New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski underwent surgery Monday, May 20, to replace the plate in his forearm. The doctors believe the infection in his forearm has cleared. Gronkowski plans to meet with a doctor in California in about three to four weeks to decide whether he will need to undergo back surgery.
Huddle Up: Good news on the forearm, as infection would have necessitated a fifth surgery on his arm and pushed back any potential back surgery. Now we should know in a month or so if Gronk is in danger of missing the start of the season due to the back injury.
Tom Brady - QB
Posted 5/20/13 1:24pm et
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady started working with former major league pitcher and quarterback tutor Tom House this offseason, and Brady feels his mechanics are better than ever. "The same way Tom Martinez was always there to watch and give me corrections, Tom House has told me why certain corrections need to be made," Brady said. "Look at a baseball swing and a golf swing. It's all mechanics. Look at how Barry Bonds swings. Look at how Floyd Mayweather punches. Mechanics. When you've got to fit it into the tightest windows, mechanics are crucial."
Huddle Up: Just what the rest of the NFL was hoping for, an improved Tom Brady.
Rob Gronkowski - TE
Posted 5/19/13 10:59pm et
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm, back) is scheduled
to undergo surgery Monday, May 20, on his injured forearm. The
doctors are expected to take cultures from his forearm to see if the
infection is still there. If there is no infection, the plate in his
forearm will be replaced and Gronkowski would start a 10- to 11-week
rehab process. The plate will not be replaced if there is still
signs of an infection.
Huddle Up: Best case scenario here is that Gronk returns early in training
camp, but there's the possibility of a lingering infection and also
the reports of a back issue that have cropped up over the past week.
Translation: The TE's availability for Week 1 is still very much in
question.
Rob Gronkowski - TE
Posted 5/18/13 12:58am et
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski's problem with a disc in his back is not related to the disc problem he had while in college in 2009. Gronkowski underwent a procedure to fix his back problem in college. It is not known when Gronkowski suffered his current injury, but it is believed to date back to last season. Even if it does require surgery, Gronkowski's back injury won't keep him from participating in training camp, unless his forearm needs several more surgeries.
Huddle Up: Forearm, back... it's getting more and more difficult to keep Gronkowski atop the tight end rankings. Right now most of the news is speculative--the back injury shouldn't be a problem, he'll only need another surgery on his forearm if the infection still lingers--but fantasy owners will want to see some good news in August before making him the first tight end off the board.
Brandon Lloyd - WR
Posted 5/9/13 12:54am et
The New York Jets could express interest in free-agent WR Brandon Lloyd this offseason. The Jets have already expressed interest in free-agent WR Braylon Edwards and WR Ramses Barden and are scheduled to meet with free-agent WR Joshua Cribbs as well.
Huddle Up: Adding Lloyd would make sense if for no other reason than to gain further insight into the Patriots offense. That the Jets also have a need for receiver help comes into play as well. Still, with quarterback questions galore and a run-heavy offense there is little fantasy value to be found amongst any of the aforementioned targets.
Bill Belichick - HC
Posted 5/9/13 1:49pm et
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick 'hates' free-agent QB Tim Tebow (Jets) as a player, according to a source. Another source was asked if Tebow had a chance to join the Patriots as a backup. 'No chance. Plus they wouldn't like the circus that comes with it,' the source said.
Huddle Up: If the Pats were still winning Super Bowls with regularity, then they might be more inclined to take a gamble on Tebow, but the focus is on securing another Lombardi before Tom Brady's window closes.
Julian Edelman - WR
Posted 5/8/13 12:12am et
New England Patriots WR Julian Edelman is back in a walking boot
after re-injuring his right foot. It is the same injury that put him
on injured reserve in 2012. He likely will be limited in the team's
upcoming minicamp.
Huddle Up: Edelman, who had 21 catches for 235 yards and 3 TDs in 9 games this
past season, was brought back as slot insurance should new
acquisition Danny Amendola miss time -- as has been his NFL M.O.
That's not going to work, though, if the insurance policy also is
unavailable.
Rob Gronkowski - TE
Posted 5/8/13 1:22pm et
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will need a fourth surgery on his forearm to change the plate that is securing the forearm. It is still not known if the infection in his forearm has cleared, which is delaying the surgery to replace the plate. Gronkowski probably would need a fifth surgery if the infection has not cleared and his status for the start of the regular season would be uncertain.
