Rob Gronkowski's One-Handed Catch Was Astounding Enough to Get Bob Ryan Tweeting

Rob Gronkowski came down with this magnificent one-handed grab in the fourth quarter of New England’s steamrolling of the Broncos yesterday. If you’re on this page now you’ve probably seen it already. However, it bears repeating that the degree of difficulty of the catch was compounded by the armor which protects the left forearm of which Gronk’s had four surgeries.

The magnificence of the play had Bob Ryan asserting that — not wondering if — healthy Gronk is the GTEOAT.

No tight end who's ever lived could have made Gronk's last catch. A healthy Gronk is the greatest TE ever! Non-negotiable.
— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) November 3, 2014

No, not Tony Gonzalez.

Tony Gonzalez had a great career, as did many others. None of their best days could compare with Gronk's. It's so ridiculously obvious.
— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) November 3, 2014

Without dignifying the dissenters by handle, Ryan again declared that they were all wrong.

Some of you people need to open your eyes and accept reality. When you see Gronk, you see mastery at a position and historic greatness.
— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) November 3, 2014

The series was noteworthy to me because in 2012 Ryan was adamant that he’s never tweeted; I spoke with the legendary Boston Globe scribe about his book release a few weeks ago, and he was defiantly against the idea of texting or tweeting during games:

No, I think that’s a laughable modern phenomenon, and I’m so glad that I’m not involved. I just can’t believe that this is what people do. I can’t even grasp it. My head can’t even wrap around this whole idea of what people are doing watching these games instead of just watching them. I mean, I understand the idea — I’d rather watch the game with someone and bounce stuff off of them. YEAH, that’s different. But the excessive tweeting? My friend Bill Plaschke, for example. I looked, and there were like 25 tweets from the last Dodgers game. Every pitching change. For what? Who is he addressing? What is this? I don’t get this. [To answer your question], No, I do not. No no no no no no no. Have I made myself clear?

Now, this wasn’t excessive tweeting — the Gronk diaries represented three of the eight posts on Ryan’s timeline during the Pats game — though he also sent 14 tweets during Game 7 of Royals-Giants (also not excessive). This isn’t meant to make fun of him or call him out — it’s a good thing that he’s finally come around!