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Rob Gronkowski’s beloved New England Patriots are on pace for their worst season since 2000 if not worse. But while there’s plenty of blame to go around, Gronkowski believes that there’s one simple reason they’re struggling.
Appearing on Up & Adams, Gronkowski asserted that the Patriots just don’t have enough playmakers to make their offense work regardless of who the quarterback or offensive playcaller is. He believes that embattled quarterback Mac Jones would be playing much better if he had better support around him.
“There just isn’t any playmakers. Who’s the guy that’s going to get you the first down on 3rd-and-8 when it’s a jump ball? I’m not really sure… I think Mac Jones is playing to his potential, but if you have some guys around him that have some skill… I think he would be playing at a lot higher level.”
Gronkowski made the case that Jones should continue to start despite his recent benching.
WHY isn’t it working in New England?
“There just isn’t any playmakers” – @RobGronkowski @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/Q0l6vSfNpr
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) November 22, 2023
It’s been a long time since the Patriots had serious playmakers that didn’t simply rely on Tom Brady putting the ball in the breadbasket. The last all-world playmaker they had was Gronkowski himself – and his presence allowed the Patriots to win multiple Super Bowls and make several more.
But it’s a two-way street. Who’s to say that Gronkowski ever would have made some of the remarkable touchdowns that he did without a quarterback like Tom Brady throwing him the ball?
Which is a more pressing need for the Patriots: A new QB or a new playmaker?