Huddle Up: This latest news puts Gronk's perch atop the fantasy tight end rankings in jeopardy. Though it's still too early to panic, if the fourth surgery reveals that the infection has not yet cleared up and necessitates a fifth procedure... then panic would not be unwarranted.
Julian Edelman - WR
Posted 5/8/13 1:22pm et
New England Patriots WR Julian Edelman is in a walking boot after a clean-up procedure on his right foot. He's still expected to be ready for training camp, but he could miss OTAs.
Huddle Up: Edelman is in the mix for a substantial role in the Patriots' passing game, and while missing OTAs won't be a killer it does allow other receivers an opportunity to leapfrog ahead of him on the depth chart.
LeGarrette Blount - RB
Posted 5/5/13 2:55pm et
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said he believes the team got good value when they acquired RB LeGarrette Blount. 'With LeGarrette, he's been a productive player. He didn't play as much last year with the emergence of [Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin] down there, so I can certainly understand that Tampa was in. We felt like he was a talented guy that we wanted to have on our team,' Belichick said.
Huddle Up: While Belichick and the Pats are pleased with Blount's addition, it only spells further headaches for fantasy GMs trying to get a read on the Pats' backfield situation. In addition to Blount and fellow newcomer Leon Washington, holdovers Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden will also be in the mix, making for another fantasy mess.
Rob Gronkowski - TE
Posted 5/5/13 3:19pm et
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm) will have to wait a few more weeks before finding out if he needs another surgery on his forearm. Gronkowski has been participating in the team's offseason workouts and has looked very good.
Huddle Up: The bad news is that what looked to be a simple broken forearm in December is still an issue 6 months later. The good news, though, is that 4 more months remain until the regular season gets under way.
Stevan Ridley - RB
Posted 5/3/13 9:50am et
New England Patriots RB Stevan Ridley said he is completely recovered from the concussion he suffered during the playoffs.
Huddle Up: Good news for Ridley, as the league has become cautious with concussions and you never know for certain how long it will be before a player is cleared. Ridley should resume his lead role in the Patriots' RBBC.
Michael Jenkins - WR
Posted 5/2/13 9:28pm et
New England Patriots WRs Michael Jenkins and Donald Jones may have to compete for one roster spot during offseason workouts and training camp because of the additions of WRs Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce and Julian Edelman.
Huddle Up: Jenkins (40-449-2 with the Vikings) and Jones (41-443-4 with the Bills) are coming off decidedly mediocre seasons in 2012, and even with Tom Brady now throwing them the ball, the winner of the derby shouldn't expect too much of a jump considering all the other weapons in New England.
Ryan Mallett - QB
Posted 4/25/13 12:30pm et
The New England Patriots have fielded multiple calls for QB Ryan Mallett.
Huddle Up: With starter Tom Brady, who turns 36 in Aug., stating that he wants to play until age 40, Mallett doesn't figure to see any action in New England any time soon after appearing in only 4 games and attempting 4 passes over his first 2 seasons. Then consider that the current draft crop of QBs is not exciting anyone, and it's clear the interest in Mallett will continue as long as he's carrying a clipboard with the Pats.
Aaron Hernandez - TE
Posted 4/22/13 12:39pm et
Updating previous reports, New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez could need around four months to recover from shoulder surgery. He could be put on the Physically Unable to Perform list when training camp opens.
Huddle Up: A four-month time frame still puts Hernandez back on the field for the start of the regular season, but between he and Rob Gronkowski's respective rehabs the top of the tight end fantasy draft board is looking a little bit shaky.
Aaron Hernandez - TE
Posted 4/17/13 10:11am et
New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez is expected to be ready for the start of training camp after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this offseason.
Huddle Up: The Patriots are all kinds of banged up at tight end, which has been a position of strength for them in the past. Hernandez should be good to go for camp, which would give him a leg up on Rob Gronkowski and perhaps make him the more productive fantasy target early in the 2013 season.
Michael Hoomanawanui - TE
Posted 4/16/13 12:34am et
The New England Patriots have re-signed restricted free-agent TE Michael Hoomanawanui. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. It is not known if Hoomanawanui signed his tender offer or if it is a new contract.
Huddle Up: Hoomanawanui was viewed as insurance for Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, and with Gronk's broken forearm not yet healed that insurance may come into play this season.
Aaron Hernandez - TE
Posted 4/16/13 12:41pm et
New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez (shoulder) underwent
shoulder surgery this offseason. He's unlikely to participate in
OTAs and mini-camps this spring.
