Why this Aaron Hernandez saga COULD be a good thing

The Patriots know how to deal with drama- that goes without saying. They’ve brought in head case players like Chad Ochocinco, Albert Haynesworth, and Randy Moss- yet they’ve still managed to achieve extreme success in the NFL. They got through the whole Spygate investigation. Actually, they’ve made the playoffs nearly every year since the investigation, only barely missing out in 2008, when Tom Brady missed the entire season.

The Patriots also have a surplus of tight ends. Clearly, Jake Ballard is no Aaron Hernandez, but he still managed to help the NY Giants win the 2011 Super Bowl, against the New England Patriots.

The possible sanctions that could be issued to Aaron Hernandez by Roger Goodell could also possibly become beneficial. First of all, the hope is that the possible punishments would deter Aaron Hernandez from partaking in this kind of activity again. Also, if Rob Gronkowski knows that his backup is unavailable, and that the team could suffer largely without him, he could work even harder at speeding up his recovery process.

Hernandez has been known to be a locker room distraction, and without him, the Patriots could be able to improve the team-relationships. We saw it with the Jets two years ago- one locker room distraction can bring down a whole team.

Even if Gronk and Hernandez aren’t available at the beginning of the season, the Patriots shouldn’t suffer all that much. When Gronk comes back- which shouldn’t be too far into the season- he will most likely be the great TE that he always has been. And in the meantime, Jake Ballard isn’t all that bad of a replacement. Ballard had 604 yards and 4 TDs with Eli Manning in 2011. And if anybody can improve a tight end better than Eli, it would be the great Tom Brady.

Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski are both great TEs that are in danger of missing [at least] the beginning of the season. Even so, I still see the New England Patriots as being the REAL DEAL.