Larry Brown Sports

Multiple surgeries on the same body part can never be a good thing, and New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is heading for his fourth. According to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald, Gronkowski needs a fourth operation on his surgically-repaired forearm to replace the metal plate that is holding it together.

Just a few days ago, reports surfaced that indicated Gronkowski has been looking “great” during offseason workouts and that there was a possibility he could avoid a fourth surgery. Guregian’s sources say the fourth procedure is a must, but that Gronk could still be ready for the start of the season if all goes well.

If it doesn’t, the Patriots could have a problem. The plate in Gronkowski’s arm needs to be replaced and the surrounding tissue needs to be checked for infection. If there is no infection, the fourth surgery should be his last and the recovery period would begin immediately. If there is an infection, Gronk would need more surgery and could miss time during the 2013 season.

Obviously, the Patriots are hoping everything in his arm comes back clean and this nightmare can end. It’s hard to believe Gronk is only 23 years old with all the injuries he has had, which has to be a major concern for New England given the massive contract extension they gave him last season. For the record, there is no indication that any of this was caused by Gronkowski rumbling with his brother on stage in Vegas.

Rob Gronkowski is waiting to hear whether he will need a fourth surgery on his troublesome forearm, but it sounds like he’s doing pretty well in the meantime.

Gronk broke his forearm while blocking on an extra point in a Week 11 win over the Indianapolis Colts in November. He returned in Week 17, but he re-broke the forearm in the team’s playoff victory over the Houston Texans in January. Gronk had a second surgery on the forearm, but his arm got infected and required a third surgery. Reports in April indicated he would need a fourth surgery because of the lingering infection, but the team has taken a “wait-and-see” approach. Now it sounds like there is a possibility Gronk could avoid a fourth surgery.

ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss says Gronk has been participating in the Patriots’ offseason program and “looks great.” He says there is a possibility that Gronk could avoid the surgery and notes that doctors will make their decision in a few weeks.

The Boston Herald reported in April that doctors would decide whether Gronk needs a new metal plate inserted in his left forearm. If he has the surgery, he would go through a 10-week rehab period, which could put his status for Week 1 in jeopardy.

One of the main reasons we know Rob Gronkowski is a genuinely goofy guy is the awkwardness he displays during interviews. Those of you who think he does stuff like this strictly for attention are wrong — that’s just Gronk being Gronk. Don’t believe it? Look no further than the New England Patriots tight end’s attempt at anchoring SportsCenter alongside Chris McKendry on Wednesday.

“I’m Rob Gronkowski,” he began. “Welcome to the latest live edition of SportsCenter. Alongside Chris McKendry, I’m Rob Gronkowski, again. Coming up, a lot to get to today. In addition to live reports with the Heat, Adam Schefter has details on Robert Griffin’s third recovery.”

Just read the damn teleprompter! I believe that’s “Robert Griffin III’s recovery. And Gronk clearly threw in that first “I’m Rob Gronkowski” in before realizing the producers of the show had that covered, which is why he wound up introducing himself twice. Did you expect anything less? When this dude tells you he’s sorry for partying, don’t believe him. He may be sorry that he’s not sorry, but he certainly isn’t sorry.

Rob Gronkowski has grown accustomed to being criticized for the way he carries himself during the offseason. Last year, the “Summer of Gronk” became all the rage among football fans and party animals. The New England Patriots tight end got off on the same foot again this year when he was spotted wrestling on-stage in Las Vegas with a cast on his surgically repaired forearm.

Patriots fans cringed when they saw that video, especially when you take into account that Gronkowski’s arm has needed multiple surgeries. However, Gronk told “Mike and Mike in the Morning” on Wednesday that he would never jeopardize his health like that.

“They’re my fans,” Gronkowski told the hosts, via ESPNBoston.com. “They’re looking out for … they’re big fans of the Patriots and they just want to see the team do well. I totally understand where the fans are coming [from], where they don’t want [me] to put myself in jeopardy of getting hurt. I totally understand that. I would never do that, put myself in jeopardy.”

