Around the League: Gronk Retires, Cam’s Flex, Lions Upgrade Secondary, More

Mar 25, 2019

With the NFL’s league meetings underway in Arizona, I suppose this makes for a good time to check in what’s happening elsewhere in the football world.

Rob Gronkowski’s used Instagram to announce his retirement because that’s what a unique character like that does. And what a career he had:

There will never be another Gronk.

Have a Career, @RobGronkowski! pic.twitter.com/9sgarTDVCr

— NFL (@NFL) March 24, 2019

It’s not the largest sample to work with because injuries shortened his career, but Gronkowski played his way into consideration of being the best tight end of his era. And should enough writers agree with that sentiment, his next stop will be in Canton.

But first, one last look at his final catch:

Doesn't get more clutch than this.

The last catch of @RobGronkowski's career! 💯 pic.twitter.com/PXgAxDO48H

— NFL (@NFL) March 25, 2019

The top of the Patriots hierarchy weighs in on Gronkowski’s announcement:

Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft and HC Bill Belichick on Rob Gronkowski: pic.twitter.com/R6QRkpLMwj

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 25, 2019

Tom Brady + @RobGronkowski forever. 😢 pic.twitter.com/Ck0n97v3c3

— NFL (@NFL) March 25, 2019

So what’s next for Gronk? Well, how’s this for timing:

WWE Monday Night Raw is in Boston tonight, a day after Gronk retired.

Will he appear on the show?

Yes: -160
No: +120 pic.twitter.com/J9CsHquoD3

— OddsShark (@OddsShark) March 25, 2019

With this nice of a stat, why would he consider coming out of retirement?

Gronk scored .69 receiving touchdowns per game, which is perfectly Gronk and also a record among tight ends I'm pretty sure.

— Arthur Arkush (@ArthurArkush) March 25, 2019

Because I know you’re curious, Gronkowski posted the following stat line against the Bears (2 games): 14 catches, 192 yards, 4 touchdowns. Extrapolate those stats over a 16-game season and we’d be looking at a tight end who went for 112 catches, 1,536 yards, and 32 touchdowns. LOL. Those are video game stats and I’m thankful the Bears didn’t have to play him twice per season during the course of his career.

Oh gosh, he’s coming back for the inevitable Bears-Patriots Super Bowl, isn’t he?

Drew Rosenhaus on @GetUpESPN on Rob Gronkowski’s future: “If the team was struggling or they needed him at some point next year, and let’s just say hypothetically Tom Brady gave him a call and said ‘Rob, I need you.’ I wouldn’t be shocked if he came back to play a few games.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 25, 2019

Elsewhere in the world of the defending Super Bowl champs:

Sheriff expects “pretty ugly” videos in Robert Kraft case to go public https://t.co/2kloiDELxh

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) March 22, 2019

For the record: there are things that aren’t related to the Patriots going on in the NFL.

Oh hey, potential rules changes could be on the way:

One of the issues with eliminating kickoffs all together (which may happen someday) is that there needs to be a sensible replacement for the onside kick. The AAF has a similar alternative and it might make sense to slowly introduce this to the NFL.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) March 22, 2019

One of our hopes when it came to the Alliance of American Football was that it would spark the NFL to spice things up a little from a rules perspective. Nothing like a little competition or inspiration from an up-start league to get things moving in the right direction. Eliminating onside kicks and replacing it with an actual play from scrimmage is something the NFL should seriously consider.

Still no word if our #bankickers proposal has been taken seriously by anyone in the league offices, but we’ll hold out hope until further notice.

Can you find your favorite general manager?

Twenty-eight of the NFL’s 32 General Managers…. pic.twitter.com/gSTz6MNPou

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 25, 2019

Because it needed to be done: Amy Parlapiano wraps up the first wave of free agency in .gif form over at The Athletic.

If Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown are going to cash in on big paydays, maybe the best receiver in football should join in on the fun, too:

Falcons, Julio Jones closing in on 4- or 5-year extension that would pay $20M a year, per @mikefreemanNFL pic.twitter.com/u1QZ11qjmy

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 22, 2019

Guh! The Lions signed one of my favorite cornerbacks on the market as they turn what was a weakness into a strength:

Welcome to the squad, @Rmelvin30❗️ pic.twitter.com/5R0tERRSQp

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) March 23, 2019

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has it as a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. It’s a prove-it deal that has a ton of upside for the team (which continues to upgrade what was a woeful secondary) and player (if Rashaan Melvin plays to his potential, he can cash in with a big contract next year). Melvin has been a standout defender in my eyes since he was providing NIU with blanket coverage of the MAC’s best receivers. Starting outside opposite of Darius Slay and alongside slot cornerback Justin Coleman gives Melvin an opportunity to shine with some pretty solid defenders. Hopefully, the Bears’ passing offense realizes this group is much improved (at least, on paper) than what it was when they faced the Lions twice last season.

This is a painful list to read:

There were 53 torn ACL’s during the 2018 NFL season. Here is the list of every player 👇 pic.twitter.com/GKkmQhQRNy

— ACL Recovery Club (@ACLrecoveryCLUB) March 25, 2019

Let the record show that I had nothing to with any delays in Vegas, but the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the completion of the Raiders’ new home in Sin City has been pushed back by about a week, in part due to delayed steel delivery. The project is expected to be completed and hosting events in the first week of August 2020. By then, the Raiders figure to be playing in their new place. Luckily, construction season never slows down in Vegas because the weather almost always cooperates year-round, so it’s possible they make up time at some point down the line. But keep in mind that their new lease with Oakland has a second year option, just in case the project isn’t ready.

One of my favorite receivers has also called it a career:

Jeremy Maclin announced his retirement today at his wife’s baby shower. The #Eagles’ 2009 first-round pick had 514 catches for 6,835 yards and 49 TDs in his career. Has been battling a nagging hamstring injury of late. https://t.co/HNV2uP839j
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 24, 2019

Maclin was a treat to watch throughout his NFL career, but he first caught my eye when he was catching everything thrown by Chase Daniel at Missouri:

Ummm, OK:

Weird flex but ok https://t.co/1bAwXcb8DC

— Kyle Long (@Ky1eLong) March 22, 2019

GOT HEEEEM:

Not your best work here.

— William Dailey, CSC (@wrdcsc) March 23, 2019

Apologies Father Bill. Looking to get better everyday!

— DeShone Kizer (@deshonekizer) March 23, 2019

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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Around the League: Gronk Retires, Cam’s Flex, Lions Upgrade Secondary, More

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