Is Gronk the greatest TE ever?

[Uncle Buck]

Gonzales and Ditka were great too, but I'd have to say that Gronk is the best overall TE I've ever seen play the game.  He seems like a great guy too.  His commercials are hilarious.

[Les Punting]

2 hours ago, lancerman said:

I mean does anybody even have an argument over him besides longevity? And even that’s kinda becoming less and less meaningful as Gronk clocks in more time. 

Gonzales was far and away a better player, and it has nothing to do with longevity.

					Games		Receiving											Rushing								Total Yds
Year	Age	Tm	Pos	No.	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Y/R	TD	1D	Lng	R/G	Y/G	Ctch%	Y/Tgt	Rush	Yds	TD	1D	Lng	Y/A	Y/G	A/G	Touch	Y/Tch	YScm	RRTD	Fmb	AV
Career					270	254	2012	1325	15127	11.4	111	866	73	4.9	56.0	65.9%	7.5	2	14	0	0	9	7.0	0.1	0.0	1327	11.4	15141	111	6	147
1997	21	KAN		88	16	0	54	33	368	11.2	2	21	30	2.1	23.0	61.1%	6.8									33	11.2	368	2	0	4
1998	22	KAN	TE	88	16	16	102	59	621	10.5	2	33	32	3.7	38.8	57.8%	6.1									59	10.5	621	2	3	6
1999*+	23	KAN	TE	88	15	15	104	76	849	11.2	11	47	73	5.1	56.6	73.1%	8.2									76	11.2	849	11	2	8
2000*+	24	KAN	TE	88	16	16	150	93	1203	12.9	9	66	39	5.8	75.2	62.0%	8.0									93	12.9	1203	9	0	11
2001*+	25	KAN	TE	88	16	16	118	73	917	12.6	6	49	36	4.6	57.3	61.9%	7.8	1	9	0	0	9	9.0	0.6	0.1	74	12.5	926	6	0	9
2002*	26	KAN	TE	88	16	16	99	63	773	12.3	7	39	42	3.9	48.3	63.6%	7.8									63	12.3	773	7	0	9
2003*+	27	KAN	TE	88	16	16	106	71	916	12.9	10	48	67	4.4	57.3	67.0%	8.6									71	12.9	916	10	0	11
2004*	28	KAN	TE	88	16	16	148	102	1258	12.3	7	70	32	6.4	78.6	68.9%	8.5	1	5	0	0	5	5.0	0.3	0.1	103	12.3	1263	7	0	12
2005*	29	KAN	TE	88	16	16	116	78	905	11.6	2	45	39	4.9	56.6	67.2%	7.8									78	11.6	905	2	0	9
2006*	30	KAN	TE	88	15	15	104	73	900	12.3	5	53	57	4.9	60.0	70.2%	8.7									73	12.3	900	5	1	9
2007*	31	KAN	TE	88	16	16	153	99	1172	11.8	5	59	31	6.2	73.3	64.7%	7.7									99	11.8	1172	5	0	8
2008*+	32	KAN	TE	88	16	16	155	96	1058	11.0	10	66	35	6.0	66.1	61.9%	6.8									96	11.0	1058	10	0	9
2009	33	ATL	TE	88	16	16	134	83	867	10.4	6	55	27	5.2	54.2	61.9%	6.5									83	10.4	867	6	0	9
2010*	34	ATL	TE	88	16	16	108	70	656	9.4	6	40	34	4.4	41.0	64.8%	6.1									70	9.4	656	6	0	8
2011*	35	ATL	TE	88	16	16	116	80	875	10.9	7	53	30	5.0	54.7	69.0%	7.5									80	10.9	875	7	0	8
2012*+	36	ATL	TE	88	16	16	124	93	930	10.0	8	65	25	5.8	58.1	75.0%	7.5									93	10.0	930	8	0	10
2013*	37	ATL	TE	88	16	16	121	83	859	10.3	8	57	25	5.2	53.7	68.6%	7.1									83	10.3	859	8	0	7

Gonzales was his teams #1 receiver his whole career. He was the primary focus of opposing defenses and was still unstoppable. Gonzales averaged 78 rec/season and caught 90+ balls 5 times! Gronk has averaged all of 54 rec/season and caught 90+ exactly once. Gronk is basically Shockey+.

