Gronkowski key part of Patriots' winning Super Bowl strategy
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Rob Gronkowski was in a hurry, ripping his shoulder pads over his shoulders and tossing his uniform pants into a pile of sweaty clothes on the locker room floor.
The only thing that could get between Gronkowski and what would surely be an epic night of partying -- his family's Gronk Bus was headed "everywhere," he laughed -- was a request to take a selfie.
It was from defensive end Chandler Jones, who told the Patriots' tight end he wanted to post a picture with him on Instagram. But Jones was still fully dressed in his uniform, shoulder pads and all. He almost begged off on his request when he saw Gronkowski was shirtless.
"No. More chicks," Gronkowski said, before sticking out his tongue and making a peace sign with his right hand.
Gronkowski wasn't the Patriot's most valuable player in their 28-24 win against the Seattle Seahawks, and he wasn't even their leading receiver.
But there was no offensive player who created more havoc for the Patriots than Gronkowski as he served as the most critical piece of the Patriots' plan to outsmart and outplay a swarming Seattle defense.
The Patriots put Gronkowski everywhere – split out wide right and wide left, in the slot, in the backfield and in line as a blocker. And that was all in the first quarter.
It's hard to blame Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for getting so creative with the most dominant tight end in the NFL. Few teams in the AFC could handle Gronkowski on the Patriots' march to the Super Bowl, and in moving him around the offensive formation on Sunday, New England seemed to be trying to prevent the Seahawks and their No. 1-ranked defense from forming a consistent strategy on him.
"All over the place," Gronkowski said. "You've just got to line up everywhere and just do what we do."
And at least in the first half, the tactic worked for New England, when quarterback Tom Brady finally got the perfect matchup for the player who is one of the biggest mismatches in the NFL. But too often the Seahawks had an answer – like cornerback Richard Sherman when the Patriots moved Gronkowski wide right, or safety Kam Chancellor when they tried to hit Gronkowski deep.
In the final minute of the first half, Brady spotted Gronkowski split wide right – in single coverage against Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright. Brady lofted a pass over Wright's head, Gronkowski used his outstretched arms to grab it, holding the ball above his head as he tip-toed out of bounds for a touchdown that gave New England a 14-7 lead.
"Just attacked the defender, gave him a little move and got outside," Gronkowski said. "Tom just made a nice pass, and it was a good play."
But there is also the danger of Brady's trust and reliance on Gronkowski.
On the Patriots' opening drive of the third quarter, Brady tried to squeeze in a pass to Gronkowski, but had it intercepted by Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner. It was Brady's second interception of the night.
Gronkowski finished the game with six catches for 68 yards – a far better showing than
in his first super Bowl appearance in 2011, when he had just two catches for 26 yards while playing on an injured ankle.
That ankle was one of the more minor setbacks for a player who was able to return this year to full strength after a series of serious injuries in recent years, including a broken forearm, a back injury and a torn anterior cruciate ligament, all of which required surgery.
The ACL, suffered in December 2013, was the most frustrating injury for Gronkowski, who admitted this week that there were times he doubted if he'd ever return to his earlier form. But of course, he did – even though it took several weeks into the 2014 season for Gronkowski to look like himself again.
After finishing the season with 82 catches, 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns, he was a unanimous all-pro selection and was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year on Saturday night.
His brothers and his parents accepted that award on his behalf at the NFL Honors ceremony 24 hours before the Super Bowl. It was just a precursor though of the celebration that was yet to come.
Gronkowski put on a navy blue pin-striped suit with a pair of baby blue Nike high-top sneakers, and hustled out into the Arizona night.
"This is the most amazing feeling ever," Gronkowski said.