Boston Herald - Boston Herald

Rob Gronkowski back to surgery rehab

Karen Guregian — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:04:00 -0400

Rob Gronkowski completed his latest trip through the operating room yesterday, as the Patriots tight end underwent back surgery.

According to several sources, the procedure, technically a microdiscectomy performed by noted spine surgeon Robert Watkins in California, went well.

One source noted the surgery was a “standard disc repair.” Watkins was expected to remove a portion of Gronkowski’s troublesome disc.

Aaron Hernandez quizzed in death probe

O’ryan Johnson, Karen Guregian — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Homicide detectives swarmed inside and outside the $1.3 million North Attleboro home of  Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez last night as the star player was questioned about the suspicious death of a man found less than a mile away.

The platoon of investigators snapped photos inside the mini-mansion, combed through a white sedan in the driveway and walked up and down the street hunting for clues in ditches. Police were also seen leaving the home late last night carrying a cardboard box as they headed to their cars.

Reports: Patriots Aaron Hernandez questioned in man’s death

O’ryan Johnson, Karen Guregian — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:21:00 -0400

A platoon of state police detectives are inside and outside the North Attleboro home of Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez tonight following multiple reports the star football player is being questioned about a possible murder at a nearby industrial park.

The team declined to comment about the 23-year-old, but Patriots Vice President of Media Relations Stacey James did release the following statement tonight: “I am aware of the reports, but I do not anticipate that we will be commenting publicly during an ongoing police investigation.”

Did Vladimir Putin steal Robert Kraft's Super Bowl ring?

Associated Press — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 06:10:00 -0400

LONDON — Russian President Vladimir Putin is denying insinuations that he stole New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's Super Bowl ring that's on display in the Kremlin, but says he's ready to buy him another ring as a gift.

Putin was reacting Sunday through a spokesman to a New York Post story quoting remarks made by Kraft at an awards gala at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel last Thursday.

Return home honed Tim Tebow

Jeff Howe — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Tim Tebow’s football career blossomed and exploded in Florida. The phenomenon that started at Nease High and then reached full-blown proportions at the state’s flagship university, has since been torn apart in the NFL’s vicious winds.

Reports: Surgery Tuesday for Rob Gronkowski

Jeff Howe — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:28:00 -0400

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has definitively known for two weeks that he would need back surgery this summer. Now, he can begin preparing himself for his latest trip to the operating room.

Gronkowski will undergo back surgery Tuesday, according to reports. Dr. Robert Watkins will conduct the procedure in California. Watkins operated on Gronkowski’s back in 2009, recently repaired Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul’s back and is considered one of the best in the field.

Notebook: Time (off) on players’ side

Jeff Howe, Patriots Notebook — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:07:49 -0400

FOXBORO — Summer vacation has started for the Patriots, who completed their nine-week offseason workout program at Gillette Stadium with a last-day surprise.

Bill Belichick told the players during yesterday’s morning meeting that the final minicamp practice had been cancelled as a reward for good work and strong attendance. Both Belichick and Tom Brady acknowledged multiple times they liked what they were seeing in the program, so this fits with that line of thinking.

Some Patriots thoughts before summer vacation

Jeff Howe — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Now that the Patriots’ nine-week run of offseason workouts has come to a close, Bill Belichick and his staff can spend a little time peering back upon some crucial elements on the roster to prepare for training camp before they break for the summer.

Expect Tom Brady to play through

Jeff Howe — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:52:00 -0400

FOXBORO — Tim Tebow has been an active participant in a tag-team quarterback system dating back to his freshman season at Florida, so the thought of that possibility follows him to every destination.

But Tom Brady is not Mark Sanchez, Kyle Orton or Chris Leak. The Patriots franchise quarterback’s right arm has carried them to three Super Bowl championships and two more appearances in the last dozen years, and Brady’s numbers are emblematic of a man who isn’t ready to slow down.

To Adrian Wilson, camp is hardly ‘mini’

Tom Layman — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:31:00 -0400

FOXBORO — In Adrian Wilson’s eyes, there is no replacement for live repetitions when getting ready for a grueling NFL season.

The film work and the dissecting of the playbook are more than necessary, but implementing those plays on the practice field, such as when Wilson registered an interception and deflected a pass Tuesday in the first day of minicamp, is how he believes the learning really takes root.

