It’s been three seasons since the Patriots lost the uniquely talented and tragically psychopathic Aaron Hernandez to a murder arrest and conviction.
And while it never feels comfortable discussing how Hernandez’s absence has negatively impacted the Patriots offense (probably because his presence in society had a greater negative impact on families), it’s a fact that the team’s made insufficient attempts to replace him.
There wasn’t much they could do in 2013 -- Hernandez was arrested in June, after most consequential roster moves are completed. Still, the team didn’t even get reinforcements with Rob Gronkowski being messed up by arm surgery, back surgery and post-surgery infections. They attacked the season with Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew Mulligan as the depth behind Gronk.
In 2014, the Patriots acted at the end of training camp to get a “move” tight end like Hernandez, swinging a deal with Tampa Bay that brought them Tim Wright. Wright -- a fifth-rounder then in his second season in the league -- had some moments, then fell into disuse. But Gronk stayed healthy, so it wasn’t a glaring issue.
Last offseason, the Patriots released Wright in June after bringing in former Buffalo tight end Scott Chandler as a free agent. They also kicked the tires on veteran Fred Davis and traded for Asante Cleveland. Cleveland (acquired in exchange for tuba-playing offensive lineman Jordan Devey), caught one pass for one yard, Davis got released and Chandler was a disappointment. Also, A.J. Derby, a converted quarterback, was drafted in the sixth round last year, was released then re-signed and put on IR.
In other words, the Patriots have tried to get by with half-measures. Players that can’t even begin to approximate a respectable level of production when Gronk is hurt or double-teamed. Players that fail to warrant attention from defenses that would take the heat off of Gronk and the other rest of the short-to-intermediate targets the Patriots rely on.
I don’t think any of what I’m alleging would be a revelation to the Patriots. If I can see it, they can see it.
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What will they do about it?
Over the next two months, there’s bound to be a groundswell of support for the idea of adding another Gronk. Glenn Gronkowski, the youngest of the Gronk brood, is a fullback out of Kansas State who’s got some H-back skills and absolutely has a chance to play in the league.
He’s not what the Patriots need. He caught 15 passes for the Wildcats -- five each season. He’s not particularly fast, not particularly tall, not particularly anything.
The Patriots already have a fullback -- two of them, in fact, in Joey Iosefa and James Develin. They already have a project at tight end in Derby.
They need a viable, immediate threat at tight end, not another half-measure.
Gronk the Younger was asked this week at the Combine about the prospect of playing for the Patriots alongside his brother.
"It would be a dream come true, obviously,” he said. “Never got to play with any of them growing up, they all played together, but just the age difference I was never able to do it. It would be awesome.”
He has no illusions about his status during this process, realizing he may go undrafted, that special teams could be his ticket and that carving a niche will be a process.
“I want to come out here and do the best I can in everything,” he said. “Hopefully make a team, hopefully help the team win and show what I can do and become a player.”
With Rob, Chris and Dan already having played in the NFL, the last name deserves to be a selling point. Clearly, the Gronkowskis know how to train, understand the landscape and possess a mentality that’s attractive to personnel men.
But Rob is the exception in terms of talent.
If the Patriots decide they want to add Glenn Gronkowski because of the little things they believe he can do, that’s fine. But no one should be deluded into thinking that all those little things combined will make a dent in addressing the need the Patriots have had since June of 2013.