FOXBORO — Rob Gronkowski is running down immortality.
Years from now, he’ll almost certainly have a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, so long as he doesn’t spike it into smithereens during his acceptance speech.
And then the question will be asked, so long as it hasn’t already been answered: Is Rob Gronkowski the greatest tight end in NFL history?
Surely, that might take another decade of production, perhaps another Super Bowl and undoubtedly better fortune with his health. But right now, just five full seasons into an already brilliant career, the most dominant offensive force in the league already has some of the game’s all-time greats fully onboard with this long-range forecast.