So it all started with this ridiculous shirt inception battle between somewhat random actors Ryan Gosling and Macaulay Culkin, producing arguably the most mesmerizing GIF in modern times:

Then, the shirt inception spread to the Patriots, as Julian Edelman broke out this shirt with Rob Gronkowski on it:

 

 

Gronkowski, never one to miss a chance to get into a t-shirt battle, has officially responded in kind, with this winner:

 

Here’s the link to buy the amazingly-named “Edel-shirt.”

No one knows where or if this will stop. The only thing that’s established at this point is that the ball is squarely back in Mr. Edelman’s corner. Gronkowski went in an entirely new direction taking the sleeves off, but then it’s Rob Gronkowski: Was anyone surprised by this?

The Patriots have proven themselves to be on the forefront of innovation in football for some time. It seems that shirt inception is merely the latest chapter, bringing in a move carved out by the pop culture stars.

This actually isn’t the Patriots only weird and indirect tie to Gosling, given that the New England franchise has multiple connections with the man in the sports world most compared to the Canadian actor. Texas Tech football coach Kliff Kingsbury is as much of a sports doppelganger for Gosling as there will ever be, and prior to coaching in college, Kingsbury was a backup to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (both were sixth round picks, actually).

Speaking of Brady, Kingsbury was with the Patriots quarterback when they stopped for a selfie with Mike Tyson at the Preakness Stakes this past week. It was awesome.

H/T Goose

Inception, Patriots style.
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