BOSTON (CBS) -- Every Sunday during the football season (with a Thursday and Monday also in the mix), Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is like a puppy trying to get off his leash.
The man just loves to play football, and he's pretty darn good at it too. So you can understand if his excitement this week has surpassed that normal Gronk level, and been amped up to a "super" level.
Talk of deflated footballs isn't going to detract from Gronkowski's exuberance as he prepares for Super Bowl XLIX. Nor is a little trash talk by New England's next opponents. Gronkowski, who upon first glance would seem to be a person who gets easily distracted, is squarely focused on the Seattle Seahawks.
"I'm super excited; I can't wait for the game," a big-eyed Gronk said on Friday. "The Seahawks have a very, very good defense. They have players who are tough mentality and physically all throughout that defense at every position. We have to be ready, practice hard and prepare hard and be ready come game time."
Alas, there is still a week remaining before Gronkowski and the Patriots take the field on February 1 in Glendale, Arizona. That leaves plenty of opportunity for more distractions along the way, and there have been plenty already surrounding the Patriots.
On Thursday, Seattle cornerback Jeremy Lane said he didn't think Gronk, a unanimous All-Pro selection this season, was very good at what he does.
"He's OK. He does have a big body," Lane said. "But from what I've seen on tape, he doesn't like you putting your hands on him. So if we put our hands on him and shake him up a little bit, he won't catch that many balls."
Gronkowski wouldn't take the bait when asked about the comments on Friday.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion," he said, deflecting the talk to the entire Seattle defense. "They have a great defense overall and we have to be worried about their whole defense. We have to practice hard, prepare hard all week so we're ready to roll."
Gronkowski stands at 6-6, while Lane, who may not even see the field in Arizona, is 6-0. If Lane does see the field, and Gronk is heading his way, there is a good chance the tight end may throw the corner "out of the club."
Further pressed if Lane's comments "ticked him off," Gronkowski gave a smirk and replied, "It may," but wouldn't give reporters much more on the subject.
That wasn't the only line of questioning that made Gronkowski roll his eyes on Friday. There's also that pressing matter of "Deflategate," in which the Patriots are accused of deflating footballs below the league requirements during the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Quarterback Tom Brady addressed the controversy on Thursday, and told the large collection of reporters that he didn't alter any footballs before or during Sunday's game. Gronkowski believes him.
"I always have his back; he's our quarterback, so there's no doubt about that," Gronkowski told reporters. "I'll be out on the field with him next Sunday, and we have his back 100 percent.
"I believe him, for sure. That's all. I believe him," he said.
Gronkowski couldn't be any less concerned about all the hoopla the latest controversy has brought to Gillette.
"I ain't worried about no balls," he said in a way that only Gronk can. "Maybe Tom is worried about balls, but I ain't."
When asked later if he ever noticed any of his patented Gronk spikes not bouncing as high, possibly a sign of some deflation, the tight end had finally had enough.
"This is getting out of control. You guys come up with the most outrageous questions," he told reporters.
It's dissapointing that Gronkowski and his teammates have to answer questions about air (or lack thereof) in footballs rather than their preparations for the Seahawks, but heading to his second Super Bowl, the Pats tight end understands how it works. And he understands that it's best just to brush it all off.
"It's the Super Bowl. Anything like that gets blown out of proportion," he said. "I just sit back, relax and do what I have to do. I'm not really worried about it one single bit. .. All I'm worried about is what I have to do to help the team out."
Tune in to Super Bowl XLIX on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the New England Patriots. It's the only place to hear Bob Socci & Scott Zolak's local call of the game!
Gronk Focused On Seattle Defense, Not Jeremy Lane's Comments
/ CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Every Sunday during the football season (with a Thursday and Monday also in the mix), Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is like a puppy trying to get off his leash.
The man just loves to play football, and he's pretty darn good at it too. So you can understand if his excitement this week has surpassed that normal Gronk level, and been amped up to a "super" level.
Talk of deflated footballs isn't going to detract from Gronkowski's exuberance as he prepares for Super Bowl XLIX. Nor is a little trash talk by New England's next opponents. Gronkowski, who upon first glance would seem to be a person who gets easily distracted, is squarely focused on the Seattle Seahawks.
"I'm super excited; I can't wait for the game," a big-eyed Gronk said on Friday. "The Seahawks have a very, very good defense. They have players who are tough mentality and physically all throughout that defense at every position. We have to be ready, practice hard and prepare hard and be ready come game time."
Alas, there is still a week remaining before Gronkowski and the Patriots take the field on February 1 in Glendale, Arizona. That leaves plenty of opportunity for more distractions along the way, and there have been plenty already surrounding the Patriots.
On Thursday, Seattle cornerback Jeremy Lane said he didn't think Gronk, a unanimous All-Pro selection this season, was very good at what he does.
"He's OK. He does have a big body," Lane said. "But from what I've seen on tape, he doesn't like you putting your hands on him. So if we put our hands on him and shake him up a little bit, he won't catch that many balls."
Gronkowski wouldn't take the bait when asked about the comments on Friday.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion," he said, deflecting the talk to the entire Seattle defense. "They have a great defense overall and we have to be worried about their whole defense. We have to practice hard, prepare hard all week so we're ready to roll."
Gronkowski stands at 6-6, while Lane, who may not even see the field in Arizona, is 6-0. If Lane does see the field, and Gronk is heading his way, there is a good chance the tight end may throw the corner "out of the club."
Further pressed if Lane's comments "ticked him off," Gronkowski gave a smirk and replied, "It may," but wouldn't give reporters much more on the subject.
That wasn't the only line of questioning that made Gronkowski roll his eyes on Friday. There's also that pressing matter of "Deflategate," in which the Patriots are accused of deflating footballs below the league requirements during the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Quarterback Tom Brady addressed the controversy on Thursday, and told the large collection of reporters that he didn't alter any footballs before or during Sunday's game. Gronkowski believes him.
"I always have his back; he's our quarterback, so there's no doubt about that," Gronkowski told reporters. "I'll be out on the field with him next Sunday, and we have his back 100 percent.
"I believe him, for sure. That's all. I believe him," he said.
Gronkowski couldn't be any less concerned about all the hoopla the latest controversy has brought to Gillette.
"I ain't worried about no balls," he said in a way that only Gronk can. "Maybe Tom is worried about balls, but I ain't."
When asked later if he ever noticed any of his patented Gronk spikes not bouncing as high, possibly a sign of some deflation, the tight end had finally had enough.
"This is getting out of control. You guys come up with the most outrageous questions," he told reporters.
It's dissapointing that Gronkowski and his teammates have to answer questions about air (or lack thereof) in footballs rather than their preparations for the Seahawks, but heading to his second Super Bowl, the Pats tight end understands how it works. And he understands that it's best just to brush it all off.
"It's the Super Bowl. Anything like that gets blown out of proportion," he said. "I just sit back, relax and do what I have to do. I'm not really worried about it one single bit. .. All I'm worried about is what I have to do to help the team out."
Tune in to Super Bowl XLIX on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the New England Patriots. It's the only place to hear Bob Socci & Scott Zolak's local call of the game!
In:- NFL
- Tom Brady
- Rob Gronkowski
- New England Patriots
- Seattle Seahawks
- deflategate
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