Patriots gridiron news: Belichick lauds the growth of Glenn Gronkowski
The New England Patriots have two Gronkowski brothers on the team and the younger one is drawing compliments from Bill Belichick.
Move over Rob Gronkowski, younger brother Glenn Gronkowski has caught the eye of New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
While the 2016 undrafted free agent rookie isn’t as dominant on the field as his elder brother, the defending Super Bowl winning coach sees a player who is just as hard working and much, much quieter than the NFL’s most dominant tight end.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Belichick lauded the pass-catching fullback for his growth and hard work in three phases of the game since joining the team.
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"“Yeah, hard-working kid, quiet, a little different personality from Rob [Gronkowski] around here, but he just comes in every day, works hard, runs well, has played for us in the kicking game, some as a pass receiver, some as a fullback, so he has a little combination skills there,” Belichick said in the press conference, via Boston.com. “Just trying to develop kind of that role for himself, but he’s a hard-working kid that’s improved.”"
Glenn Gronkowski has been on and off the practice squad since he signed with the team last season. The growth and work ethic Belichick mentioned above highlighted the reason the team signed him to a futures contract in February.
With James Develin holding down the fullback role on the team, Gronkowski making the 53-man roster will be a long shot. His versatility, however, may keep him around either as a 3rd or 4th tight end option or a special teams contributor.
An injury to Devlin or any of the other top running backs could also land him a role.
Gronk on Gronk
The 24-year-old Glenn Gronkowski has grown up watching his older brothers play in the NFL. While he is trying to establish his own role on the team, he says the experience of Rob, Dan and Chris have helped, but he is out for his own success.
"“Definitely {helps, but it’s the NFL,” he said when asked if his brothers playing in the NFL is a benefit, via the Patriot Ledger. “You’ve got to be able to succeed on your own, also, but just being surrounded by everybody else also, everyone’s here to help – the quarterbacks, Develin, everyone at your position, all the coaches are just here to help you and make sure you’re getting better every day. So it’s everybody helping out.”"
Next: New England Patriots ‘fortunate’ to land Jacob Hollister as an undrafted rookie
He sounds like a Patriot and feels he can help the team in a few different ways. With that attitude, he just may stick around and finally get that opportunity.