Rob Gronkowski Photos

Over the past three years in New England, we've all been treated to a new and innovative passing that has been described as game changing. This approach, as worked up by the Patriots coaching staff, revolves around the use of two different types of tight ends. Since breaking into the league in 2010, both Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez have taken the league by storm when being used in this new offensive approach. Gronkowski has the ability to stretch the field and use his physicality and strength to become the NFL's most dangerous redzone threat. Hernandez, meanwhile has also made h...

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski runs out onto the field before an AFC divisional playoff NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The Patriots were without Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Spikes, Brandon Bolden and Julian Edelman for the second day of organized team activities. Tuesday marked the second consecutive day of OTAs and the first day of media access. You can argue that all of those that were absent were expected to be absent. Gronkowski is a given, as he underwent surgery on his left forearm yesterday afternoon. Both Bolden and Edelman are dealing with foot issues while Spikes is reportedly skipping OTAs to work out on his own. Among those players who were limited included Aaron Hernandez (shoulder), Josh Boy...

There is good news out of Mass General Hospital this evening, as Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has successfully undergone surgery on his left forearm. ESPN's Adam Schefter was one of the first to report the successful procedure: On Rob Gronkowski's surgery, doctors believe the forearm infection is gone, per source. They put the new plates in. Good news for Gronk. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2013 Folks, this is the best possible outcome for Gronkowski, who has now had four surgeries on this forearm. Gronk's doctors believe that the infection in his arm has gone away ...

TEAM TALK Erik Scalavino reports Robert Kraft and Rob Gronkowski are among team stars at a football clinic for youngsters in Newtown, Ct. Patriots Football Weekly keeps you up to date with the Patriots roster, with analysis each time there is a change. Andy Hart and Paul Perillo debate whether it's time for the Patriots to bring back Richard Seymour to solidify the front. Patriots sign second-round draft pick LB Jamie Collins and seventh-round pick LB Steve Beauharnais. Patriots Today - Smiles in Newtown. (1.59 min. video) Patriots Today - Different mindset, same work ethic. (3....

Even more discomforting injury news coming out of Foxboro, as it now appears that Rob Gronkowski will also need back surgery. This according to Mike Garafolo of USA Today. Garafolo wrote this about the Patriots' All-Pro tight end: The New England Patriots tight end recently underwent an MRI on his back to check on a disk issue he had dating back to last season, a person informed of Gronkowski's medical status told USA TODAY Sports. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the Patriots' policy of not publicly detailing injuries, said the issue was with a different dis...

By Mike McDermott Providence Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is set for a fourth surgery on his injured arm, may also need back surgery due to chronic pain, reports the NFL Network. According to the report by former Boston Herald Patriots reporter Ian Rapoport, Gronkowski had an MRI recently to determine the severity of his problems, and is will be sent to a spine specialist after his forearm surgery next week. An infection has required the latest forearm surgery; it is possible that Gronkowski could require a fifth procedure if the infection does not...

The injury bug continues to bite Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left forearm for the fourth time. This according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who says Gronkowski's surgery is 'imminent', and will likely to place on Monday at Mass General Hospital. This was something that I think we all knew was going to happen. Gronkowski consulted the ever famous sports doctor, Dr. James Andrews, about possibly undergoing another surgery on the forearm. Surgery was reported as "very likely" by Rapoport last week, which sort of instilled the thought ...

The third quarter of the 2010 AFC Championship was winding down, and the New York Jets were improbably beating the New England Patriots 14-3, in a game New York was heavily favored to lose. The New England offense had sputtered all game, but finally showed signs of life when Rob Gronkowski caught a thirty-seven yard pass. New England began moving the ball, and finally scored to make the game 14-9. The tide was ebbing towards the New England squad. "I watched the game slip away, like grains of sand in a clenched fist" Disaster had struck. Bill Belichick made the bold choice of tr...

Despite claiming that the Cincinnati Bengals are not the New England Patriots after the team selected tight end Tyler Eifert, offensive coordinator Jay Gruden at least acknowledges that he's studied how the Patriots have utilized their tight end combination of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, writes Dan Pompei with the National Football Post. Eifert and Gresham are a different tandem from Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. And Eifert is a different style tight end from Gresham. "Jermaine has already proven he is a good, solid all-around tight end, solid blocker," Gruden said. "He'...

Rob Gronkowski needs a fourth surgery to repair his left forearm according to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. She says that the operation to replace the plate that is securing the forearm needs to happen despite recent reports that it could be avoided. "The plate has to be switched, no matter what, and the surrounding tissue tested," she reports, though it gets more worrisome, "The real question is if Gronkowski, who has been taking part in the team's offseason program, will need a fifth operation." Once Gronkowski's 11-week recovery period is over, the fourth surgery will happen....

It wasn't long ago that Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis was sharing the field with New England's tight end tandem of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Green-Ellis not only experienced both players' rookie seasons in 2010, but also a 2011 season in which both tight ends combined for a record setting 169 receptions and 24 touchdowns, 17 of which were held by Gronkowski. The two tight ends commanded the attention of the league and the media, and their terror on opposing defenses resulted in New England being credited with revolutionizing the tight end position. While still...

With the health of Rob Gronkowski uncertain, the Boston Herald has published a piece detailing how former New York Giants tight end Jake Ballard might be a key performer for the New England Patriots in 2013. Ballard, you recall, tore his ACL during the Giants' victory over New England in Super Bowl XLVI and was lost to the Patriots when the Giants tried to sneak him through waivers last June in order to place him on injured reserve. At the time, Giants' fans wondered a couple of things: - How could the Giants take the chance of losing Ballard, who had such a good 2011 season for them? ...

Try to remember the time when the only red flag attached to a budding, piss-and-vinegar fueled tight end out of the University of Arizona was a back issue that derailed his senior season with the Wildcats. It was such a legitimate concern that it caused his draft stock to fall way, way down ... all the way to the second round. It wasn't such a precipitous fall, but it was one that the Patriots should be commended for as they cashed in on tremendous value on a surefire first-round talent. Fast forward a small handful of years later, and the Patriots would probably prefer to deal with th...

TEAM TALK Patriots 2013 Mock Draft Tracker: Check out what the 'experts' are predicting the Patriots will do in the first round come draft weekend. Erik Scalavino passes along a report that a 4th surgery is looming for Rob Gronkowski; 2013 season jeopardized. Paul Perillo makes the case for and against the Patriots adding a big-play receiver to the roster. Paul Perillo shares how he filled out his Patriots Hall of Fame ballot, and the discussions that took place by the committee. Patriots hold five selections in 2013 NFL Draft. Patriots Today - Zolak behind the bench. (3.03 m...