Belichick Stiff-Arms Repeated Gronkowski Concussion Questions
Bill Belichick was never going to give a concrete update on Rob Gronkowski’s concussion or his status for Super Bowl LII. But hey, you still have to Ask The Questions™. Someone tried to ask all the Gronkowski concussion questions, and as you’d expect, he got all the classic Belichick deflections.
“We’ll be compliant with the NFL injury report and when that’s required we’ll put it on,” said Belichick when first asked for an update on Gronk.
When pressed on the process of reporting Gronk’s injury, Belichick said: “Whatever his situation is, whatever his status is, we’ll put it on the injury report. We’ll make sure you’re the first one to get it.”
“Get That Out There Right Away”
Finally, the reporter asked Belichick if he expects Gronkowski to play.
“We’ll put it right on the injury report, and that’s what we’re gonna do. Just like everybody else does,” said Belichick.
“We’ll make sure you’re first on the list too, Stacey,” the coach quipped, ostensibly referring to Patriots vice president of media relations Stacey James. “Don’t want to hold anything back, here. Get that out there right away.”
Rob Gronkowski walks off the field after an injury in the second quarter during the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Belichick loves to playfully mock the idea of getting injury reports to the media ASAP. It’s become one of his favorite plays in the press conference playbook. So really, it couldn’t be less surprising that Belichick is staying tight-lipped on Gronkowski concussion questions.
This will be far from the end of such questions, however. They’ll continue all the way through to next weekend with Super Bowl LII approaching. But still, Belichick has long proven that he won’t bend in these situations. He’ll defer to the injury report every single time. So you can ask the questions, and someone should. But outside of the actual injury reports, you can’t really expect an answer.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
