The fate of Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski carted off after injury/ blacksportsonline.com

Rob Gronkowski, tight end for the New England Patriots, has been repeatedly injured during his career and his durability issue may lead to his departure from the team in the 2015 season. Now facing a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, he might not even make it onto the field until December 2014. With these factors coming in to play, the Patriots could be looking for a new tight end this coming season.

The injury-prone Gronkowski suffered sprained ligaments in his ankle during Super Bowl XLVI which required him to have surgery. In the 2012 season he broke his left forearm and then re-injured it in a playoff game that same season.

Gronkowski’s right knee injury occurred when he got hit by T.J. Ward from the Denver Broncos. Ward spoke out about this hit and how everything he did was legal, and the league is forcing him and other players to hit in this legal manner.

“But we have to play this game the way that they force us to, and unfortunately it [resulted] in an injury for him ... I honestly prayed for him 'cause it looked bad the way they were over there,” Ward said to Marc Sessler after the December 9, 2013 game.

For the last two seasons, Gronkowski only played in 18 of the 32 games. All of this missed playing time was a result from his injuries. The only way for a player to be of use to a team is if he is on the field playing. The Patriots have a difficult decision whether to drop him or keep him on the team. He is an amazing player on the field setting many records while playing for the Patriots in just four seasons.

The Patriots gave Gronkowski the highest salary for a tight end in the league and he deserves that contract while he is playing. When he is playing, he is a hard person to defend on the field. Due to his injuries of the last couple of seasons, does this mean that his place as the starting tight end for the Patriots is in jeopardy, or does his record the past four years influence the choice as to whether the Patriots want to keep him?