(SP) – According to reports, Patriots team veterinarian Sandra McClintock, DVM, has advised team officials that their Gronk may need to be put down due to his repeated injuries.
“Not only am I a veterinarian, but I specialize in large animals,” said McClintock. “And I just don’t know how much more Gronk can take. He’s just so fun and lovable and productive in the red zone that it would be so hard to say goodbye to him, but at some point it’s about pain management and what’s best for your Gronk. I think it’s time to have some serious discussions.”
Despite his physical size and strength, New England’s Gronk has not made it through a full 16-games schedule since 2011 and has missed 25 games in the last six years.
“I think a lot of people look at him and think he is big and durable, but they forget that he is a pure breed Gronk,” said McClintock. “Pure breed Gronks just don’t last long. They have a lot of health issues, unfortunately. Their oversized bones are easily broken and their giant muscles are constantly spraining or tearing.”
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said he is prepared to tell the team that their Gronk found a new team upstate or far away.
“I can’t tell them the truth or they’ll never get over it,” said Belichick. “I can’t look into Tom Brady’s dumb, innocent face, a man who thinks everything in the world is just fine and positive, and tell him that I have to put down his Gronk. No, we’ll tell them Gronk is going far, far away where he’ll be happy. Maybe someplace like Cancun.”
