GetMoreSports.com is excited to announce a partnership with former NFL player Glenn Gronkowski. Every week during the 2018 season, we’ll produce an exclusive Q&A interview with Glenn, whose experience, familiarity and connections within the league, its coaches and its players allow him to provide unparalleled insight and analysis.
The information provided in this series can be incredibly valuable to any sports bettor, which is why this is must-read material every week.
In this week’s edition (NFL Preseason Week 2), Glenn talks Week 1 takeaways, his thoughts on the rookie quarterback class and more. You can read Chris Gronkowski’s weekly Q&A here.
All odds are subject to change and courtesy of BetDSI.com, which is open to U.S. players and accepts credit cards.
GMS: What was your biggest takeaway while watching Week 1 of the 2018 preseason?
Gronk: It was different not playing football in August for the first time in 10 years, but either way football is back and everybody is excited to get the season going. My biggest takeaway is just how hard these athletes are competing for a job. So many players are getting a chance and doing everything they can to make their dreams come true and get their chance to show that they belong in the NFL. It’s just awesome to watch everyone out there, competing and making plays because some of these players will be the next big stars in the NFL and some will never play a down of football again in their life after a couple week of preseason, but they will savor every moment that had on an NFL team.
GMS: Which rookie quarterback most impressed you in Week 1?
Gronk: Baker Mayfield. Not only was his completion percentage, QBR, and lack of turnovers impressive, but he was able to keep drives alive that most quarterbacks would not be able to. He hit a 3rd and 18 throw for 22 yards to set up a score where most other quarterbacks would just check it down and take the five-yard gain and punt it away. He also was able to convert on a couple third downs with his legs and continue the drive as well which led to points. He showed he was comfortable in the pocket for a rookie and was able to make exceptional plays that most veteran quarterbacks wouldn’t even be able to make.
GMS: Oddsmakers released quarterback battle odds for the Bills, Browns, Cardinals and Jets, and none of the rookies were favored to start in Week 1 of the regular season. Do you think Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, Josh Rose and/or Sam Darnold will start? If so, why?
Gronk: Although Mayfield and Darnold have looked good so far in training camp and in preseason game one, the Browns have already stated (tyrod) Taylor will be the starting quarterback and Darnold seems to have a bit to learn still. I was not able to catch any action on Rosen, but I do believe the best rookie quarterback to start would be Josh Allen for Buffalo. Buffalo has been needing a quarterback for a long time and I think the Buffalo fan base will push to see Allen because they want to see what they believe is their franchise quarterback. Also, (Nathan) Peterman struggled heavily last year and (A.J.) McCarron has never been a true starter in his career. So whichever quarterback Buffalo picks will be considered a “rookie” starting quarterback since none of them have much, or any experience, in NFL games. I think their best bet would be to go with who they believe is their future franchise quarterback with Josh Allen.
Check out the Gronkowski Brothers’ inaugural podcast: THE GRONKCAST exclusively for GetMoreSports.com:
GMS: We got our first glimpse of Andrew Luck and he looked like the healthy player everyone wants him to be. What are your expectations for Luck and the Colts this season?
Gronk: Luck has always been a true competitor and there is no doubt he’s been waiting to get back on the football field and win games for the Colts. Based on what I’ve heard about Luck’s work ethic and football smarts, I believe he’s been doing everything he can to be at the top of his game during his injury. I think we will see the Andrew Luck that he use to be because he is an intelligent player who understands the game and definitely did not waste time while being injured to just sit back and watch. He’s a player that was still learning the game, attending meetings, and trying to be the best player he can be, even while physical injuries had him sidelined.
GMS: Glenn, you nailed your first preseason pick with the Ravens -1 as they cruised to a 33-7 victory. What’s your favorite play in Week 2 of the preseason?
Gronk: It’s kind of tough to know how long the starters are going to play in Week 2, but right now I’m leaning toward 49ers +2.5 against Houston. With Deshaun Watson coming off an injury, Houston will likely not play him very long, along with JJ Watt and (Whitney) Mercilus. Also, the 49ers second- and third-teams were able to come back on Dallas last week, so this shows they have a relatively strong back up core that is able to make plays when they do get in the game. I expect the 49ers starters to play longer than most the Texans which could get them off to a lead and then their backups will be able to close the game again or at least make it close to cover +2.5.
GMS: Here’s a trio of rapid-fire, yes/no questions:
Will Dez Bryant play in the NFL this year?
Will Johnny Manziel play in the NFL this year?
Will Terrell Owens play in the NFL this year?
Gronk: Yes, no, no.
GMS: What’s your take on the ongoing national anthem protest saga? Is Donald Trump right? Are the players right? Is anyone right?
Gronk: What worries me about the anthem protests in that the league is starting to see a decline because of it. I think what the majority of the players don’t realize is the fans indirectly pay their paycheck and if ticket sales and attendance are down, then it is eventually going to cut into their pay if they continue to protest. Most of the fans attending games appear to support standing for the anthem since I don’t think there has been any media coverage of any of the fans in the actual stadium kneeling as well. But if attendance continues to drop as it did last year then I’m worried the NFL might start to decline as well and players might learn the hard way when it hits them by being released or they don’t receive as much money on their deals as they should had. If all this were to happen because of politics I think that would be a bad way for the NFL to go down for so many people who just love watching and playing the game.
The Gronkcast Episodes:
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 9: Inside The NFL: Featuring Rob Gronkowski’s bodyguard Bobby Goons
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 8: Inside The NFL: Inside A Players Life in the NFL
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 7: Inside The NFL: An Interview with WWE superstar Mojo Rawley
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 6: Inside The NFL: NFL Week 2, BulletProof Picks, NFL Head Coaches
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 5: Inside The NFL: A Day In The Life of An NFL Player, NFL Week 1
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 4: Inside The NFL: NFL Betting Strategies, The Best NFL Prop Bets
Link: The GronkCast: Episode 3: Inside The NFL: What It’s Like To Be A Rookie In The NFL
