Gronk ready for Ryan’s Bills
FOXBORO — Rob Gronkowski tends to make life miserable for fans of his hometown Bills. And while the tight end is a noted “Bills killer,” if you will, that doesn’t mean he knows exactly what’s in store for him when the Patriots travel to Buffalo on Sunday.
According to Gronk, Bills coach Rex Ryan mixes tendencies as well as anyone when it comes to defending the three-time first-team All-Pro.
“I would say that varies, too. I’ve had some games where he’s hit me off the line, double coverage there,” Gronkowski said before yesterday’s practice. “I’ve had some games where I’m just single coverage on a linebacker or safety. You’ve just got to be ready for it all. I feel like he doesn’t stick to one call the whole time. It’s always varied. He’s always doing a different call. Even if one time it works, I still feel like he likes to change it up.”
There are two obvious reasons why little worked for Gronkowski in the Oct. 2 meeting at Gillette, where the Bills held him to one reception for 11 yards in a 16-0 Buffalo win. Not only was Gronkowski still recovering from a hamstring injury, but thirdstring quarterback Jacoby Brissett was throwing the passes, not Tom Brady, who was serving his four-game Deflategate suspension.
But when things are firing on all cylinders for Gronkowski, regardless of who is on the other sideline for the Bills, the 6-foot6, 265-pounder tends to have a field day. Over his seven-year career with the Patriots, Gronkowski has 10 touchdown receptions against the Bills, more than any other opponent he’s faced. His 704 yards against Buffalo also tops his personal list.
Last season was a mixed bag, as Gronk was held to just two receptions for 37 yards when the teams faced off in Foxboro on Nov. 23, but in the first meeting at Orchard Park he went off for seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
It may be fitting, then, that with a similar performance Sunday, he would break the franchise touchdowns and touchdown receptions records of 68 and 67, respectively, passing wide receiver Stanley Morgan.
Those opportunities don’t come around every week, but Gronkowski’s not looking to focus on that.
“That’s the last thing I’m thinking about right now,” he said. “We’ve got a big game here. We’ve got the Buffalo Bills, going into Buffalo. The crowd is going to be super loud. They’re always into it, lot of energy. That’s the last thing I’m thinking about.
“When it happens, if it happens, there’s another time to talk about it, but as of right now I’m just focused on the Bills. That’s the last thing I want to talk about.”
If history is any indication, don’t be surprised to hear him talk about it after Sunday’s game.