It seems that a majority of people feel there’s nothing wrong with the way New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrated in the hours following his team’s loss in Super Bowl XLVI. Why is that?
Not long after the New York Giants captured the Lombardi Trophy with a 21-17 victory over the Patriots in Indianapolis, Gronkowski was out celebrating as if he played for Big Blue and not New England. The images and videos of the shirtless star jumping up and down have got to sting the true fan of Robert Kraft’s team.
Gronkowski is a great player. He completed the regular season with insane numbers for a tight end. He caught 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns. It’s hard to argue against that being the greatest statistical season ever for a player at his position.
Unfortunately for the Patriots, Gronkowski wasn’t much more than a decoy in the Super Bowl with just two catches for 26 yards. He sustained an ankle injury in the AFC Championship Game victory over the Ravens two weeks earlier and it was pretty impressive that he was even able to suit up for the big game.
It’s unfair to say he and all of the Patriots should go into hiding following the Super Bowl loss, but was the wild celebration that night necessary? That level of partying couldn’t wait a week or so?
It’s easy to remember the image of Kraft’s face when Tom Brady’s final pass fell incomplete in the end zone to end Super Bowl XLVI. Yet hours later a player who couldn’t do much during the game is jumping up and down as if he just won a world championship.
Clearly, for many of you, there’s no issue here at all. I don’t get it. To me, Gronkowski’s public behavior following a Super Bowl loss is unacceptable. Yes, everyone can go out for a drink and recognize the amazing accomplishment of reaching the title game. No, that’s not the time to be seen in full scale party mode and if I’m a fan who invests heart and/or money into this team, I’d think that this is a player who doesn’t care about winning or losing.
I think Gronkowski does care and his effort all season long and the fact that he played hurt in the Super Bowl proves that. However, the postgame partying was a bad look and one that shouldn’t be repeated.
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