Two stars in the making seem to have fizzled out simultaneously. We have seen the supernova eaten by the black hole.
They were extremes of philosophy in their sport just three years ago. Today they are examples of the washed up and out at a tender age in professional sports.
Tim Tebow and Rob Gronkowski looked like two young men who had taken that other road not usually trod. And, if you thought that would make all the difference, you were wrong.
All roads lead to Rome and the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Tebow and Gronk are together again, on the outside. Their promising careers went south faster than young men go west.
If the NFL thought it had a decade of ying and yang ahead, we know the league had its chain yanked. Both Tebow and Gronk could be done, finished, washed up, all done, and headed for the last roundup.
Tebow lacked talent; Gronk lacked brains.
Tebow represented rectitude; Gronk symbolized hedonism. Moralists had their golden rule examples. Lo and behold, both have failed in the excess of their positions.
Tebow's lack of talent may be a problem, but his circus following proved worse than General Hooker's devotees. No team wants to touch Tebow when faced with his entourage.
Gronk's lack of self-discipine may be a worse problem, proving like death by a thousand cuts to the Patriots. He is a surgical toy whose nose is lighting up with every bad operation.
The indefensible Patriots gave Gronk millions for tribute in his contract, but not one cent showed any sense.
Tebow and Gronk went in opposite directions-and have ended up in the same place: No-wheresville.
