After suffering their first loss of the season this past weekend, the Patriots will be looking to rebound as they normally do: understated, though undeniable improvement in specific areas (in this case, I’m assuming the pass protection for Tom Brady).
Fans generally take a different direction. While most fans are pretty reasonable after the calming down from the immediate aftermath of the loss, some fans continue to fly right off of the handlebars, calling for firings, trades, or players to be benched (along with a slew of other so-called solutions).
Arguably the most popular point of speculation among Patriots fans, fueled further by the recent loss, has been the return of All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski.
He hasn’t played a down this season (in case you haven’t heard by now), and the size of his enormous 6’6″ frame is matched only by the correspondingly massive hole he leaves in the Patriots offense when absent. Returning him to a struggling Patriots passing attack would calm many of the more frustrated Patriots fans, not to mention the positive on-the-field effects it would undoubtedly have.
The dangerous part is that rushing Gronk back too soon might result in further injury, which would be potentially disastrous for the Patriots postseason aspirations.
Reports have come in past weeks about Gronkowski’s return. There was excitement on Twitter when (apparently) clear-cut sources indicated that Gronk would play in the Falcons game two weeks ago. This turned out to be false, and perhaps revealed a more interesting back-room look at the Patriots.
He has continued to heal in this time, and regain the prodigious strength that has made him a favorite player and such a valuable option for Tom Brady.
Once again, there are rumors that he will play this weekend when the Patriots return home to face the undefeated New Orleans Saints (4:25 pm EST).
(ESPN also reported it through their own sources.)
Only time will tell if these turn out to be accurate, or simply another case of Bill Belichick’s unpredictability being underestimated yet again.
Image via Zimbio
