Quote:
Originally Posted by mooby
I don't think because a player has to deal with multiple injuries within one time frame that classifies him as a bust. At worst, I think he'll be like Bob Sanders, i.e. effective when healthy, just never healthy. At best we know what he's capable of. But I think bust should be reserved for high draft picks who don't pan out for reasons like lack of motivation, no work ethic, taking the money and running, etc. Not guys who put in the work and have proven they are playmakers, but just had a couple of injuries with bad timing.
If Gronk is never the same after this, I still don't think he's a bust. He proved he belonged in the league when healthy. And yeah, he might have a short life span in the league, but that's not the same as some kid drafted high who lets the fame get to him, and never puts in the work. The word bust is just thrown around way too much imo, and this a prime example.
|
I understand what you're saying. There are people out there though that look at players that were either drafted in the first round or handed big contracts and consider them busts or non-busts/lived up to the hype/good (basically 2 categories). I would say that while Gronk was drafted in the 2nd round so that isn't a first rounder, but was still a high pick he exceeded his expectations. Then he was handed his ginormous contract, which was well deserved, and after he got that contract he's gone from a pro bowler to injury prone/hardly ever on the field player that has had more surgeries than most players have until they're 30. He's only 24.
As for the whole "because a player has to deal with multiple injuries within one time frame that classifies him as a bust" I would disagree with that. If a player can't play whether its talent or not staying on a field because of injuries or off field trouble, those are all factors of keeping a player from playing, thus making them a bust because they can't play.
And remember you're only a bust if you have had a large contract handed to you or are drafted highly (1-2).