When asked whether or not the team had spoken to him about his antics, Gronk stuck to the Patriot way and said anything he talks about with them is “confidential.” However, it seemed fairly obvious that Belichick was not pleased about the Vegas wrestling when he was asked about it last week.

Gronk, who clearly loves having a good time as evidenced by this T-shirt, admitted that he is still adjusting to life in the spotlight.

“It’s a little different,” he said. “Growing up, just doing whatever you want and no one looking at you and no one really caring, and now you go out … I was in the airport on the way here and everyone has their camera out videoing me walking through the airport. It’s weird at first, but you just can’t let it get to your head at all, affect you at all and just keep doing what you’ve been doing since Day 1, which I have been.”

The 23-year-old seems to have calmed down a bit since Super Bowl week, which makes you wonder if the Patriots have already had “the talk” with him. Whatever the case, New England fans have seen their past two seasons end with losses while Gronk was battling serious injuries. That’s where the concern stems from, and Gronk seems to understand that. If not, he’s a pretty good liar.

Bill Belichick was his usual self at the AFC coaches breakfast on Tuesday in Arizona, treating reporters to cliche answers and giving them very little to write about. He spoke about Wes Welker as if he were just another player who had come and gone. Belichick had very little to share when discussing the acquisition of safety Adrian Wilson or the team’s decision to retain cornerback Aqib Talib.

However, Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe pointed out that the Patriots coach did give off the impression that he is a bit irritated with Rob Gronkowski. When asked about Gronk’s rehab, Belichick had the following to say.

“With his rehab?” he asked. “I mean, again, I think every player has a process they go through to get ready for the offseason program and training camp. Every player, or most every player, has to deal with some aspect of it, including the normal things like conditioning, overall training relative to their physical abilities and their position.”

Naturally, the conversation steered toward Gronkowski’s wrestling moves that he put on display in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week while his arm was still in a cast. A reporter asked Belichick if he had seen the video, and a long pause followed. The reporter broke the silence when he asked, “Guess not?”

“Let’s stick to football questions,” Belichick said.

Things have been relatively quiet on the Gronk front since that video surfaced, and you have to wonder if that is a coincidence or if the Patriots have spoken to him. Last year, the team told its tight end that the Summer of Gronk was over just before training camp began. Considering he is nursing a forearm injury this offseason that required multiple surgeries, perhaps Belichick and company had that talk with Gronkowski a bit early this year.

Rob Gronkowski seems to have responded to those critical of him for his offseason partying ways. The New England Patriots tight end was hanging out at Universal Studios Orlando on Saturday and was seen wearing a green tank top that said “Sorry for Partying” on it.

Given that Gronk hardly seems to mind getting photographed partying shirtless or wrestling on stage despite wearing a cast, we’re guessing that the shirt is his way of telling critics to stick it. And is Gronk the last man on the planet who actually wears a tank top in public? That guy really hates shirts.

Photo credit: Twitter/Tarah Maciel
H/T Busted Coverage

There has been a growing concern among New England Patriots fans and NFL commentators that Rob Gronkowski is getting carried away with his passion for raging.

Another offseason has begun with one of Gronk’s limbs in a cast. Like his injured ankle last year, Gronkowski’s surgically-repaired forearm doesn’t appear to be slowing him down when it comes to partying shirtless and wrestling with his brother in Las Vegas.

Some view Gronk’s antics as childish. Others, like Patriots guard Logan Mankins, feel they are pretty harmless.

“As long as he’s not getting DUIs and doing things that are against the law…” Mankins said Tuesday according to ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss. “I don’t think he’s hurting anyone. Hopefully he doesn’t hurt his arm. Then that would be bad. Gronk is a big meathead that likes to party and play football.”

Considering he already broke his arm twice, it’s the arm that most Patriots fans are concerned about. I’m sure the team shares some of their concerns. In terms of staying out of trouble with the law, Mankins is right. Gronkowski is 23 years old. He has been criticized by people like this former Patriots linebacker for being irresponsible, but we like to think of him more as a person who cherishes his youth. As long as he’s working out on the side and doing what he needs to be doing to prepare for 2013, Gronk should be allowed to enjoy himself during his free time.

Photo credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE