Tag: Rob Gronkowski

Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski praise new Patriots coach Jerod Mayo: ‘He knew everything about everything’

Jerod Mayo may not have a lot of experience, but his former teammates detailed what he brings to the table in Foxborough.

The New England Patriots are about to embark on a new era in Foxborough.

After 24 seasons, 30 postseason wins and six Super Bowl titles, legendary head coach Bill Belichick and the franchise mutually agreed to part ways. New England moved quickly to name his successor, promoting inside linebackers coach and longtime former Patriots player Jerod Mayo.

It’s a big step up for Mayo, who is a relatively unknown name in the coaching ranks. After an eight-year NFL career, all of which was spent in New England, he began coaching inside linebackers for the team in 2019.

While Mayo, who is 37 years old, is fairly inexperienced, he got a ringing endorsement from a pair of his former teammates. Reflecting on playing with Mayo while in Las Vegas ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl with For The Win, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski had glowing things to say about Mayo, particularly his intelligence.

“Anytime you talk to Mayo, he was like one of the smartest guys talking. He knew everything about everything,” Edelman said. “Very relatable with guys, even though he was a captain… he made everyone feel comfortable. So I’m really excited for his opportunity coming along.”

Gronkowski concurred, praising his understanding of the game of football and ability to make adjustments on the fly.

“He’s very intellectual. The guy knows the game of football to the T,” Gronkowski said. “I remember playing versus him, and he’d make some mess-up on the field, but he knows how to make that adjustment just like that. And he was the captain of the defense, and every time I put my hand down, he was getting all the guys in place around him… because he knows what he’s doing, and he knows the game of football well.”

Edelman also called Mayo a “baller” on the field, while Gronkowski said he was “a beast” prior to dealing with injuries, which ultimately cut his career short in 2015.

Mayo has big shoes to fill, but based on his former teammates’ characterization, it’s clear New England landed a coach who embodies the attention to detail that led to one of the greatest dynasties the sport has ever seen under Belichick.

Watch our full interview with Edelman and Gronkowski here:

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Rob Gronkowski suggests Patriots select big-time playmaker with No. 3 draft pick

Rob Gronkowski suggests who the Patriots should take with the No. 3 pick in 2024 NFL draft

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski wants the team to draft an offensive playmaker with the third overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft. Several names fit the bill, including Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Harrison Jr. is coming off a tremendous 2023 season for the Buckeyes. He recorded 1,211 yards on 67 catches to go along with 14 touchdowns. He tallied 155 catches for 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns during a decorated career at Ohio State.

Harrison Jr. would undoubtedly give the Patriots a playmaker on offense. Gronkowski vouched for the wideout when speaking with the media at a FanDuel event.

“I mean, this is their highest draft pick in quite some time,” said Gronkowski. “I think, since Drew Bledsoe, right? …But I think if they don’t go with a quarterback, Drake Maye or Caleb Williams is already taken off the board, I think a for sure pick, a for sure lock that won’t be a bust, that’s going to do big things right from the beginning is Marvin Harrison Jr. at the wide receiver position. I mean, he’s an explosive player. If you want those players, take Marvin Harrison Jr.”

Harrison Jr. would undoubtedly be a solid pick for New England.

He would give them the explosive playmaking ability that has been lacking at the position for a number of years now. His precise route-running and ability to run after the catch are two things New England needs at the position in a major way.

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Rob Gronkowski believes a year off would be good for Bill Belichick

Rob Gronkowski thinks a little time off would benefit Bill Belichick

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski believes time off would be a good thing for former Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

Gronkowski made a recent media appearance, where he elaborated on why he felt that way.

“I think Coach Belichick needs a year off. He can go back into it next year,” said Gronkowski, when appearing on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street”. “The guy has been coaching for 50 years straight, and coaching is stressful. It’s 15, basically, hours a day.

“It’s great to see him take a break, if he’s going to take a break. Take a year off, enjoy your time, go find some things that you love to do, and then come back next year. Everyone wants to see him coach again, but some time off is probably good for him.”

Gronkowski was a major part of the Patriots’ success during Belichick’s tenure. He caught 521 passes for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns. It was Belichick who gave him the opportunity, with Gronkowski being drafted in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft.

Belichick has been on an NFL sideline since 1975 and parlayed that into eight Super Bowl championships and three Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year honors. It’s hard even imagining him not coaching in some form in 2024.

One has to wonder what the future will hold for the greatest coach in NFL history.

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Twitter reaction: Chiefs being called ‘new Patriots’ after win over Bills

Some on social media are calling the Chiefs the NFL’s new-age Patriots team

The Kansas City Chiefs knocked off the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs on Sunday to advance to their sixth consecutive AFC Championship Game.

That monumental feat has elicited comparisons between the Chiefs and the old New England Patriots dynasty, which spanned nearly two decades. During the Patriots’ legendary run, they were the most hated team in the NFL.

Such has been the case for the Chiefs as they’ve continued to find consistent success. They are clearly the new dominant force in the NFL. They’ve won two of the last four Super Bowls and have completely terrorized the AFC West division for years.

Meanwhile, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce continue to break records in a league hell-bent on trying to stop them.

To some, the Chiefs are the new Patriots, and Mahomes and Kelce are the new Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. Here’s what fans were saying on social media after Sunday night’s game:

Tom Brady congratulated Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce for ‘one-upping’ him and Rob Gronkowski

Tom Brady was in awe of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s playoff dominance.