Huddle Up: The Pats' formidable TE duo of Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski hasn't
been so fearsome of late due to injuries. The 2 combined to miss 11
games this past season, and the concerns have carried over into the
offseason. Sure, there's still plenty of time before Sept. rolls
around, but both players deserve a red flag -- or at least an
asterisk -- on fantasy draft boards.
Jake Ballard - TE
Posted 4/14/13 5:54pm et
The New England Patriots will be cautious with TE Jake Ballard (knee) during offseason workouts because he is coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Ballard will be ready for the start of the regular season and some believe he could be a full participant in the workouts.
Huddle Up: Ballard spent all of last season on the shelf after a 38-604-4 2011 campaign with the Giants, and could emerge as a deep fantasy sleeper if the injury issues continue for Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
Rob Gronkowski - TE
Posted 4/11/13 11:38pm et
Updating an ongoing story, New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm) may not need surgery if his fractured forearm heals and the infection goes away on its own. He probably would undergo surgery if his forearm does not heal and the infection does not clear up in around 6 weeks.
Huddle Up: It's more watching, waiting and monitoring Gronk's troublesome forearm.
Julian Edelman - WR
Posted 4/10/13 3:31pm et
The New England Patriots have re-signed free-agent WR Julian Edelman to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Edelman could be limited during offseason workouts because of his foot injury, but the injury is healing properly.
Huddle Up: Edelman is a known commodity for the Patriots, but with Danny Amendola essentially taking the Wes Welker role in the New England offense there's little fantasy upside to Edelman's game.
Julian Edelman - WR
Posted 4/7/13 1:46pm et
Free-agent WR Julian Edelman (Patriots) has fully recovered from the foot injury that forced him to finish this season on Injured Reserve.
Huddle Up: At 27, Edelman is just entering his prime and has a chance to grab a full-time role after spending his first 4 NFL seasons as a a reserve in the Pats' organization.
Rob Gronkowski - TE
Posted 4/7/13 1:55pm et
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm) may need to undergo
another surgery on his forearm to clear up an infection. Doctors are
still considering some non-surgical treatment for the infection and
it will take a few weeks to determine if antibiotics can clear up
the infection. It is not known if he is in danger of missing regular
season time.
Huddle Up: The broken arm that originally was supposed to keep Gronk out only a
month late last season has turned into quite the ordeal. You
wouldn't think it would linger into the 2013 regular season, but
then again it wasn't supposed to be an issue after Jan. 1, either.
Julian Edelman - WR
Posted 4/4/13 4:24pm et
The New York Giants were scheduled to visit with free-agent WR Julian Edelman (Patriots) Wednesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 4.
Huddle Up: Before his season was cut short by a broken foot, Edelman finished with 21-235-3 in 9 games -- his best marks since his rookie season of 2009.
Tom Brady - QB
Posted 4/2/13 11:16pm et
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady and WR Danny Amendola worked out together Tuesday, April 2, at USC.
Huddle Up: It's never too early to start building a connection considering how much Brady relies on the slot WR.
Danny Woodhead - RB
Posted 4/1/13 12:35am et
San Diego Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said RB Danny Woodhead could see time on first and second down in 2013 and will not be used as only a third-down back.
Huddle Up: Ryan Mathews keeper owners beware: This sounds like another season of shared work for your back.
Julian Edelman - WR
Posted 3/24/13 4:48pm et
The New England Patriots could consider re-signing free-agent WR Julian Edelman this offseason.
Huddle Up: Edelman hasn't received much interest on the market, and could return as a valuable insurance policy behind the often-injured Danny Amendola.
Brandon Lloyd - WR
Posted 3/21/13 5:22pm et
Free-agent WR Brandon Lloyd (Patriots) might return to the New England Patriots, as there isn't believed to be a huge market for his services.
Huddle Up: Even with the additions of Danny Amendola and Donald Jones, neither is the outside-the-numbers, downfield threat Lloyd is -- especially if they can bring him back at a lower price.
Ryan Mallett - QB
Posted 3/17/13 3:36pm et
The New England Patriots are reluctant to trade QB Ryan Mallett because they want a viable backup quarterback in case something happened to QB Tom Brady.
Huddle Up: Mallett has been the subject of some trade speculation -- involving teams such as the Browns, among others -- but if a deal doesn't get done before the draft, the chances will dip from slim to none.
Brandon Lloyd - WR
Posted 3/16/13 5:39pm et
The New England Patriots will release WR Brandon Lloyd.
Huddle Up: Unless/until Josh McDaniel gets another gig somewhere else, Lloyd will have difficulty making a fantasy impact.
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