Gronkowski was at Patriots' facility during practice

Rob Gronkowski wasn't on the practice field Tuesday, per multiple reports earlier today. Turns out, he was in the vicinity.

According to Christopher Price of WEEI, the tight end stayed off the field for the team's first three mandatory minicamp practices but was in fact at Gillette Stadium.

Per Price:

Patriots coach Bill Belichick didn’t shed much light on Gronkowski’s absence. “There are a lot of players that were not on the field,” Belichick told reporters following Tuesday’s workout. “They were doing other things.”

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Gronk, Goodwin, Hogan among SI's Top 50 Most Fit

Sports Illustrated put together a list of the most impressive male athletes in the world, and some familiar faces from the division made the cut.

Based on six criteria — strength (or "strengh," as their infographic depicts), speed, endurance, agility, flexibility and skill in his or her respective sport — they, with the help of a large panel of trainers, coaches, experts and coaches, put together the 50 most fit male athletes.

Here are your AFC East shout-outs:

18. Marquise Goodwin - Buffalo Bills

"Some know Goodwin as an NFL wide receiver while others remember him for his track-and-field accomplishments in the long jump, including an appearance at the 2012 London Olympics. From leaping into the sand pit to squatting more than 400 pounds, Goodwin's feats in two elite professional sports speak to his impressive athletic abilities."

38. Chris Hogan - New England Patriots

"Hogan may not be one of the most notable players in the NFL, but the former college lacrosse standout and New Jersey native is training to be one of the league's top (and fittest) wide receivers. His high-intensity workouts hone balance, agility and explosiveness through exercises such as sprints and sled pushes. It's only right that he trains at a facility called 'Freak Strength.'"

46. Rob Gronkowski - New England Patriots

"Gronkowski's 6'6'', 265-pound frame is near impossible to stop on the football field thanks to his intense workouts and commitment to fitness. Now Gronk is taking his passion one step further with his new family business, Gronk Fitness Products, a line of performance fitness products built for sports facilities and home gyms."

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Gronk's brother: I'm more intelligent than my brother

Rob Gronkowski's brother is a calmer, smarter version of the New England Patriots tight end.

At least that's what new Buffalo Bills fullback Glenn Gronkowski thinks.

"I think a lot of people have already realized that I’m not as crazy as him," Gronkowski said Friday, via The Buffalo News. "It’s not easy to be that crazy and wild but I think people are already starting to realize that. I’m a little more tame, a little more intelligent probably so I would say people are already starting to recognize that."

Per the News:

He isn't lying. "Goose" carried a 3.8 GPA at Kansas State... even if he fell for a joke about a coach's dog being able to talk. OK, Baby Gronk actually very similar to Rob Gronkowski as he detailed back during Senior Bowl Week. They've butted heads for years, back to an airborne fork thrown by Rob getting stuck in Glenn's arm. That family trip to Vegas got rowdy, too.

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Brady, Gronk among top 10 in 2015-16 player sales

The New England Patriots may not always open their wallets, but their fans certainly do.

The NFLPA released the top 50 player sales list for the 2015-16 season Monday, which is based on total sales of officially licensed merchandise. Three Pats players landed in the top 25, with Tom Brady snagging the top spot.

Rob Gronkowski was No. 8, while wideout Julian Edelman came in at No. 23.

Ryan Tannehill (No. 34) was the first non-Patriot from the division to make an appearance in the top 50, while a pair of Bills (Sammy Watkins, No. 47, and LeSean McCoy, No. 49) snuck in toward the bottom of the list.

Only one Jet — Darrelle Revis — made the cut, coming in at No. 45.

Check out the full list here.

Patriots picking up Gronk's option through 2019

Rob Gronkowski isn't going anywhere for at least another four years.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the New England Patriots will pick up the rest of the start tight end's $10 million option bonus before the March 9 start of free agency.

Phil Perry of CSNNE has more:

The $10 million option that will keep Gronkowski in New England for the next four seasons was included as part of the extension that was agreed upon between Gronkowski and the team back in 2012. 

The Patriots paid Gronkowski $4 million of the $10 million option bonus before the start of last season, which all but guaranteed that they would pick up the remainder of his option before the deadline.

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Gronk inks deal with Nickelodeon to host sports show

Parents, hide the television remote.

