Rob Gronkowski: Will he play? What his injury means to the New England Patriots – Part 1
The New England Patriots finally had a lot to rejoice about after Thursday’s practice this week even though it had eleven players listed as limited in practice.
Their key player who has proved to be an asset for the Patriots, tight end Rob Gronkowski finally made a return to field after staying away from action since January 22.
The return raises a lot of hopes for the Patriots who are poised to face the New York Giants this Sunday in the Super Bowl game. It would not do the Patriots any good if their leading tight end stays away this week. Though his return to the team is not a
100 percent surety, yet a lot of optimism now exists in the Patriots camp that Gronkowski will play this Sunday.
There is no way the Patriots will be able to sustain Gronkowski’s loss as they gear up to face their rivals. The Giants have done much in the past to hurt the Patriots. They defeated the Patriots in the Super Bowl game back in 2008 to deny them a victory
and also a perfect season that year.
That goes down with a lot of bad feelings for the Patriots. Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady recently admitted that he could not get over that loss to this day as he is still unable to watch the highlights of that game.
That seems to suggest that the Patriots will be driven by an intense intensity to try and extract revenge from the Giants.
The Giants have extended another loss to the Patriots this season as they went on to beat them in 24-20, in week nine.
All this will have the Patriots craving for revenge but to do this they need to have Gronkowski, who leads the National Football League (NFL) for most number of touchdowns by a tight end back into the team.
Gronkowski had sustained a left ankle injury when he last played the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game. The injury at that time did not seem to cause much concern then as Gronkowski returned to the field shortly after having left the game to get
his ankle re-taped following a hit he took on as he took in a 23-yards reception.
However, once the game was over, Gronkowski in the coming weeks missed four practice session; two before the team arrived in Indianapolis and two once the team arrived in the city to participate in the Super Bowl.
Gronkowski though had appeared a lot optimistic when he talked to the press on media day Tuesday, hoping to return to the team soon. He had said that he was working with the training staff to make sure he played in the Super Bowl and added that he wanted
to be out there to help his team.
“I’m just going day by day, every single day, just working with the training staff, and whatever the training staff wants me to do, that’s what I’m doing. I want to be out there with the team, obviously. I want to help out the team.” Gronkowski said.
What would have surely caused the Patriots to panic was the article by the Boston Herald that Gronkowski went through ligament damage in his left ankle.
However, Gronkowski with his recent statement had calmed down all such threats.
"I'm improving every day," Gronkowski said. "The only reason it's getting so blown up is because it's the Super Bowl. It's just like any other injury during any other week."
That leads to a lot of speculation that Gronkowski will play this Sunday. And so do many various sources in NFL.
To be continued.....
You can view live coverage and analysis of the Super Bowl XLVI by http://answers.bettor.com/Users/Robert-California-u3050 on Sunday,
11:00pm, GMT
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