Rob Gronkowski working towards "smashing and bashing"

Rob Gronkowski talked to the media today after training camp and gave a lot of insight into a boring Summer of Gronk, his attitude entering the year, and how this injury is being handled as opposed to last season.

As far as the summer being boring, Gronkowski cited rehab as the sole memory. He also gave us all a little reminder of what he has been though, and how trying that time was:

Yeah, it was boring this year. I was rehabbing every day. It was miserable. Hopefully that never happens again, and I don’t wish anything on anyone like I had these past few years. I’m just literally looking forward to the future and just getting back out on the field and just making some plays and helping my teammates out.

This is sort of surreal to note, as we can take the humanity out of players at times. We all know the trauma that going under the knife can be. Luckily, Gronkowski was able to come through this surgery feeling confident that he would be able to return to living what he describes as a dream:

The knee brace just started, but it’s the second day out there, and I’m already getting comfortable with everything. It’s feeling good out there running routes and getting balls thrown [to me], and it feels great being out there with my teammates again, being in the huddle, catching balls from Tom Brady. It’s a dream come true again. It feels like it got taken away, and now it feels like I’ve got it back so it’s awesome.

I'm sure many Patriots' fans would share in the sentiment of it being a dream that he's back, as we saw the impact his play has offensively. Gronkowski also assured the media present that he was not going to be a different player after the injuries:

No, I’m not changing that one bit. I go full speed when I’m out there, and I’m going to keep smashing and dashing everything I do. Maybe if it’s not necessary one single bit, I’ll go down, but if I can make some plays, make some extra yards, get in the end zone, I’m going to go full speed, I’m going to take the hits, and I’m going to do everything I can.

Great news as long as Gronk realizes the importance he holds in the offense, and that when a game is in hand he takes the foot off the accelerator. Another acceleration fans could be concerned with is that of the tensions between the team and Gronkowski, but the big guy made sure to clear that up when asked if the team and he were ever at odds:

I guess it seemed like that out there, but in the organization, we were on the same page. This year we’re all on the same page again. It’s going well, and it just feels really good to be out there with my teammates and giving it all I’ve got when I’m out there.

This is great news as an option looms down the road in Gronkowski's contract, and we wouldn't want anything to get in the way of the team picking that up if he can remain healthy. Speaking of health, obviously Gronk touched base on his health, and where he is in the rehab process:

I’m not 100 percent, obviously not, but I’m working to get to that. I’m working every single day to get to that.

Well as long as he stays on track to return week 1 as he's indicated he wants to, or close to that, Patriots faithful will have a far more dynamic offense to root for.

Quotes via Patriots.com


--Bill Stiles
@TheFib0624