Lengthy earlier than the New England Patriots gained eight of their first 10 video games this season, future Corridor of Fame tight finish Rob Gronkowski earned three Tremendous Bowl rings whereas that includes for the franchise liable for the NFL’s first true dynasty of the 2000s.
On Wednesday, Gronkowski signed a ceremonial contract to retire as a member of the Patriots. He later spoke with reporters about how this yr’s New England squad compares to the dynastic Patriots led by legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
Do 2025 Patriots have identical chemistry possessed by prior championship groups?
“If you’ve received a bunch of fellows which might be in it with one another and know how one can have that chemistry and work with one another and have the identical timing on each single play and know the place to be and belief one another nicely, then that’s what makes an ideal staff,” Gronkowski defined, per Mark Daniels of MassLive. “And that’s the place it’s similar to the groups that we had prior to now, too, is that generally we didn’t have a No. 1 man, however everybody was a No. 1 man, and everybody anticipated to get the ball, and everybody trusted in one another. And I see the similarities this yr with the Patriots as to our profitable years once I was right here in that period.”
It is price noting that vast receiver Stefon Diggs is a “No. 1 man” because it pertains to the Patriots’ passing assault this season. ESPN stats present that Diggs leads the staff with 50 receptions, 61 targets and 554 receiving yards on the marketing campaign.
That mentioned, fellow receiver Kayshon Boutte tallied a team-best 5 landing catches over the season’s first 10 weeks. Forward of “Thursday Night time Soccer,” tight finish Hunter Henry was second on the membership with 4 landing grabs.
A previous version of Diggs could have complained about not seeing passes thrown his means in sure conditions, however he appears to be fairly content material with the Patriots this fall.
What Rob Gronkowski loves about 2025 Patriots
“They’re enjoying collectively as a staff,” Gronkowski added concerning the 2025 Patriots. “If you play collectively as a staff, you essentially don’t want that big-time playmaker. And that’s what everybody was saying originally of the yr, and that’s what everybody mentioned with us originally of the yr as nicely. ‘Oh, we’d like that explosive man. We have to commerce for a No. 1 vast receiver, blah, blah, blah.’ However it doesn’t matter.”
Gronkowski also seems to imagine that second-year quarterback Drake Maye can finally turn into Brady’s long-term successor. For now, Maye will merely attempt to information New England to a ninth win in 11 tries when the Patriots host the New York Jets (2-7) on Thursday night time.
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