According to the Associated Press, the children's television network Nickelodeon is planning to launch a sports clip series called "Crashletes" to help steer their young audience away from their mainly animated TV lineup.

The host? None other than Mr. Rob Gronkowski.

Gronk will join Cam Newton, who's slated to host a series called "All In," as the network announced a plethora of sports related programs that are set to air this year.

Stay tuned for the hilarious blooper reel that will undoubtedly surface.

Von Miller: playing Brady, Gronk makes him nervous

Von Miller is indisputably one of the best defensive players in the NFL; a Superbowl MVP award and an exclusive franchise tag certainly help bolster that argument.

That doesn't mean he isn't sweating a bit when faced with stopping the New England Patriots' dynamic Brady-Gronk combination.

Miller spoke on NFL Network's Total Access Wednesday about the duo and Brady's abilities, even now as the veteran signal-caller inches closer to 40 years of age.

"If he looks at you, it just gives you that nervousness," Miller said via WEEI.com. "Every time I'm in coverage and Tom Brady is looking over there, I'm like, 'He's going to pass the ball to my guy. He knows what coverage we're in. He knows what’s going on.'

"He's just a smart player."

Jones, Collins, Gronk all at Patriots' walkthrough

Three key injured New England Patriots were present Wednesday during the team's walkthrough.

Via WEEI:

After leaving Saturday’s win over the Chiefs with injuries, both Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins were present. Jones appeared to injure his leg, while Collins injured his back. 

Rob Gronkowski was also present after missing two practices last week with knee and back injuries.

The Patriots travel to Denver Friday afternoon for an AFC Championship showdown with the Broncos.

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Broncos labeling Gronk, Brady as cheaters, crybabies

Put your gloves on and ring the bell — the trash-talk between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots has officially started.

The two teams are set to meet up in the AFC Championship game for the second time in three years, and a few Denver defensive players — part of the league's No. 1 unit — had no problem starting the week with some haymakers directed at the Pats' top performers.

First up was linebacker Brandon Marshall on why tight end Rob Gronkowski is difficult to cover:

"I say ’cause he pushes off," Marshall said via ProFootballTalk.com. "I mean, he pushes off and he gets away with it about 98 percent of the time."

Then came defensive lineman Antonio Smith on whether Tom Brady is a crybaby:

"That would be an accurate statement. I’ve never seen any quarterback look to the referee right after he gets sacked more than Brady."

He went on to compliment Brady's competitiveness, which you can read here via WEEI.com.

Then Tuesday, Denver defensive end Malik Jackson called Brady a "whiner" and said he "throws temper tantrums."

If history is any indication, don't expect much from the Pats in terms of retaliation through the media — a topic Mike Reiss touched on Tuesday. 

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Chandler on increased role: 'I'm not trying to be Rob'

New England Patriots tight end Scott Chandler may have the biggest shoes in the NFL to fill this week.

With injuries continuing to plague the Pats, the most recent being the loss of Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski, Chandler now steps into a crucial role -- become a playmaker in an offense where playmakers are dropping like flies.

Thursday, the 30-year-old made sure to emphasize that he's no Gronk, but that he's up for the challenge Sunday against the Eagles.

"There’s not a lot of Robs walking around," Chandler said via NESN.com. "I'm just doing what I can here. I'm focused on that. I'm not trying to be Rob, because I would fail."

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Gronk on pass interference calls: 'I'm playing football'

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has been flagged for pass interference more than any other offensive player in the league this season.

Don't expect him to switch things up this weekend because of it, though.

"I'm not doing anything wrong," Gronkowski said Thursday via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. "I'm playing football. ... I'm not changing my style."

Per Reiss, Gronk has been flagged four times this season, or five percent of all offensive pass interference calls in 2015. There have been 81 total offensive pass interference calls so far, up only six from this time last year.

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Gronk compared to LeBron, brags about dunk skills

Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden compared New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski to the likes of LeBron James and Steph Curry Thursday, saying that "he's going to get his points" and "we've just got to try to limit his big plays."

Gronk took the opportunity to jokingly brag about his high-school hoops skills.

"I definitely loved playing basketball. I miss it," Gronkowski said. "I was the No. 1 dunker. Packed the house. Had to throw down my jams every game."

READ MORE, via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com

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Gronk gets to 60 TDs faster than any other tight end

Rob Gronkowski's 25-yard touchdown in a win over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night was a big one for the New England Patriots.

