For one, Chester posted the raw stats, that's fine, but acting like Graham has played longer or more games because he's older is not the case.
They BOTH game in in 2010. Same rookie year.
Jimmy has started 50 games. Gronk 54.
After their rookie year, Jimmy has caught 99, 85, 86, 85 passes. Gronk, 90, 55, 39, 82.
The Saints use him differently than NE does Gronk. They spread the ball around a ton, alot of it based on Jimmy opening things up, hell they use him as a receiver most of the time, hence their big contract dispute.
Gronk and Edelman have been the big keys the past 3-4 years in NE, whenever Brady needs it, he's going to those 2. They don't spread it around as much as the Saints have. (NE certainly hurt with that with Aaron getting busted, otherwise they possibly do spread it around more)
Last year for instance, the Saints had 142 targets for Jimmy, 111 to Colston, 89 to Sproles, 84 to Pierre Thomas (????) And 54 and 50 to Moore and Stills.
Now, last year Gronk was hurt, but this year Gronk had 131 targets, Edelman 134, LaFell 119, and Vereen 77. Amendola was next at 42. (honestly didn't know LaFell got that many looks this year)
This year without Sproles, Jimmy was the leader again with 126, Colston 99, Stills 83, Cooks 69 (in 10 games), 55 to Thomas, 51 to Cadet (????) And an absolute **** load of guys with 30's and 20's. 5 total.
Jimmy gets a lot of looks, but also opens up a lot of looks for others, that doesn't get mentioned or pointed at on a statsheet. Him lining up all over the place (he lines up in the ******* backfield at times) does a lot to manipulate the defense.
When people credit Gronk for blocking, that's knocking Jimmy for something his team doesn't require him to do, same as Gronk fans don't give him credit for lining up all over the field.
*shrugs*
I watch a lot of both teams. I've seen both play a lot of games the last 5 years. Jimmy was hurt this year and still put up 85/900/10 and that doesn't count the Pitt game he "played" without a look, the TD against SF called back, and the 4-5 games he was out there as a decoy. (and I still don't know why they were doing that) And this was a "down" year for Jimmy.