Gronkowski shapes up to be full-timer
FOXBORO — A healthy Rob Gronkowski means a happy Patriots organization.
“From talking to him, he’s telling me and Duron (Harmon) the other day how good he feels, like physically, like his body just feels a lot better,” safety Devin McCourty said of the Patriots tight end. “The couple of times I’ve talked to him about it has been good just to hear how he feels, and mentally that’s huge as a player, just feeling good and going out there day in and day out . ... He feels a lot better than years past.”
Gronkowski, 28, is saying and doing things that reflect his good health, and there are several factors at play which indicate he’s in line to have a big season.
With Julian Edelman out for the season because of an ACL injury, a Gronk resurgence would be a big development for the Patriots. Gronkowski hasn’t played a full season since 2011, and even then, he was limited during the Super Bowl with a high-ankle sprain. Last year, Gronkowski missed the last five games of the season and the playoffs after suffering a lower-back injury. The Patriots won the Super Bowl without him, but he’s back this season with a new outlook.
Tired of watching from the sideline, he’s adjusted his routine. He’s on the Tom Brady diet in an effort to stay as healthy as possible, he played in preseason games for the first time in five years, and he’s approaching this season as if he has a new appreciation for playing the game and an awareness of his own football mortality.
Gronkowski also has financial incentive to stay healthy and play like his old self. He restructured his contract in the offseason and can now earn up to $10.75 million in incentives if he reaches certain statistical marks.
“For him to be out there for all of training camp, he’s building so much confidence, and I’m proud of him,” Tom Brady said after the Pats’ preseason game against the Texans. “We’ve just got to keep it going.”
The Patriots won the Super Bowl without him, but there’s no denying his value. Without Edelman, Gronkowski is easily Brady’s most trusted weapon. A healthy, dominant Gronkowski could wreak havoc on defenses.
For now, he has the healthy part down. The next step is making sure the Patriots don’t win another Super Bowl without him.
“He’s obviously been a guy who’s been in the fire as a rookie, and when you play his position, going over the middle, taking hits, that all starts to add up,” McCourty said. “As he gets closer to 30, you do start to mentally note, like I might have to do different things like change his diet.
“He’s done a great job of just becoming a veteran and true pro and not trying to wait until something happens. (He’s) going out there and finding ways to feel better and be a better player.”