A win is best revenge
Bills’ focus should be on game, not Gronk
FOXBORO — Even though there was quite a bit of chatter about Bills players being eager to avenge Rob Gronkowski’s cheap shot on Tre’Davious White, they’re not going to want to jeopardize their chance to end the longest active playoff drought in sports when the two AFC East rivals collide on Sunday.
After all, is it worth it to risk extending that woeful streak, which is at 17 seasons?
Because attempting to hurt Gronkowski by seeking retribution on his knees, his head or any other body part is only going to set them up for suspensions and more trouble than it’s worth.
The Bills sit in the sixth spot in the playoff standings as the final wild card based on the strength of victory tiebreaker on the Ravens. They’re battling to hold that spot. It would be foolish to make a personal vendetta the goal ahead of a team accomplishment.
Besides, there’s an even sweeter option for the Bills if they beat the Patriots:
They can drop Gronk’s team out of the top seed and possibly force them out of a playoff bye and into hosting a game on wild card weekend.
On Monday, Bills coach Sean McDermott said he didn’t want his players thinking about retaliating against Gronkowski. He said they had other things to worry about — like getting into the tournament themselves. That’s the right move, coach.
“I’m a big believer your team reflects the identity of your coach. I don’t think Sean McDermott will allow his team to come out and be reckless,” ESPN analyst and former Patriots offensive lineman Damien Woody said. “They had Rex Ryan before. We all know what Rex Ryan is. He’s emotional . . . and Sean McDermott doesn’t seem anything like that. I’m sure he’s probably preaching to them, whatever happened in the past, we can’t let that affect our play in such a huge game. They have an opportunity to be in the playoffs for the first time since 1999. You can’t allow something that happened a couple weeks ago affect that.”
Perhaps the Ryancoached Bills would be out for blood. Maybe they would be headed after Gronk or Tom Brady to even the score, and that would cloud their priorities. McDermott’s team figures to be a different story, even if White and everyone in the Bills neighborhood made some not-so subtle threats toward No. 87 in the aftermath of the dirty hit.
As it is, Gronkowski was penalized for unnecessary roughness and suspended one game after the tight end dived into White following the rookie cornerback’s fourth-quarter interception on Dec. 3. Gronkowski drove his arm into the back of the helmet of White, who was lying face down on the field.
White was placed in the concussion protocol and returned for the Bills’ next game against the Colts. Gronkowski apologized immediately after the game, but White initially tossed that aside.
He later called Gronkowski a “dirty player,” adding: “Once we get back to that week where we play (the Patriots), we’ll see what happens.”
Yesterday, however, he was on Sirius XM softening his stance, saying, “The best way I can handle that situation is to get a big ol’ ‘W’ in that stadium. I’m not a guy who’s going to do a cheap shot after the whistle.” If White is smart, and it sounds like he’s figured it out, he knows trying to injure Gronk won’t help him or his team.
“I don’t see it getting out of hand unless something happens on the field,” Woody said. “But ultimately, it’s not in their best interest to do something stupid and get somebody suspended. It doesn’t help their cause. The best way for them to exact revenge is to win — win a huge game on the road against a divisional opponent. That would be my mindset. I can’t worry about what Gronk did to Tre’Davious White. Everyone saw the play. Everyone knows it was a dirty play. The only thing you can do moving forward is put your best foot forward and try and win the ballgame. That’s the best revenge you can have as a football team.”
If McDermott truly has control of his team, that’s how the Bills will attempt to go about it. White seems to be on board. But you never know. Players always try to settle old scores. They don’t always listen to their coaches.
“I don’t think it’s going to be much of an issue,” said former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, one of the most feared hitters in the game when he played. “But me as a viewer, me as a former player, I’m going to make sure I get my shot on him. I’m sure that’s the same thing they’re thinking.”
So it’s possible this game could turn ugly. In that event, the Patriots might want to put Gronkowski on a pitch count. He has to play, given the importance of the game, and he has to be himself. But if the Pats get a comfortable lead, coach Bill Belichick needs to yank him in order to protect him.
That’s also the smart move.
“You can’t hold your breath when you’re trying to play and you’re trying to coach a team (by) pulling guys out when you need the victory,” Harrison said. “You have to win (because) Pittsburgh’s still coming. Jacksonville’s still coming. So you still have to win. My thing would be once the game’s in hand, if the game’s in hand, then you might want to pull him out. “But you can’t hold your breath, you can’t try to protect him. He’s a football player, he’s a physical guy. If he stays healthy or gets hurt, that’s all part of the deal. I promise you, Bill’s going to approach it that way.”
Bottom line? The Bills’ top priority Sunday should be winning, not avenging Gronk’s cheap shot. Making the Patriots lose the top seed or even a bye is the way to go.
Then the Pats might have to open up on wild card weekend and play the Bills.
Now wouldn’t that be fun?