The #2 all-time TE would make for an interesting debate. As for GOAT, there shouldn't be any. It's Gonzales.

 

[Nex_Gen]

In terms of on the field ability and impact, yes.

Hard to match Tony G's profile and resume though..

[N4L]

33 minutes ago, Les Punting said:

Gonzales was his teams #1 receiver his whole career. He was the primary focus of opposing defenses and was still unstoppable. Gonzales averaged 78 rec/season and caught 90+ balls 5 times! Gronk has averaged all of 54 rec/season and caught 90+ exactly once. Gronk is basically Shockey+.

The #2 all-time TE would make for an interesting debate. As for GOAT, there shouldn't be any. It's Gonzales.

because all TEs are asked to do is catch passes, right? 

Gronk is perhaps the best blocking TE of all time. That counts 

 

He is TE1 all time for me. 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

Probably. I'd like either him or Kellen Winslow as the best. Gronk is/was a better blocker though. And it's not like Winslow was bad at it. 

Edited December 10, 2021 by TecmoSuperJoe

[lancerman]

2 hours ago, Les Punting said:

Gonzales was far and away a better player, and it has nothing to do with longevity.

					Games		Receiving											Rushing								Total Yds
Year	Age	Tm	Pos	No.	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Y/R	TD	1D	Lng	R/G	Y/G	Ctch%	Y/Tgt	Rush	Yds	TD	1D	Lng	Y/A	Y/G	A/G	Touch	Y/Tch	YScm	RRTD	Fmb	AV
Career					270	254	2012	1325	15127	11.4	111	866	73	4.9	56.0	65.9%	7.5	2	14	0	0	9	7.0	0.1	0.0	1327	11.4	15141	111	6	147
1997	21	KAN		88	16	0	54	33	368	11.2	2	21	30	2.1	23.0	61.1%	6.8									33	11.2	368	2	0	4
1998	22	KAN	TE	88	16	16	102	59	621	10.5	2	33	32	3.7	38.8	57.8%	6.1									59	10.5	621	2	3	6
1999*+	23	KAN	TE	88	15	15	104	76	849	11.2	11	47	73	5.1	56.6	73.1%	8.2									76	11.2	849	11	2	8
2000*+	24	KAN	TE	88	16	16	150	93	1203	12.9	9	66	39	5.8	75.2	62.0%	8.0									93	12.9	1203	9	0	11
2001*+	25	KAN	TE	88	16	16	118	73	917	12.6	6	49	36	4.6	57.3	61.9%	7.8	1	9	0	0	9	9.0	0.6	0.1	74	12.5	926	6	0	9
2002*	26	KAN	TE	88	16	16	99	63	773	12.3	7	39	42	3.9	48.3	63.6%	7.8									63	12.3	773	7	0	9
2003*+	27	KAN	TE	88	16	16	106	71	916	12.9	10	48	67	4.4	57.3	67.0%	8.6									71	12.9	916	10	0	11
2004*	28	KAN	TE	88	16	16	148	102	1258	12.3	7	70	32	6.4	78.6	68.9%	8.5	1	5	0	0	5	5.0	0.3	0.1	103	12.3	1263	7	0	12
2005*	29	KAN	TE	88	16	16	116	78	905	11.6	2	45	39	4.9	56.6	67.2%	7.8									78	11.6	905	2	0	9
2006*	30	KAN	TE	88	15	15	104	73	900	12.3	5	53	57	4.9	60.0	70.2%	8.7									73	12.3	900	5	1	9
2007*	31	KAN	TE	88	16	16	153	99	1172	11.8	5	59	31	6.2	73.3	64.7%	7.7									99	11.8	1172	5	0	8
2008*+	32	KAN	TE	88	16	16	155	96	1058	11.0	10	66	35	6.0	66.1	61.9%	6.8									96	11.0	1058	10	0	9
2009	33	ATL	TE	88	16	16	134	83	867	10.4	6	55	27	5.2	54.2	61.9%	6.5									83	10.4	867	6	0	9
2010*	34	ATL	TE	88	16	16	108	70	656	9.4	6	40	34	4.4	41.0	64.8%	6.1									70	9.4	656	6	0	8
2011*	35	ATL	TE	88	16	16	116	80	875	10.9	7	53	30	5.0	54.7	69.0%	7.5									80	10.9	875	7	0	8
2012*+	36	ATL	TE	88	16	16	124	93	930	10.0	8	65	25	5.8	58.1	75.0%	7.5									93	10.0	930	8	0	10
2013*	37	ATL	TE	88	16	16	121	83	859	10.3	8	57	25	5.2	53.7	68.6%	7.1									83	10.3	859	8	0	7

