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Let the nice tight finish debate proceed.
Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce are broadly thought of two of the best gamers at their place in NFL historical past. However which future Corridor of Fame tight finish is best? Gronkowski took a shot at answering that query through the newest episode of The Ryen Russillo Podcast, which dropped Wednesday evening. And he wasn’t shy about praising the competitors.
“Are you higher than Kelce?” Russillo requested his visitor.
“Oh, man,” Gronkowski responded. “That query. You are simply throwing it proper on the market. I’d say in a distinct side. I consider that Travis Kelce is the perfect receiving tight finish. When you’re speaking a few tight finish, he is the perfect tight finish by way of catching the ball. There isn’t any doubt about it. You may’t even argue.”
Gronkowski gained 4 Tremendous Bowls and caught 92 regular-season touchdowns throughout 11 seasons with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kelce, an eight-time Professional Bowler, is in his eleventh 12 months with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
This is a more in-depth have a look at how the 2 tight ends consider their comparability, together with why Gronkowski believes Kelce is much more essential to the Chiefs than quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Kelce Extra Worthwhile Than Mahomes? Gronk Says So
Gronkowski entered the NFL as a second-round decide and rapidly took over.
After catching 10 touchdowns throughout his rookie season in 2010, the College of Arizona participant set tight finish information with 1,327 yards and 17 receiving touchdowns in his second 12 months. Tom Brady throwing to Gronkowski grew to become some of the prolific connections in NFL historical past. The 6-foot-6 tight finish performed 9 seasons with Brady in New England earlier than taking a 12 months off and following the QB to Tampa Bay for 2 extra years.
Regardless of a prolonged listing of accidents, Gronkowski had 621 catches for 9,286 yards and 4 first-team All-Professional honors on the time of his second retirement after the 2021 season.
Gronkowski described himself to Russillo as an old-school tight finish who might thrive simply as a lot blocking defensive ends as he might beating linebackers in protection. The kind of system would matter, Gronkowski mentioned, when figuring out if he or Kelce was the higher tight finish.
However most of Gronkowski’s reply was spent praising Kelce.
The previous Patriot raved concerning the longevity of Kelce’s profession and the way he manages to take his recreation to a brand new stage season after season. As Gronkowski highlighted throughout his podcast look, Kelce’s seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons are probably the most ever for a good finish. The 2-time Tremendous Bowl champion set profession highs a season in the past in receptions (110) and touchdowns (12).
To Gronkowski, Kelce is probably the most beneficial a part of a high-powered Chiefs offense. Much more so than Mahomes, a two-time MVP quarterback.
“When [Kelce’s] not out on the sphere for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, which may be very uncommon, they don’t seem to be the identical workforce,” Gronkowski mentioned. “They’re higher off having the backup quarterback with Travis Kelce on the sphere than Travis Kelce not on the sphere with Patrick Mahomes on the sphere. That is how a lot Travis Kelce means to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.”
Gronkowski Used Kelce as Motivation
The comparisons between Gronkowski and Kelce make sense as a result of the similarities are there.
Each gamers put on, or wore, No. 87. Each gamers are 34 (though Gronkowski entered the NFL three years earlier). And each Kelce and Gronkowski occur to be a few of the most dominant gamers of the previous few a long time.
When Gronkowski joined Travis and Jason Kelce on their New Heights podcast earlier this 12 months, Jason in contrast the tight ends to Kobe Bryan and LeBron James. Anytime one among them accomplishes one thing or is talked about, the opposite is introduced up. That is simply the character of this pleasant rivalry. Throughout that episode, Gronkowski was requested if he will get irritated with the fixed comparability. Fairly the other.
“With out that push, you are by no means gonna get higher,” Gronkowski mentioned.
The five-time Professional Bowler mentioned Kelce breaking onto the tight finish scene amped him up as a result of he did not need to lose his place because the preeminent participant at his place. Gronkowski mentioned he knew Kelce was “for actual” early on. Kelce has since damaged a number of tight finish information, together with Gronkowski’s for many yards in a season.
Gronkowski joked he’d have to start out enjoying once more if Kelce surpassed his 17-touchdown single-season mark. Oddly sufficient, Gronkowski’s dominant play that season helped push Kelce to change to tight finish whereas he was nonetheless in school.
“I undoubtedly have been chasing your greatness ever since that 12 months,” Kelce mentioned.
Kelce Named His Mount Rushmore of Tight Ends
Kelce had the possibility to call his biggest tight ends of all time on his podcast.
Jason Kelce requested his brother to offer his “Mount Rushmore” of tight ends final 12 months. In different phrases, to call the 4 finest gamers ever at that place. Kelce talked about Corridor of Famers Kellen Winslow Sr. and Tony Gonzalez first, earlier than inevitably attending to Gronkowski.
“Positively Rob Gronkowski,” Kelce mentioned. “You gotta put Gronk on the Mount Rushmore, man. Gronk was some of the dominant soccer gamers to ever play this recreation when he was on the sphere. In his prime, you could possibly not contact that dude.”
Each gamers finally earned a spot on Kelce’s tight finish Mount Rushmore. As for which one among them is best, Gronkowski would not need to be the one to offer a definitive reply.
“It is an argument I do not need to make the ultimate resolution on,” Gronkowski mentioned.
Unusual Data
Newsweek is dedicated to difficult standard knowledge and discovering connections within the seek for widespread floor.
Newsweek is dedicated to difficult standard knowledge and discovering connections within the seek for widespread floor.
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