It's impossible to ignore Gronkowski's, but he claims he can be guarded.
It's a quandary NFL teams face against Gronkowski and many others in this era of big receiving tight ends.
Some shorter tight ends also are productive receivers.
But if Gronkowski gets to the right spot, the defender "can't do anything about it," Brady said. "I think they know that, too. So then they panic and then when they panic, it's even more of an advantage to the offense."
"It's all about angles," said Gates (6-4,Wholesale Cheap Jerseys, 255),Wholesale Jerseys Cheap, "being able to reach the ball at its highest point. That's what I brought to the table from playing basketball."
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Rob Gronkowski makes a twisting, leaping, one-handed catch.
"It's the No. 1 mismatch in the NFL," Gonzalez said. "Even when you're guarded, you're not guarded."
"Every offense in the league wants a guy like that," said Tony Gonzalez, who helped usher in the trend during a brilliant 17-year career that ended after last season. "It is unguardable."
"You've got to play a near-perfect game with him," Buffalo safety Da'Norris Searcy said. "You have to try to anticipate routes and be able to jump routes on him."
Gronkowski is the most powerful example of that. But not the only one.
"I never categorized him by size," said Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt, a former NFL tight end.
"It's a constant struggle," Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said.
"It's a big challenge," Tennessee safety George Wilson said, "week in and week out."
Graham did that at the end of regulation of a 27-24 overtime loss to San Francisco on Nov. 9. Brees passed from the 50. Graham jumped over defenders and caught it in the end zone, but was penalized for pass interference.
Delanie Walker (6-0, 248) has 38 receptions for Tennessee.
After going undrafted in 2012 and making three catches as a rookie, Donnell has 44 this season.
They're athletic and line up all over the offense — next to the tackle, in the slot, split out or in the backfield. Their wide wingspans and large bodies shield defenders from the ball.
In last Sunday night's 42-20 rout of Indianapolis, he caught the ball at the Colts 20, was hit by four defenders, outran a fifth, then flattened cornerback Vontae Davis while leaping into the end zone for a 26-yard score.
The next week, Gronkowski jumped and swiveled his body to reach for a pass thrown behind him. He hauled it in with his left hand while surrounded by defenders for a 20-yard gain to the Denver 1. He caught a touchdown pass on the next play of the Patriots' 43-21 victory.
He celebrates touchdowns with a powerful spike that, somehow, doesn't knock the air out of the ball.
"He's just a beast," Mundy said. "His size is just his best asset."
"I'm not always going to outrun everyone," he said, "Drew just says go up and get the rebound."
In none of the 13 seasons from 1994-2006 did tight ends catch more than a total of 2,000 passes, according to STATS. They've surpassed that number in each full season since.
Gronkowski has some highlight-reel plays in this year's batch.
Graham leads all tight ends with 59 receptions. Gronkowski is tied for third with 53. Thomas is tied for the NFL lead with 12 touchdown catches. They often are double-teamed,Wholesale Jerseys, making it easier for wide receivers to get free.
The super-sized tight end swats away would-be tacklers.
Their 1,500 catches this year are more than the totals in all of 1994 (1,412) and 1996 (1,458), and they're on pace for the fourth straight full season of more than 2,300.
Skills he used in college basketball — boxing out opponents, soaring for dunks — translate to his position. Thomas, Antonio Gates of San Diego and Jordan Cameron of Cleveland also played college hoops. Gonzalez was a trailblazer from the hardwood to the turf.
In the Patriots' eighth game, he caught a pass, flicked off safety Ryan Mundy like a pesky gnat at the Chicago 25, and scored his third touchdown of the day, a 46-yarder, in a 51-23 rout.
It's not easy.
"Going up for those passes is like going up for an alley-oop and dunking," New York Giants tight end and former high school basketball standout Larry Donnell (6-6, 265) said with a laugh. "I use that now to catch passes from Eli (Manning)."
What's a poor defender to do?
The crackdown on illegal contact makes it easier to get open. And many play with outstanding quarterbacks who put the pass in the perfect spot: Gronkowski (6-6, 265 pounds) with Brady; Jimmy Graham (6-7, 265) with