It was a big one for his career, too.

Per Phil Perry of CSNNE:

The touchdown was Gronkowski's 60th of his six-year career, and it came in his 70th regular-season game. That is the fewest number of games for any tight end to reach 60 touchdowns in NFL history.

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Gronk likes to talk trash when the mood strikes

Rob Gronkowski likes to talk trash. Sometimes.

"It can be fun – depending on how the games going, what part of the game it is, what quarter, what's the score and all that," the New England Patriots tight end told reporters Thursday. "It's always part of the game. The emotions always come flying high with the game when it comes down on Sunday.

"All the hitting, all the competing out there on the field, but sometimes I do like the yapping. Sometimes I give it, sometimes I get it, so it's just all part of the game."

This week, he'll be up against former Indianapolis Colts defender Sergio Brown, who is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Last year, Gronk excessively(?) blocked Brown right off the field, and after said that he was 'throwing him out of the club.' The two were smack-talking all game.

"Emotions were flying high that day," he said Thursday. "I've got nothing but respect for Sergio [Brown]. He's a great player. We've just got to go out there and worry about the Jaguars as a whole."

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Gronk: 'Roger, just wipe out those four games, baby'

What does New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski have to say to Roger Goodell about quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension?

“I think he should just get the four games wiped out, baby,” Gronkowski told CBS This Morning Friday, via WEEI. “Roger, just wipe out those four games, make it easy. Put this is the past.

"It’s pretty annoying that you keep holding it up.”

Touché, Gronk.

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Gronkowski a finalist for Madden '16 cover

Rob Gronkowski had his first healthy season last year since 2011, and he may be rewarded with even more than a Super Bowl ring -- depending on how you look at it, that is.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old is a finalist for the cover of the Madden '16 video game cover, according to the EA Sports website, going head-to-head with the Giants' Odell Beckham, Jr. Voting begins on ESPN's website tomorrow at 9 a.m., with the winner announced on the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter.

The honor's a double-edged sword for Gronk, who will be looking once again to avoid any injury and doesn't need any aid from a "Madden Curse." The tight end put up more than 1,100 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 15 games last season, both team highs.

Beckham, Jr., a Rookie of the Year finalist last season, tallied 1,300 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games played.

To vote, click here.

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New Pats TE Chandler excited to get to know Gronk

It's a juxtaposition among players of the same position -- the mild-mannered, under-the-radar style of 29-year-old Scott Chandler, now teamed with the eccentric, energetic Pro Bowler in Rob Gronkowski. The two barely know each other, but it's a pairing the Patriots hope will yield a deadly combination.

Chandler, recently released by the Buffalo Bills, is looking to turn things around in New England after a couple of underwhelming seasons, while the Pats are hoping another mismatch in the middle of the field will continue to keep opposing defenses guessing.

First things first, though: the two tight ends will have to build some chemistry. 

"I've talked to Rob on the field after games and that's about it," Chandler said via Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. "I'm sure we'll get to know each other and get along well. He seems like a fun guy to be around.

"Obviously he's a great player. I'm looking forward to being able to learn from him and watch him do his thing. He's pretty fun to watch."

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Gronk, dodgeball and minor league hockey in Florida

Remember that time when you wanted to watch New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski play dodgeball against kids on a hockey rink during a minor league hockey game in Florida?

Yeah.



“The (Blades) got a win tonight, and we got some dodgeball in,” Gronkowski told the Naples News Wednesday night after his beloved (?) Florida Everblades tallied and ECHL victory. “My throws were kind of off, but they had some power behind it.”

CSNNE has a little background on this. Offseason is fun.

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As only he would, Gronk spikes puck at Bruins game

Saturday night, Rob Gronkowski got in yet another spike. This time, on the ice.

The Boston Bruins honored the New England Patriots for their recent Super Bowl victory, and their star tight end made the most of the moment.

WATCH HERE
(scroll to 2:15 if you must.)

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Patriots TEs docked $8,268 for Super Bowl fisticuffs

Rob Gronkowski and Michael Hoomanawanui are paying a small price for getting in a few last-second shots in their team's Super Bowl victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

The New England Patriots tight ends were each docked $8,268 apiece for their respective roles in the end-of-game brawl Sunday, via WEEI.

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