Dear Bill Belichick: Please Don't Play Rob Gronkowski in the Preseason

Dear Mr. Belichick,

I have a pretty serious request for you that will only take a moment of your time and will only last for ten days. I promise.

The New England Patriots have a game against the Carolina Panthers scheduled for this upcoming Friday, August 28th. The Giants are next on the schedule for Thursday, September 3rd.

All I'm asking is that you please, please, please, please, please keep tight end Rob Gronkowski on the sidelines until after September 3rd. Please keep him in that mint condition, limited edition Fully Healthy Offseason Gronk action figure box that you haven't had since the 2011 season. Keep him taped in that bubble wrap.

Don't let him see the field until the regular season.

Gronkowski is the second-most important player on the Patriots entire roster and his health is paramount for the team's success. Putting him on the field risks those chances.

The Packers might have just lost All Pro wide receiver Jordy Nelson to an ACL injury on Sunday in their preseason game against the Steelers. In response, the Steelers lost All Pro center Maurkice Pouncey to an ankle injury.

The Cowboys are missing starting cornerback Brandon Carr with a wrist injury. Ravens offensive guard Kelechi Osemele is dealing with an Achilles injury, Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is fighting a hamstring injury, and the Colts are in the midst of a Ryan Grigson epidemic.

Somehow, the Seahawks are the only contender to escape the injury bug, and they have strong safety Kam Chancellor threatening to hold out.

Right now, the Patriots are without five of their top six wide receivers (Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Aaron Dobson, Brian Tyms, Brandon Gibson) and their number two tight end (Scott Chandler), and they're still in a better position than any of their competitors.

Rob Gronkowski has been a healthy scratch for the preseason and should stay a healthy scratch for the next two weeks.

Can you imagine a world where Tom Brady is throwing footballs to Danny Amendola, Michael Hoomanawanui, and an undrafted rookie wide receiver, with LeGarrette Blount in the backfield? Yeah, it's called 2013 and that wasn't very pretty.

So, Bill, please. For the sake of everyone. Keep Gronk of the field until week 1.

With love,

-Rich