Gonzales was his teams #1 receiver his whole career. He was the primary focus of opposing defenses and was still unstoppable. Gonzales averaged 78 rec/season and caught 90+ balls 5 times! Gronk has averaged all of 54 rec/season and caught 90+ exactly once. Gronk is basically Shockey+.

The #2 all-time TE would make for an interesting debate. As for GOAT, there shouldn't be any. It's Gonzales.

 

Gronk was the number 1 receiver on his team whenever he was there until 2018. 
 

Tell me specifically what you think Gonzalez does better? Gronk is more efficient. Gronk has better hands. Gronk is harder to bring down. Gronk has more physicality and is better at contested catches. Gronk is better at extending plays. Gronk is a million times the blocker. 
 

You just listed a bunch of numbers without context. Which is particularly funny when you said “it has nothing to do with longevity” then listed his career numbers and highlighted his totals lol. What specifically do you think Gonzalez does better. 

Edited December 10, 2021 by lancerman

[Malik]

Easily. That's not even getting into him being an elite pass AND run blocker. He was effectively a 6th offensive linemen in situations where he didn't run routes. He was a very good postseason performer too

[DinoZ]

1.Tony Gonzalez

2.Jason Wittten

3.Antonio Gates

4.Shannon Sharpe

5.Travis Kelce

6.GRONK

7.John Mackey

8.Kellen Winslow

9.Ozzie Newsome

10.Mike Ditka

 

 

[sammymvpknight]

If you put Gonzo with Brady in the modern passing era, would he have been any worse than Gronk? The bar was set really high for a few seasons, but I think Gonzo would have likely put up comparable numbers. I just can’t say the same thing if Gronk played the same role as Gonzo. Plus, duration and consistency do matter. I’m going Gonzo. But I would go with Gronk pretty easily over the #3 guy. 

[bigbadbuff]

If only Gronk didn’t pull one of the pussiest moves of all time when he elbow dropped tre white on the back of the head, it would be much easier for me to defend him.

He’s the best ever. Also a ***** though

[JAF-N72EX]

Most talented TE ever....yes, without a doubt. But best ever though....I'm still not sure I'd put him above either Gonzo or Gates IMO.  I can understand the arguments for it though.

[biggie.]

Gronk was better than Gonzalez, but Gonzalez was more reliable.

[Hunter2_1]

7 hours ago, DinoZ said:

1.Tony Gonzalez

2.Jason Wittten

3.Antonio Gates

4.Shannon Sharpe

5.Travis Kelce

6.GRONK

7.John Mackey

8.Kellen Winslow

9.Ozzie Newsome

10.Mike Ditka

 

 

😂😂 good one

[Hunter2_1]

6 hours ago, sammymvpknight said:

If you put Gonzo with Brady in the modern passing era, would he have been any worse than Gronk? The bar was set really high for a few seasons, but I think Gonzo would have likely put up comparable numbers. I just can’t say the same thing if Gronk played the same role as Gonzo. Plus, duration and consistency do matter. I’m going Gonzo. But I would go with Gronk pretty easily over the #3 guy. 

Gronk probably wouldn’t play same role because they’d use his blocking talents more 

[Hunter2_1]

To put Gronk outside the top 5 is to say that you think blocking is not part of football. This is 5 on 5 for you.