They’re not done playing together, and Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce might already be the greatest duo in NFL postseason history. While the two superstars helped lead the Kansas City Chiefs to an upset win over the Buffalo Bills, they surpassed Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski for the most playoff touchdowns (16) between a quarterback and receiver ever.

As the Chiefs began preparing for their sixth straight AFC title game, Brady saw fit to chime in on this news. It may as well have been his unofficial blessing to Mahomes and Kelce for their continued success together. On Twitter, the now-retired future Hall of Fame quarterback graciously complimented Mahomes and Kelce for “one-upping” Gronkowski (and himself, even if he didn’t type it).

Coming from Brady, such a compliment couldn’t mean any more:

There was a time when Brady to Gronkowski was unstoppable this time of year, helping lead the New England Patriots (and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) to terrific achievements in January (and February) year after year. It’s mind-boggling to consider that Mahomes and Kelce might be even better.

Heck, Brady himself seems to be acknowledging that reality. And that’s saying something.

Rob Gronkowski doubles down on disdain for Colts

It’s safe to say Rob Gronkowski really does not like the Colts.

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski still does not like the Indianapolis Colts, even years after playing for the Patriots.

The tight end had a successful career against Indianapolis. He tallied 33 catches for 545 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games against the Colts. He recorded 123 yards in his final game against the team, while playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Gronkowski already took a swipe at the team earlier this year, mocking the Colts for their complaints over Deflategate, when appearing on Julian Edelman’s podcast, “Games with Names”. New England won the game in question by a 45-7 margin back in 2015, sending them to the Super Bowl.

“Let me tell you, I do not like the Colts,” said Gronkowski, during an appearance on “Up & Adams”. “…They were hanging banners for winning a division. They were always a little cocky, always talked garbage when they played us, and we just romped ’em week in and week out every time we played them, especially in the playoffs.

“I don’t like the Colts. I always loved running up the score versus them. We dominated them in the pass game and in the run game as well, and we were dominating them so bad that they came up with that Deflategate B.S. because they needed an excuse why we were absolutely terrorizing them.”

It just goes to show that even after players hang up the cleats, the bad blood does not always subside.

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NFL legend Rob Gronkowski questions Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney’s love for football

NFL legend Rob Gronkowski questions Kansas City #Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney’s love for football.

The spotlight has been uncomfortably on Kansas City Chiefs’ third-year wide receiver Kadarius Toney this season. He’s been a lightning rod for spectators regarding his subpar play and miscues catching the eye of current and former NFL stars.

Rob Gronkowski is considered one of the greatest tight ends of his era, winning multiple Super Bowls. He took time on Wednesday to share his unbridled thoughts on Toney’s performance on the latest episode of the “Up & Adams Show.” with host Kay Adams.

“Kadarius Toney is an athletic freak; the guy can run routes like no other can; he can return punts,” Gronkowski explained. “But when you’re making costly mistakes like that in and out, I mean from the beginning of the season to the middle of the season throughout your whole career.

“It’s kind of like you just don’t love the game of football. You’re just out there because you’re just so athletic that you were born with that type of athleticism. But you’re not out there to be the best teammate. You can be the best football player that you can be because those mistakes that he’s making should have been corrected after the first time.”

Toney has had the drops issues throughout the season, compounded with the penalty against the Bills. The high expectations entering the season haven’t been fulfilled in many critics’ eyes as Gronkowski continued his rant.

“If you love the game of football, you go back to the locker room,” said Gronkowski, “you take accountability of it all, you go hit the practice field, you make sure you look that ball in, catch it, and tuck it and secure that ball well, and that’s what you do if you love football, and then you don’t make that mistake again. But when you keep making mistakes like that, you must not be that much into the game, and you must not love the game.”

Toney has heard it from many different people this season, but the blatant comments from Gronkowski against the young receiver are alarming.

Watch Rob Gronkowski sing the national anthem ahead of UCLA and Boise State’s LA Bowl

Gronk really picked up momentum at the end.

UCLA took on Boise State on Saturday night in a bowl game officially named the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk, and that, of course, meant Rob Gronkowski was a notable part of the matchup.

The four-time Super Bowl champion tight end replaced Jimmy Kimmel as the bowl game’s host after signing a multiyear agreement to partner with the bowl, the Associated Press reported back in October. At the time, Gronkowski also said he’d have a special performance for the game, and that turned out to be singing the national anthem.

Although he had some help with the performance from the New Directions Veterans Choir, per USA TODAY Sports, Gronkowski — who was previously a performer on The Masked Singer – came through and sang it before kickoff.

He really picked up momentum at the end.

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Rob Gronkowski sings the national anthem at the L.A. Bowl

Rob Gronkowski sang the national anthem at the L.A. Bowl, and he was a lot better than Enrico Palazzo.

Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski is always up for new experiences, and he made quite the business decision at the L.A. Bowl on Saturday. Actually, the full name of the bowl game is “Starco Brands LA Bowl hosted by Gronk,” which is a different story.

Per USA Today’s Brent Schrotenboer, Gronk got naming rights to the game without throwing any sponsorship money down, as generally happens in these cases.

The reason for this is a unique reverse-naming-rights deal of sorts, where the name of this game is marketing and trying to stand out in a postseason filled with 42 major-college postseason games starting Saturday. Putting celebrity names in the game’s title helps the LA Bowl do that and more, especially in the entertainment capital of the world, where a game between UCLA (7-5) and Boise State (8-5) might not move the needle much otherwise.

Well, Gronk did his best to move the needle with his performance of the national anthem as part of a five-person group.

Not exactly a bravura performance, but he was a lot better than Enrico Palazzo.