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Gronkowski On Broken-Arm Wrestling: 'I'd Never Put Myself In Jeopardy'

BOSTON (CBS) - New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski says broken arm is doing much better, and he hopes to receive medical clearance to use the arm in next few weeks.

"I'm doing a lot better, definitely. Feeling a lot better. My arm is feeling way better than it was during the playoffs and regular season when I broke it," Gronkowski told ESPN's Mike and Mike on Wednesday morning.

"Right now, just rehabbing, getting the muscle stronger around it. You want to get everything activated, re-activated, because it shuts down for a little bit when it's healing. Just rehabbing, and when my trainers give me the 'good to go,' hopefully in the next couple weeks, hopefully as soon as possible and I can get rolling again and get back in the weight room and get back on the field and do what I love doing -- running around and catching some balls."

Read: Gronk Surprises NY Teen At School, Hand Delivers Signed Jersey

Gronkowski first broke his left arm on November 18 while blocking for an extra point against the Indianapolis Colts. After missing five games he returned for New England's divisional round game against the Houston Texans, but broke the arm again in the first quarter.

The Patriots tight end came under some fire after the Super Bowl this year when a video showed him performing a wrestling move on stage at a Las Vegas night club -- cast and all. The 23-year-old Gronkowski said the criticism was understandable, but he assured Patriots fans that he would never do anything to put his health at risk.

"They're my fans," Gronkowski said. "They're big fans of the Patriots and they just want to see the team do well. I totally understand where the fans are coming [from], where they don't want [me] to put myself in jeopardy of getting hurt. I totally understand that. I would never do that, put myself in jeopardy."

"To the max, I love going out there every week and performing to the best of my ability, and I love going out there playing. I understand where they are coming from. They just don't want to see me hurt again. That's totally understandable."

Despite missing five games last season, Gronkowski still led the Patriots with 11 touchdowns, to go with 55 receptions and 790 yards.

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