{"id":32832,"date":"2019-03-24T18:29:28","date_gmt":"2019-03-24T23:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=32832"},"modified":"2021-08-27T10:14:38","modified_gmt":"2021-08-27T10:14:38","slug":"rob-gronkowski-last-number-87-patriots-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=32832","title":{"rendered":"Rob Gronkowski: The Last Number 87 in Patriots History"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the titans of the New England Patriots has played his last snap as tight end Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement<\/a><\/strong> from the NFL via Instagram on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

In terms of pure dominance, Gronk will go down as one of the most difficult covers in the history of the sport, and his blocking prowess till the very end gave the Patriots an unmatched advantage.<\/p>\n

At his peak, which included the best season in NFL history for a tight end in 2011 (1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns), he combined a blend of size and speed that will shortly lead to a trip to Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

[arve url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=04XK7zucaEk” muted=”yes” \/]<\/p>\n

PLACE YOUR BETS TODAY ~ USE PROMO CODE\u00a0CLNS50\u00a0FOR 50% CASHBACK ON YOUR FIRST\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>DEPOSIT<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

Even though the grind of a nine-year career diminished his superpowers last season, Gronk went out a champion and connected with Tom Brady on three of the biggest receptions of the Patriots season.<\/p>\n

[arve url=”https:\/\/streamable.com\/s\/pzkhr\/tybjiu” \/]<\/p>\n

At the end of regulation of the AFC Championship Game, the Patriots isolated Gronk on Chiefs safety Eric Berry to Brady\u2019s left on third down. Gronk ran a fade and went over Berry for a 25-yard completion to set up the go-ahead touchdown.<\/p>\n

[arve url=”https:\/\/streamable.com\/s\/6f4q2\/jxtjeu” \/]<\/p>\n

And then in overtime, the Pats called “D-slant” on third and ten with Gronk once again on isolated on Berry. He beat Berry, and broke the Chiefs defense.<\/p>\n

[arve url=”https:\/\/streamable.com\/s\/hn7x9\/rakywa” \/]<\/p>\n

In the Super Bowl, the Patriots ran a play that was a staple of his entire career: Hoss Y-Juke. The concept sends Gronk on his patented seam route. Brady delivered a perfect pass, and the ball fell into Gronk’s massive mitts setting up another game-winning score for the Patriots\u2019 sixth Super Bowl title and his third.<\/p>\n

In the biggest moments, Brady went to Gronk and fellow superhero Julian Edelman, and then there was the blocking.<\/p>\n

In recent years, tight ends have become big wide receiver, but Gronk was essentially a sixth offensive lineman that doubled as an elite receiver.<\/p>\n

In last year\u2019s divisional round playoffs, he put on a blocking clinic that the Patriots coaches can now use to teach the next generation of tight ends in New England.<\/p>\n

[arve url=”https:\/\/streamable.com\/s\/tocx8\/fatbdg” \/]<\/p>\n

On Rex Burkhead\u2019s second-quarter touchdown, Gronk led Burkhead into the end zone with a lethal combination block turning out Chargers Pro Bowler Melvin Ingram with Trent Brown and then climbing to the second level to get the linebacker as Burkhead walked into the end zone behind him.<\/p>\n

As the end of that play demonstrates with him high-stepping and then fist bumping with the Patriots going up 28-7; nobody had more fun playing the game of football than Rob Gronkowski.<\/p>\n

Gronk blocked, received, spiked and danced his way into Canton in one-of-a-kind fashion.<\/p>\n

And from this point forward, nobody else should wear number 87 in New England again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n
\n

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For the most in depth and comprehensive player and game analysis check out Patriots All-22 with host and Patriots beat reporter Evan Lazar.\u00a0Listen and Subscribe HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Get the inside scoop on the Patriots every week on CLNS Media\u2019s Patriots Beat Podcast with host Mike Petraglia. Listen and subscribe here\u00a0iTunes<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Stitcher<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Spotify<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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For all your Patriots content needs throughout the 2018-2019 season follow us on Twitter\u00a0@PatriotsCLNS<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0as well as\u00a0Patriots Insider Mike Petraglia\u00a0@trags<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and Patriots Beat Reporter Evan Lazar\u00a0@ezlazar<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the titans of the New England Patriots has played his last snap as tight end Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL via Instagram on Sunday night. In terms of pure dominance, Gronk will go down as one of the most difficult covers in the history of the sport, and his blocking<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":131993,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nRob Gronkowski: The Last Number 87 in Patriots History - CLNS Media<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rob Gronkowski retires on top after his ninth NFL season and another Super Bowl victory.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=32832\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rob Gronkowski: The Last Number 87 in Patriots History - 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