Rob Gronkowski May Not Need Another Surgery After All

Fans of the New England Patriots have to be a little concerned about their lovable lug of a tight end, Rob Gronkowski. Some of his off-field antics are enough to cause die-hards to lose a little sleep. However, the threat of yet another surgery possibly being needed on his forearm really does it for people.

Those folks may be able to rest a little easier now. Word now is that surgery may not be needed.

There has been speculation that the start of the 2013 season could be in serious jeopardy for the Gronk thanks to this pesky infection in his broken arm. It has been bad enough that there has been talk of a fourth surgery being needed to deal with it, but the team and Gronk have opted to hold off for the time being.

Now for some that may sound silly. He needs to get it cleared up so why not do whatever medically possible to do so, right? Probably because the team already knows that it will need to go back in for a fourth surgery to replace the plate that is holding the most famous left forearm in the NFL together.

That will require a good ten weeks to recover from.

From that it sounds as if the idea is to avoid surgery No. 4 to deal with the infection so that replacing the plate is not surgery No. 5.

I am not a  doctor (so if one with more knowledge then me reads this please reply with the real skinny in the comments section), but I am assuming that the recovery time from surgery to deal with the infection would push back the one needed to replace the plate putting his 2013 season in serious jeopardy.

Of course the downside to hoping that medicine and time can handle the infection means that if it doesn't and they still need to have surgery for the infection than his 2013 season may not be in jeopardy; it may be a done deal.

So far so good, but only time will really tell.