The real reason the Pats thought Randy expendable - TEs
A quick look at the Football Outsider TE rankings shows just how good the Pats rookies are: Aaron Hernandez is ranked the 4th most valuable TE overall in the NFL - one above Dallas Clark - and 6th most valuable TE on any given play. Rob Gronkowski is the 13th most valuable TE overall, but a fantastic 2nd overall value in rating-per-play - a reflection of his value as a Red Zone TD threat and chain-mover. Another telling stat - Hernandez's catch rate is 90%; Gronkowski's is 86%. By comparison around the NFL, Antonio Gates is 73%, JerMichael Finley 81%, Dustin Keller 63%, Dallas Clark's 74%, Jason Witten's 63%. Ex-Pat Ben "Stone Hands" Watson is 64%.

