Gronkowski will be 'ready to roll' when Patriots' workouts start
Rob Gronkowski was healthy enough to make a surprise appearance at WrestleMania 33 on Sunday following a season-ending back injury, so it's no shock the tight end will be ready to go for the beginning of the New England Patriots' offseason workouts.
"I'm feeling great. I'm good to go," Gronk told ESPN before the WWE event Sunday, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "It's been about four months now (since back surgery). Just been back with the team a lot during the week, doing my rehab with the trainers there. I'm feeling good. I'll be ready to roll when (the) offseason program starts. Super excited to get back on the field."
While the Patriots were able to win the Super Bowl without their star player, there's little doubt New England is a far superior team when the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder is on the field - a scary thought for the rest of the NFL.
Due to his injury, Gronkowski was forced to watch from the sidelines as the Patriots battled through the postseason, culminating in an all-time great comeback from down 28-3 to the Atlanta Falcons midway through the third quarter.
"Definitely," Gronkowski said, when asked if the Patriots' Super Bowl win motivates him to get healthy. "Just being there supporting the guys, it was unbelievable. They worked super hard. And it was just awesome to be a part of it. But definitely motivates me to get back out on the field. Just seeing how hard they worked, all the efforts they put in, being part of it just makes me want to keep grinding, keep on going ... I've definitely hit the rehab hard.
"And I'm going to make sure when I hit that field this year I'm super ready to go. So definitely motivated me big time to get back out there, so we can get out there with the boys and do it again."
The Patriots allowed Martellus Bennett to walk in free agency and added Dwayne Allen via a trade with the Indianapolis Colts.
Allen is an adept blocker, and the Patriots could use his talent to reduce Gronkowski's workload in hopes the perennial Pro Bowler can play his first 16-game season since 2011.