He may have caught five passes for 109 yards. He may have broken a franchise record for touchdowns. He may have helped lead his team to a 41-25 win. But the Bills didn't think much of Rob Gronkowski's performance on Sunday.
"I’m more impressed with [Martellus] Bennett than Gronk," Buffalo linebacker Zach Brown told the Boston Globe. "When Tom Brady wasn’t here, you didn’t hear [Gronkowski]. But when Tom Brady comes back he knows where to place it, how to place it, and he uses Gronk’s size to his advantage. As far as blocking, no, I do not think he’s one of the best. Bennett is probably a better blocker."
PATRIOTS 41, BILLS 25:
- Belichick on Gronkowski's record-setting 69th TD: 'Love to see those touchdowns'
- McCourty: Pretty sad if pre-game scuffle with Patriots is highlight of Bills’ season
- Bills Mafia outdoes itself: Fans throw a 'marital aid' on the field
- Troy Brown: Max Kellerman is the biggest Tom Brady hater in the world
Gronkowski had one catch for 11 yards back in Week 4 when rookie Jacoby Brissett was filling in at quarterback and the Patriots lost to the Bills, 16-0. But there were a few unique circumstances that led to his meager production as a receiver that day: First, Brissett had been with the team for about five months at that point, and the Patriots offense was a shell of itself; second, Gronkowski was making his way back from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the first two games of the season.
To make the leap to say that Gronkowski is just another guy without Brady is a bit disingenuous. He could retire tomorrow and still go down as one of the greatest tight ends to ever play.
The Bills made the leap anyway.
New England Patriots
"He uses his body well, but he’s got Tom Brady," Bills safety Corey Graham said. "I mean, Tom Brady’s Tom Brady."