Gronky Pigskins

 Rob Gronkowski, once more with feeling, is retiring from the NFL. 

And so, because we love nothing more than debating the meaninglessness of our lives, let's discuss: Is Gronk the GOAT tight end?

Most GOAT arguments are based on curated data. We take the stats that prove our point and ignore the rest as inconsequential. Other tight ends caught more passes (Tony Gonzalez) or played longer and racked up bigger numbers. I have a fondness for John Mackey when it comes to talking the best tight ends to ever play the game and, a little closer to home - and my current temporal frame of reference - Ben Coates (criminally undervalued but no, I'm not arguing his GOAT case; he's just a favorite from my days wandering in the gridiron wilderness before Pigskin Jesus arrived in Foxborough).

That's what most of us mean when we say "greatest." We mean "favorite" and it's almost impossible to ignore our own personal bias in these discussions. Ben Coates was my favorite tight end before Rob Gronkowski came along. I get Chiefs fans who say Travis Kelce is better (he isn't). You see someone like Gronkowski (or Kelce) play week over week, year over year, and you really appreciate what makes that player great. It isn't just the SportsCenter highlights. Not that there weren't plenty of those highlight-worthy moments.

Whether or not Gronk is the GOAT, he was clearly unique. (Yes, that's an example of curated data - you had fair warning). He was a dominating force on the field and the Human Party Bus off it. His larger than life public persona, self-deprecating sense of humor, his innate goofiness, made him one of the most lovable pop figures of his era and his era has hardly been the Golden Age of Good Guys in sports. 

If being the GOAT actually mattered (there isn't a plaque or trophy of some kind that I'm not aware of, is there?) I would happily make a case for Gronk. Over a beer with some buds at a sports bar, of course. This is Rob Gronkowski we're talking about, after all. Given where Gronk ranks on the career charts, I'd base my argument (curated data warning!) on his per game averages and his insane TD receptions total, but…

So what? 

I'm just grateful for every snap of Rob Gronkowski's career. He played the game the way every fan wants to see their pigskin heroes play. 

Thanks, Gronk.