routinely get patted on the back and sent back in with a wink and a nod? It just kills them that NE does it right and does it better, they stomp their feet and scream cheater like 4 year olds on a playground because the very thought of the Pats unmans them.

  23. Nice that the “CP” is no longer optional as it was for other players who went right back in after clearing the tweety birds from around their head. Also nice that, in cooperation with refs and league officials, teams can now surgically extract the best players from a game at a cost of 15 yards. Hardly seems equitable.

  24. Though I find it comical that Seahawks are complaining about the Pats getting breaks yet their boy Russell Wilson went through protocol for 5 seconds and got a slap on the wrist for it.
    ————–

    Not a Seahawks fan, but I wouldn’t be talking considering how many years the Pats have gotten away with cheating, only to get away with a slap on a wrist.

  25. Lemmy Aksyadis says:
    January 22, 2018 at 11:59 am
    Nice that the “CP” is no longer optional as it was for other players who went right back in after clearing the tweety birds from around their head. Also nice that, in cooperation with refs and league officials, teams can now surgically extract the best players from a game at a cost of 15 yards. Hardly seems equitable.
    —-
    The rule will be changed this winter. It’s that much of a no brainer.

  26. terripet says:
    January 22, 2018 at 11:26 am
    He did nothing in the game jags punished him

    ———

    He played….which is a lot more than you can say for Andrew Luck….all season

  27. The league needs to look into how it ejects and punishes players for helmet to helmet hits such as Church’s. It should not be okay to take a player out of the game. I’m by no means saying Church is a dirty player. But that was a dirty hit. Hard to think that there wasn’t a desire to take Gronk out of New England’s game plans. A strategy that may have worked if not for Tom Brady being Tom Brady.

  28. Dirty hit. He never moved his head. He hit him with the top of his helmet. Bunch of loud mouthed punks. They should have broke Church’s leg. They would have in the old days.

  29. “Can someone explain to me why BOTH players in a collision like that don’t go through the protocol?”

    Actually if the defender had exhibited visible sign of concussion like Gronk did, he too would have been put in the protocol. Usually seems to work out the target is the one hurt worse on these hits however.

  31. harrisonhits2 says:
    January 22, 2018 at 12:41 pm
    “Can someone explain to me why BOTH players in a collision like that don’t go through the protocol?”

    Actually if the defender had exhibited visible sign of concussion like Gronk did, he too would have been put in the protocol. Usually seems to work out the target is the one hurt worse on these hits however.

    1 0 Rate This

    ——————-

    because people just want harm done to the pats

    they don’t care about rules or if it is fair

  33. tylawspick6 says
    because people just want harm done to the pats

    Yeah – that’s why they called so many penalties on them yesterday (uh…1)

  34. terripet says:
    January 22, 2018 at 11:26 am
    He did nothing in the game jags punished him.
    ——————————–

    Me thinks the Jags are the ones who got punished. Gronk to Church, “No Soup-A-Bowl for you.”

  35. It’s nice that they’re “optimistic,” but it’s tough to see that as having any probative value. He’s got no control over it, the team has no control over it, and the average stay in the concussion protocol, based on a quick google search, seems to be ~ 16 days (surprised I’m not finding better data – median would be far more useful than mean, but I’m not seeing any detailed reporting or logging – it must exist, but I haven’t found it yet).

    I’m far less optimistic than they claim to be, and trust that Belichick and McDaniels will be preparing a game plan that doesn’t depend on his presence…

  37. Karma, Gronk used his big forearm to give concussions to other players. What goes around comes around.

  38. Regarding Gronk’s concussion:
    If anyone is found to intentionally lead with the helmet (should be reviewable) and causes a player to be taken out, under the concussion protocol, the offender should be:
    1. Ejected from that game
    2. Held out AT LEAST as long as the victim player is held out
    3. Fined heavily.
    …. No ifs-ands or buts…

  39. Regarding Gronk’s concussion:
    If anyone is found to intentionally lead with the helmet (should be reviewable) and causes a player to be taken out, under the concussion protocol, the offender should be:
    1. Ejected from that game
    2. Held out AT LEAST as long as the victim player is held out
    3. Fined heavily.
    …. No ifs-ands or buts…

    I would agree with this. Gronk has used his big forearm on many other players. Does the same go for him then?

  40. revelation123 says:
    January 22, 2018 at 12:05 pm

    Though I find it comical that Seahawks are complaining about the Pats getting breaks yet their boy Russell Wilson went through protocol for 5 seconds and got a slap on the wrist for it.
    ————–

    Not a Seahawks fan, but I wouldn’t be talking considering how many years the Pats have gotten away with cheating, only to get away with a slap on a wrist.
    ———————–
    How about you give us some examples of the Patriots cheating, Mr. Know-it-all.

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