NE_PATS_FAN_54
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2006
- Messages
- 1,027
- Reaction score
- 80
Patriots Teammate on Gronkowski: 'I Want Him to Look out for No. 1.' | Bleacher Report
There are few in the Patriots locker room concerned about his short-term status. They believe he will play soon because, mostly, that is what Gronkowski does. He has tried to play even when it wasn't wise for him to do so. The real concern, based on several interviews via text with Patriots players, is long term. They wonder just how much longer Gronkowski can play football, period.
I want to be clear: There is no direness in these concerns. Players are not saying they're scared for him. The tone was more one of wonderment at how much his body can take and how long it can take it.
"I don't know if I would have been able to keep playing through everything he has," one player told me.
Said another: "He is displaying guts and toughness like I've never seen. Now I want him to look out for No. 1."
I want to be clear: There is no direness in these concerns. Players are not saying they're scared for him. The tone was more one of wonderment at how much his body can take and how long it can take it.
"I don't know if I would have been able to keep playing through everything he has," one player told me.
Said another: "He is displaying guts and toughness like I've never seen. Now I want him to look out for No. 1."
Interestingly, it was just last year when Gronkowski, according to ESPN's Ed Werder, was criticized anonymously by teammates for what they perceived as Gronkowski taking his sweet time to return after yet another surgery. Now I'm hearing the opposite from players. They want him to take his time, even if doing so hurts the team overall.