Notebook: Injuries slow WRs

Jeff Howe, Patriots Notebook — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:25:00 -0400

FOXBORO — There’s no denying the obvious. As the Patriots gear up for today’s conclusion of minicamp, and the offseason program as a whole, the rookie wide receivers have found themselves in a hole because of injuries that restricted their ability to get on the field.

Belichick not judging Tebow after 1 practice

Associated Press — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:04:21 -0400

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn't ready to give his impressions of Tim Tebow after one practice.

Belichick says he's not getting into a "minute-by-minute" evaluation of his new backup quarterback. Tebow practiced for the first time with the Patriots on Tuesday after signing with the team. The Patriots are holding their three-day minicamp that runs through Thursday.

Aaron Hernandez makes appearance

Tom Layman — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 01:00:00 -0400

FOXBORO — Call it a sliver of progress, but one half of the dynamic Patriots tight end duo was present at the first day of mandatory minicamp yesterday.

Aaron Hernandez, recovering from an offseason shoulder scope labeled minor by some reports, went through rehabilitation work in the Dana-Farber Field House and emerged later to observe his teammates run through 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.

Tebowmania officially under way

Jeff Howe — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

FOXBORO — The welcome party drowned out the actual festivities.

Quarterback Tim Tebow arrived yesterday at Gillette Stadium to begin his employment with the Patriots, and he was greeted by enough media to make one wonder if President Obama was also joining him in town. There were so many reporters for a mid-June morning that Bill Belichick laughed as he peered around the corner before finishing a stroll to the podium for his opening news conference of minicamp.

LB Spikes just into own thing

Jeff Howe, Patriots Notebook — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

FOXBORO — Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes will be the first to admit that he isn’t like anyone else. His eccentric personality lights up the football field, and it’s infectious in the locker room, too.

But when Spikes opened himself up to criticism for skipping eight weeks of voluntary offseason workouts to condition himself at a facility in Florida, the three-year veteran referred to his unique way of conducting business.

AP Sources: Tebow signs 2-year deal with Patriots

Associated Press — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:17:40 -0400

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tim Tebow and Tom Brady took turns, zipping passes over the middle and lofting tosses toward the corner of the end zone.

On his first day with the Patriots, the New England newcomer was just a backup quarterback, No. 5 on his helmet and number three on the depth chart.

And when practice ended Tuesday, Tebow talked — for all of 40 seconds.

"First and foremost, I just want to thank the Patriots for giving me an opportunity," Tebow said.

For now, that's all it is.

Tim Tebow in New England might make sense

Associated Press — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:24:31 -0400

So the New England Patriots now have a left-handed quarterback with a scatter arm, a flair for the dramatic and a feel for leadership.

Yep, Tim Tebow.

He might as well be Frankenstein's monster, with Patriots coach Bill Belichick in the role of visionary doctor (or mad scientist).

Tebow certainly isn't going to unseat Tom Brady as the starter, and he probably won't challenge Ryan Mallett as backup. Hey, Tebow couldn't even get his favorite number — 15— for New England's three-day minicamp because it belongs to Mallett.

Pats live through Day 1 of Tebowmania

Jeff Howe — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:22:00 -0400

FOXBORO — Tim Tebow ran through his first practice with the Patriots today during the start of minicamp, and he concluded the session by meeting with the media for the first time, saying it’s an honor to get the opportunity.

Tim Tebow would be Patriots next reclamation project

Associated Press — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:52:50 -0400

FOXBORO — Tim Tebow would be the latest in a line of reclamation projects undertaken by New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Here's a look at some that worked and some that didn't:

Corey Dillon, RB — He had a reputation as a malcontent with the Cincinnati Bengals before being traded to the Patriots in April 2004. He led them in rushing the next three seasons and was part of the team that won the Super Bowl in the 2004 season. He was released in March 2007.

Last man reporting, Brandon Spikes back in Foxboro

Jeff Howe — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:16:28 -0400

Now that linebacker Brandon Spikes is in the house, it’s time to see what the Patriots thought of his absence.

The three-year veteran arrived at Gillette Stadium yesterday for the start of the team’s mandatory minicamp, according to a source. He was the only Patriots player to pass on the opening eight weeks of their voluntary offseason workout program, which essentially serves as a prolonged buildup to this week’s grand finale.