Denver fans applaud Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski as he is carted off the field in the fourth quarter Sunday. (Joe Mahoney, The Associated Press)
Towering tight end Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady’s most-targeted receiver Sunday against the Broncos, was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. He didn’t return.
But was the play that put him down “dirty”?
Gronkowski had dominated the Denver defense, with six catches for 88 yards and a TD. But when he reached for a pass down the right side late in the game, Broncos free safety Darian Stewart undercut him at the knees and Gronkowski fell to the field in obvious pain.
Gronkowski declined to talk at his locker after the game. But he walked to a bus without crutches.
Brady spoke for him instead.
“I hate to see it, but it really is the only way defenders can hit now,” Brady said, referring to NFL rules that try to dissuade potentionally dangerous hits to the head.
“I bet if you asked the players, they would really rather go high than low,” Brady said. “I don’t think it’s dirty. I just think that’s how football is played now.”
The now-one loss Patriots would rely heavily on Gronkowski in the playoffs. He’s a matchup nightmare, especially for the Broncos.
“He is the best tight end in football,” Brady said. “It is so hard to see these guys get hurt this way. I always have so much respect for guys who play this game because you risk a lot to play. I think a lot of times, that gest overlooked because you sacrifice a lot and guys sacrifice their bodies.
“It is hard to see your friends get taken down like that. It is part of this sport and we understand that.”
Patriots coach Bill Belichick was less forthcoming about Gronk’s injury:
“Look, I’m not going to talk about the play,” he said.
