Gronk ties Morgan
Two share franchise’s TD record
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
PITTSBURGH — All jokes aside, Rob Gronkowski’s next touchdown will be a special one for him.
The Patriots’ biggest frat boy tied Stanley Morgan’s franchise record with his 68th touchdown yesterday during the 27-16 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His score was crucial, as it gave the Pats a 20-13 lead in the third quarter and halted Pittsburgh’s 13-point scoring run.
The tight end had four catches for a team-high 93 yards. He was quiet early in the game with one catch for 13 yards in the first half because the Steelers consistently devoted a linebacker and a safety to his side of the field, particularly working to take away the seam routes.
But when safety Sean Davis inexplicably followed wide receiver Danny Amendola’s out route for double coverage in that direction, Gronkowski raced past safety Robert Golden for the 36-yard touchdown. The Patriots understood the Steelers were going to stay with their zone look throughout the game, so they didn’t force the ball into any precarious areas and simply waited for a mistake. It was one of the few the Steelers made in coverage.
“Every game is different, man,” Gronkowski said. “If you only have one catch in the first quarter, first half, people are asking. Every game is different. Every coverage is different. Every single game plan is different. We were running the ball. We were throwing a lot of under routes from the coverage. It’s an overall team game. That’s what makes this game so great. … Overall, I thought it was a solid performance.”
Butler serves notice
Malcolm Butler had an interception in the end zone, broke up another pass in the end zone and added a third-down pass breakup in the fourth quarter. He was happy to finally get his first interception of the season, but he was disappointed that he couldn’t corral the other two.
“It felt good, but it doesn’t feel as great as I should feel because I should have come down with a couple more (interceptions),” Butler said. “But it’s all about the win.”
Butler covered receiver Antonio Brown almost exclusively throughout the game, and Brown caught seven passes for 106 yards, including a 51-yarder that set up the Steelers’ first touchdown.
“He’s one of the best, if not the best,” Butler said. “I’m talking about top three, one or two. He’s really good. There’s no flaw. He’s good.”
Butler completed well against Brown but knew he’d lose some battles even if he didn’t want to concede that outcome beforehand.
“I don’t want to give up anything,” Butler said. “I didn’t want to give him anything coming into the game, but I realized there’s no way you can stop him. I just felt like I did a great job of going out there and competing, and just glad to get the win.”
Brown caught eight balls on nine targets for 124 yards and a touchdown last season against the Patriots when Butler was in coverage, so there were plenty of people looking forward to the second matchup.
“We knew what it was,” safety Devin McCourty said. “I felt last year Malcolm went out there and competed his butt off. (Yesterday), with the interception and really had the chance to have two or three interceptions out there. I don’t care who we play. We know that guy has a chance against anybody. He’s a competitor. He goes out there and competes. He’s shown it throughout his short career in the NFL, and I have full faith and belief and I thought he went out there and competed real well against Antonio.”
Butler actually mimicked one of Brown’s touchdown dances after picking off the ball in the end zone against him in the first quarter. It’s actually not the first time Butler has done it in Brown’s presence, as they ran into each other “out and about” and Butler said he got Brown laughing by busting it out on him. He also had told Brown he’d do it in a game.
“Much love for him,” Butler said. “Nothing personal.”
No gray area
Patriots president Jonathan Kraft had some strong words about the team’s domestic violence policy during his pregame interview with 98.5 The Sports Hub. The conversation stemmed from New York Giants kicker Josh Brown, who is the subject of an ongoing domestic violence investigation.
“We are, at the Patriots, we have taken it seriously for the 24 years we’ve owned the team,” Kraft said. “And it is something, for us, there literally is no gray area. It’s a very definitive and clear situation.”