Gronkowski cleared to play; Eagles’ Jernigan is ailing
NFLPA ‘preparing for war’ after 2020
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — New England tight end Rob Gronkowski has been cleared from the concussion protocol and will be able to play in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Gronkowski participated fully in practice Thursday. Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise also practiced after being cleared from the concussion protocol. Malcolm Butler (illness) and Brandon King (knee) also participated in the workout.
Gronk said he is “ready to roll” and has no limitations. He had been sidelined since taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jacksonville’s Barry Church in the first half of New England’s AFC championship game win.
The All-Pro tight end missed last year’s Super Bowl win over Atlanta after undergoing back surgery.
Gronkowski led the team in receiving during the regular season with 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns.
EAGLES: Starting defensive tackle Tim Jernigan missed his second straight practice Thursday because of an illness.
Coach Doug Pederson said he expects Jernigan to play against New England on Sunday, even if he doesn’t practice the rest of the week.
“Because of the position and he’s one of our veteran guys, I do feel comfortable that he’ll be ready,” Pederson said.
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (calf), starting cornerback Ronald Darby (illness) and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hamstring) all practiced.
Pederson’s former coach in Green Bay, Mike Holmgren, watched drills.
“It’s fun to have him out there,” Pederson said.
SHAZIER: Injured Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier is going home.
Shazier was released from the hospital on Thursday, nearly two months after suffering a spinal injury in a victory over Cincinnati. The Pro Bowler underwent spine stabilization on Dec. 6 and while he was able to travel a bit, including visiting team practices and making appearances at Heinz Field for games, he returned to the hospital each evening.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says Shazier will transition to an outpatient therapy program.
The 25-year-old Shazier posted a picture on Instagram of him standing alongside Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shortly after his discharge was announced. Shazier has his left arm draped over Roethlisberger’s shoulders and his right hand on something for support. Shazier thanked everyone from family to teammates to doctors to fans for their support and said he will “continue to work hard and push and find a way back.”
“I want everyone to know that I’m moving on to the next step of the process,” Shazier wrote.
Shazier has not disclosed the exact nature of his injury. He used a wheelchair as transport while attending team events following his surgery.
LABOR: Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott intends to put his suspension behind him.
That doesn’t mean it will go away.
Now that the Cowboys star has dealt with the ramifications of his six-game suspension for domestic violence, it’s the NFL’s turn. The prolonged investigation into Elliott’s behavior and purported flaws in the process will be cited by the players in their looming negotiations with the NFL.
The collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of the 2020 season. DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the Players Association, made it clear in a news conference Thursday that the players have no intention of extending the current agreement.
There’s a sense a pound of flesh was extracted from the players in previous negotiations and the union must make amends.
“We prepare for war,” Smith declared. “If we’re able to get a collective bargaining agreement done, that’s great. All of these men went through a unilateral declared war on players in 2010 and 2011.”
Smith declined to reduce the list of disagreements between the NFL and its players to a top three or five. He said the philosophical divide is too great — and the strategic benefit nonexistent — to do so at this stage.