Rob Gronkowski’s agent Drew Rosenhaus chimes in

By now, we’ve all heard that New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski could undergo surgery that might cause him to miss the start of the 2013 season. “Could” and “might” don’t sound like words that should make us panic, but it’s interesting to see how up-in-arms several fans were when the news was first announced. The interesting thing is that different reports weigh the urgency of Gronk’s chances for surgery differently.

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For instance, the report from the Boston Herald yesterday plainly stated that Gronkowski would need surgery. Then, Mike Garafolo told us that the doctors are still weeks away from deciding whether or not Gronk will need a fourth surgery on his left forearm, and that the docs are looking at alternatives to surgery instead. Later on yesterday, ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss received word from two sources that Gronkowski’s chances of having surgery done are “very likely”.

So here’s the thing, Gronk’s “stubborn” infection may or may not still be there. If it’s gone once the doctors take a look at it after removing his plate, then he’s good to go. If the infection has not been eradicated even after the six-week antibiotic cycle, then the docs will have to wait to put in the new plate. That’s when Gronk’s chances of playing next season are cast in doubt.

Gronkowski’s agent Drew Rosenhaus chimed in and told Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post, “that type of speculation is way off. No determinations have been made.”

Rosenhaus stated this when asked about reports stating Gronkowski might miss the start of the season, but it must be important to note that you can’t take what Gronk’s agent says at face value. However, he does have a point. While Gronk will most likely need surgery, there is only a chance that the infection is still there. There is also only the chance that the waiting time will be long enough to cause Gronkowski to miss the start of the season, so there are a lot of variables. “Could” is a word that is easy to stretch, so saying “Gronk’s status for the start of the season ‘could’ be in jeopardy” is loose. There is reason to worry a bit, but I’m expecting Gronk to be ready to play at the start of the season. Don’t forget, both sides are actively looking for alternatives to a fourth surgery.

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