Rob Gronkowski best TE ever?

[James Harden]

As you all know, the Gronk is widely considered as the best TE in the league. The Gronk is the first TE in NFL history with 3 consecutive seasons with at least 10 touchdowns. In 2011 he set the records with most receiving yards(1,327) and most receiving touchdowns (17) by a TE in a single season. I am considering him as the best TE ever in NFL history.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut3RWuH2G_8 

[SolomonThomasFanAccount]

eh jimmy graham is better can stay healthy too

[Gavin]

Tony Gonzalez

[southwest1]

SW1 always thought Shannon Sharpe was the best TE I have ever seen. A great smack talker too who always backed up his bravado on the field. 

 

Shannon in his prime would leave Gronk in the dust. I respect Gronk, but Sharpe knew how to mess with his defender's psyche & confidence. Gronk doesn't have that crucial skill in his offensive arsenal. 

[southwest1]

eh jimmy graham is better can stay healthy too

 

 

Tony Gonzalez

Excellent selections gentlemen! I can't disagree with either one. 

[Colts_Fan12]

DA of the Indy colts

[T Y Goodbye]

Don't forget Kellen Winslow SR. He helped revolutionize the position, And you also have to consider Antonio Gates as well.

[southwest1]

Mike Ditka wasn't too shabby in his day either. 

[southwest1]

Don't forget Kellen Winslow SR. He helped revolutionize the position, And you also have to consider Antonio Gates as well.

Good call CF4L. Way to dig deep in NFL history for that one. 

[southwest1]

I kind of hope Tony Gonzalez comes back yet another season for the Falcons. He's too darn talented to depart after a dismal Atlanta season. Naturally, he can do whatever he wants, but come on the guy is in great shape. 

[MaoBerry]

Its Tony Gonzalez, it it isn't really debatable. His stats rival the best WR'S as well. A good guy also. ITS TONY...Hands down.

[Moose Of Woe]

Tony Gonzalez

And still going strong.

 

When it's all said and done, I don't see why Gronk wouldn't be able to surpass him barring injury. I can't give it to him after only 3-4 seasons.

[pacolts56]

For all phases of the TE position I believe Mark Bavaro deserves mention.

 

He was a devastating blocker as well as a very good receiving TE and played a big part in the Giants two Super Bowl wins during his 5 seasons with them.

[amfootball]

I think Gronk could end up being the greatest. He is on pace to break every record but much depends on his health. In today's game, he is the first TE I would pick for my team. Not only is he a huge threat receiving but he is a great blocker as well. He can do it all.

 

In terms of all time great, I would put Shannon Sharpe first. He changed the position and was a beast.

[TAPLOOK]

Graham better than Gronk? That's laughable.

 

There have been a lot of great TE's over the years and Gronk can certainly be in that discussion after he gets several more years under his belt. Gronk is very, very good in all phases of the game but at this point he's not even the best TE in Patriot history. Francis and Coates head that list for the time being.

[ViriLudant]

eh jimmy graham is better can stay healthy too

No, he's not.

Graham is an awful run blocking TE. Gronk is one of the best in the game at that skill as well. He's the most complete TE in the game, by far.

[Dustin]

Graham is nowhere as good as Gronk.

[The Old Crow]

John Mackey, end of argument.

[BOTT]

Gronk will never play long enough to be considered the greatest ever

[Poster X]

Tony Gonzalez is the best tight end ever... the man was the first to catch 1,000 passes for 14,879 yards and 107 touchdowns in his career.

Gronkowski can't even dance well following a loss, or otherwise. Thus isn't in the same league.

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

Don't forget Kellen Winslow SR. He helped revolutionize the position, And you also have to consider Antonio Gates as well.

Kellen Winslow was great, but he in no way revolutionized the position.  That was done by John Mackey.  There was no such thing as a receiving tight end until Mackey.

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

John Mackey, end of argument.

Absolutely end of argument.

[Moose Of Woe]

John Mackey, end of argument.

Certainly no slouch.

[IndyTrav]

I've never agreed that being the first at something makes you the greatest.

The answer is TonyG.

