Good news for the Patriots as Rob Gronkowski was able to go full tilt in practice on Sunday and Monday (Twitter link via Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald). days in practice. Gronk also gave Pats fans extra reason to believe yesterday when he posted a picture on Instagram with the caption, “Locked in, ready to roll. Minnesota we here [sic].”
Gronkowski, a focal point of the Patriots’ offense, had a team-high 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns this year. Barring a setback, it sounds like the tight end is on pace to clear concussion protocol in time for the Super Bowl.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Demarcus Lawrence should be a free agent target of the Jets, Connor Hughes of NJ.com opines. The Cowboys defender would be a perfect complement to Leonard Williams and the Jets have the cap room to get a deal done. However, the Cowboys badly want to keep Lawrence and may franchise-tag him to prevent him from reaching the open market. If Lawrence is not in play, Hughes suggests edge rusher Ezekiel Ansah as something of a consolation prize. Recently, PFR sized up the Jets’ top offseason needs and discussed edge rusher as an area of focus.
- Hughes compared the three drafts of Mike Maccagnan to the two of predecessor John Idzik, and the current Jets decision-maker is faring better in the early rounds. Selections of Jamal Adams and Williams outflank Idzik’s work in the marquee draft round, which includes Sheldon Richardson, Dee Milliner and Calvin Pryor. Neither decision-maker has taken much advantage of the second round, with only Marcus Maye looking like a long-term contributor of a group that included Geno Smith, Jace Amaro, Devin Smith and Christian Hackenberg. While Idzik found some talent in the later rounds, Maccagnan’s Robby Anderson UDFA add gave him the edge in that department as well.
- The Dolphins have not yet presented Jarvis Landry with another offer after his representation made a counter-offer in mid-December.
- Bills center Eric Wood is retiring, but he is putting the paperwork on hold for cap reasons.
Sam Robinson contributed to this report.