Gronk misses practice
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
FOXBORO — One star in, one star out.
Quarterback Tom Brady returned to practice yesterday after a maintenance day, but tight end Rob Gronkowski missed the horrifically cold workout at Gillette Stadium. Gronk sat out due to an illness for the second time in the past month.
Brady needed extra treatment Wednesday on a mildly sprained left shoulder and a bruised Achilles, both of which had bothered him earlier in the season. He was present yesterday for the duration of the practice session, and to no one’s surprise, Brady will play Sunday in the regular-season finale against the Jets, according to a source.
The nature of Gronkowski’s illness wasn’t disclosed, but a bug has circulated through the locker room since last month, hitting Gronk once before. Left tackle Nate Solder had been the most recent player to succumb to it Saturday night, but he played Sunday against the Bills.
Gronkowski has 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He can lock up a $2 million bonus if he either catches 11 passes or has 116 yards or six touchdowns.
The Pats held a rare practice on the game field, perhaps to become assimilated to the cold, windy conditions that they’ll face Sunday with forecasted temperatures in the single digits. It was minus-7 yesterday at the start of practice.
Behind the Curtain
There appears to be a difference in philosophy between the two teams that are chasing the AFC’s top seed.
The Patriots will play everyone who is healthy enough to suit up against the Jets, as they need a victory to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. But the Steelers, who can clinch the top spot with a win against the winless Browns and a Patriots loss, apparently won’t be playing their top dogs.
Steelers tackle Marcus Gilbert insinuated to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Le’Veon Bell won’t play in their regular-season finale. Wide receiver Antonio Brown also won’t play due to a calf injury.
The Steelers may not need Roethlisberger and Bell against the Browns, who have a chance to become the second team in history to go 0-16, but they’re probably also wary of losing another member of their offensive triumvirate before the playoffs.
Plus, the Steelers could also be assuming the Pats won’t fall to the Jets at home.
“We need to win every game,” Pats fullback James Develin said. “It doesn’t matter when it falls in the season. Whether it’s Week 1 or Week 16, you’ve got to go out there and put your best product on the field and try to win the game no matter the date.”
Nice shout out
Special teams captain Matthew Slater went out of his way a couple times yesterday to compliment linebacker Nicholas Grigsby for his contributions to the kicking game. Grigsby has four special teams tackles in four games, only four shy of the team lead, which is a lower number than usual largely due to injuries.
But Grigsy’s loud hits have drawn praise.
“It’s hard to miss,” Slater said of Grigsby’s tackling ability. “That guy has delivered some blows out there, there’s no question. He’s been a great addition to us. I think his overall attitude has been tremendous since he’s gotten here. His buy-in has been great. And then physically, he’s really gifted. With the size that he has, the power, explosiveness and to be able to run the way that he does at that size reminds me of a player, Tracy White (2010-12), that was here years ago — similar guys, similar playing styles.
“So we’re excited to have him. It fires us up when we see him go out there and lay some bodies down, so hopefully he can keep it up.”
Seeing red
Safety Devin McCourty (shoulder) was added to the injury report, as he was limited in both practices.
When the equipment staff pulled the practice jerseys out of the laundry yesterday, there was a red No. 32, which meant McCourty practiced in a noncontact jersey. An attendant then placed a regular blue practice jersey in McCourty’s locker but brought the red one to the equipment room.
The most likely scenario, which has happened plenty of times before: McCourty opened practice in a blue jersey during the media window then later changed into the non-contact jersey during team drills.
This is a long way of saying that McCourty’s availability against the Jets will be monitored in the coming days.