If you believe Rice to be the goat then you have to believe its Tony.

[TAPLOOK]

John Mackey was great in his time but he's not even in the conversation. He was 6'2" and 225 lbs. He'd get rolled on every play.

[The Old Crow]

John Mackey was great in his time but he's not even in the conversation. He was 6'2" and 225 lbs. He'd get rolled on every play.

Different eras . On top of everything else, Gronk is too injury prone to be in greatest ever argument , although he is a very good tight end.

[TAPLOOK]

Tony G. is the best to this point. Size, toughness, catching, YAC, blocking, downfield blocking, great team mate and overall excellence over a very long period of time.

 

Bavaro was a beast for sure but his career was much to short.

[TAPLOOK]

Gronk will never play long enough to be considered the greatest ever

 

Where did you buy your Crystal Ball? I'm looking for a good one.

[TAPLOOK]

Different eras . On top of everything else, Gronk is too injury prone to be in greatest ever argument , although he is a very good tight end.

He's broke his arm. He has not played long enough for us to know if he's injury prone or the greatest TE ever. 

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

John Mackey was great in his time but he's not even in the conversation. He was 6'2" and 225 lbs. He'd get rolled on every play.

We can argue all day who is the best TE ever.  Mackey may not be the best ever, but saying he's not even in the conversation is pretty ridiculous.

[The Old Crow]

He's broke his arm. He has not played long enough for us to know if he's injury prone or the greatest TE ever.

That's why he's not the greatest TE ever. The odds are his career may not be that long. If it isn't , he may not even make the Hall of Fame, never mind the greatest TE ever mantle.

[TAPLOOK]

We can argue all day who is the best TE ever.  Mackey may not be the best ever, but saying he's not even in the conversation is pretty ridiculous.

There are a lot of TE I would put ahead of him.

 

I'll recant that. I never even saw the guy play. Did you?

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

There are a lot of TE I would put ahead of him.

That's fine,but my point was you can't have a discussion about the greatest TE's ever without mentioning Makey.  It's disrespectful to the game.  Just like when you talk about greatest QBs ever and don't mention Otto Graham or Unitas.

[The Old Crow]

There are a lot of TE I would put ahead of him.

Sports Illustrated, among others, universally have Mackey and Sharpe as one and two. SI has Patriot Ben Coates # 10 , so let's have Gronk pass him first before we get to the big dogs.

[The Old Crow]

That's fine,but my point was you can't have a discussion about the greatest TE's ever without mentioning Makey. It's disrespectful to the game. Just like when you talk about greatest QBs ever and don't mention Otto Graham or Unitas.

These are the new era guys, like the new era hats, that haven't studied NFL history. Gronk being the greatest ever after a few seasons is absurd.

[TAPLOOK]

Sports Illustrated, among others, universally have Mackey and Sharpe as one and two. SI has Patriot Ben Coates # 10 , so let's have Gronk pass him first before we get to the big dogs.

 

I edited my post. Sorry. I did say earlier that Gronk isn't even the Patriots best TE ever.  

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

Sports Illustrated, among others, universally have Mackey and Sharpe as one and two. SI has Patriot Ben Coates # 10 , so let's have Gronk pass him first before we get to the big dogs.

Without Mackey, there is no Tony G. or Gronk.  Just like with no Unitas, there is no Peyton Manning, or Tom Brady.

[CCH]

Jimmy Graham has only played football for 5 years. He's a freak. I would probably go with him

over Gronkowksi due to his injury history. We'll see if either can put up the same numbers when their all time great QB's retire. Tony Gonzalez is the greatest ever, because his numbers have come from crap QB's

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

Graham is nowhere as good as Gronk.

I don't even consider Graham a TE.

[Poster X]

I've never agreed that being the first at something makes you the greatest.

The answer is TonyG.

If you believe Rice to be the goat then you have to believe its Tony.

Being first to do something isn't enough to put you in an elite club in most cases, but as far as tight ends go after Gonzalez, Sharpe has like 800+ catches. Then the next level of receptions is in the 600+ range. The guy has taken pass catching ends to a whole new level. Longevity certainly doesn't hurt either.