New England Patriots

John Clayon explains why Rob Gronkowski’s latest injury news could be an added setback to his conditioning and to the Patriots’ plans.

Tom Brady Tom Brady told Peter King of SI.com that “going into my 14th year, I have never had more confidence in how I am throwing the football. I’ve never felt better throwing the football.” Speaking with King for this week’s edition of “Monday Morning Quarterback,” the Patriots quarterback talked about a wide range of topics, including his work with “Best Buddies,” his feelings in the wake of the loss to the Ravens in the AFC title game and his overall evolution as a signal-caller while working with Tom House. Brady, who had worked previously with Bay Area throwing guru Tom Martinez until Martinez’s death 15 months ago, said that he and the former major league pitcher have quickly developed a great working relationship. “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. And to me, the offseason is crucial. If you make a throw within four feet, that’s not going to be good enough. You have to make the throw within four inches of your target. That’s good enough. And that’s why the mechanics you adjust and learn in the offseason are important. You’re going to keep them during the season. “Tom House, pretty soon after the season, said basically, ‘All right, Tommy. Get to work.’ That’s the one thing that helps me move forward. There’s nothing we can do about losing the championship game to the Ravens. It sucks. You move on. But, with Tom, I think I’ve learned some things this offseason that are really going to help me.” King asked Brady for one or two of those things. “Over the years, I was a little inefficient and I learned how to get away with it. I’ve been working with Tom House on what’s called ground-force production … Kinetic sequencing, getting the power from the ground, which translates from the ground to your legs, to your hips, to the shoulder, and all the energy is going toward the target. I’ve always had confidence throwing the football, but you have to stay on top of it. That’s going to be a never-ending quest for me. “I’d say 98 percent of it is exactly what Tom Martinez taught me. This other 2 percent is nothing between the ears, we’re just talking about a couple of things. Coach Belichick teaches me about what to expect from defenses. [Offensive coordinator] Josh [McDaniels] is always teaching me about offensive plays and drops. I like that, just like I like this work with Tom House. Once you feel like you’re done learning, you might as well move on.” For more Patriots news, check out weei.com/patriots.

Rob Gronkowski Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was set to go to Las Vegas as part of a promotional excursion involving a jet-sharing service, will apparently not be making the trip. The company that was putting the whole shindig together involving Gronkowski has decided to call off the event. “Relaxing” could very well be code for “preparing for another surgery,” as reports indicate that the big tight end will be going under the knife for another arm surgery this week. In addition, it’s expected that he’ll be facing back surgery in the coming weeks as well. For more Patriots news, check out weei.com/patriots.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady leads off Peter King's "Monday Morning Quarterback" piece on SI.com, with King speaking to Brady about his offseason and also his charity of choice, Best Buddies. Brady tells King: "Going into my 14th year, I have never had more confidence in how I am throwing the football. I've never felt better throwing the football." Brady details some of the work he's done with throwing coach Tom House, and how he's developed a quick rapport with House.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports It’s been heavily talked about that New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski needs another back surgery and likely another surgery on his forearm which should sideline him for a while.  Patriots owner Bob Kraft should step in and put him on the Injured Reserve recall list so he can have two additional months to properly heal. The team has “Gronk” under contract  until the 2020 season, and they are set to pay him $55.23 million through that point. A sizable investment has been made, and if he wants to be around long-term in the league, he should take the doctors’ advice and take some time off to fully recover for his sake. The Patriots still have Aaron Hernandez, Jake Ballard and Michael Hoomanawanui at the position, and they are highly talented athletes. While they don’t have the receivers they had in past years, they still have quarterback Tom Brady who can turn lesser talented athletes into great players. However, the problem is the first eight weeks are a fairly bumpy road for the Patriots including four divisional games (they play the New York Jets twice) and two notable opponents in that time with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons, both on the road. All in all, it is a high risk to play Gronkowski after all the surgeries, however is it a higher risk if the Patriots don’t play him? Time will tell on this one for sure in which ever way the team chooses to go. Thanks for reading! If you want to discuss anything sports related, I’m on twitter @TheProfessorSD, Google+, and Facebook. Have a great day!

Is Rob Gronkowski being told to curb his enthusiasm again? Last winter, after the hard-partying tight end was seen wrestling in Las Vegas — with a broken forearm — many believe he was told by team officials to calm down. (A few weeks after the wrestling incident, Gronk was pulled out as red carpet Oscar correspondent for the “Rich Eisen Podcast.”) Well, last week we noticed that an entity called JumpSeat was offering fans a chance to fly to Las Vegas with Gronkowski in a private jet — for a mere $40,000. (Presumably, what happens on the plane to Vegas stays on the plane to Vegas.)

The Patriots and Browns haven't squared off since the 2010 regular season, but there a number of connections between the franchises that make Cleveland a familiar foe. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick once was the head coach of the Browns, and his right-hand personnel aide, Mike Lombardi, recently was rehired by the franchise to serve as the general manager. He's part of a brain trust charged with rebuilding the franchise that has struggled through recent seasons.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have moved on, even if their fans haven't.That includes Rahim Moore, the safety whose big blunder led to Denver's heart-wrenching loss in the playoffs four months ago.The Broncos gather Monday for their first full practice since that fateful, frigid night in Denver when Moore allowed Jacoby Jones' 70-yard touchdown catch from Joe Flacco in the final minute of regulation in the divisional game the Baltimore Ravens won in double overtime on their way to winning the Super Bowl.

2011 second-round pick Shane Vereen is projected to see more snaps in 2013. (Photo: US Presswire)NEPD Editor: Matthew JonesAs the New England Patriots begin preparing for their 2013 campaign, it’s time to take a look at five of the most intriguing veteran players on New England’s roster; whether or not these players develop should have a significant impact on New England’s plans for the future, as all five remain unknown quantities entering the season.1. RB Shane VereenAfter a debut season in which he recorded just twenty-six snaps, receiving a total of fifteen carries over two games, Shane Vereen’s offensive role was expected to increase in his sophomore campaign. It did, but not as much as many expected: Vereen was on the field for 217 snaps in 2012 (including the playoffs), carrying the ball 73 times for 308 yards and four touchdowns while adding fifteen receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns on nineteen targets. Vereen’s output was impressive considering his low snap count, but he still has yet to produce like a second-round draft pick.Danny Woodhead took 456 snaps last season; now that Woodhead’s signed with San Diego, we should see significantly more of Vereen in 2013. Ideally, he’ll develop into an effective complement to Stevan Ridley; a third straight season with limited playing time would likely indicate that New England’s coaching staff is unhappy with the way Vereen has developed.2. OL Marcus CannonMarcus Cannon remains something of a mystery in New England, as he saw the field for only 182 snaps in 2012, primarily at offensive tackle. Now that Sebastian Vollmer has been re-signed, Cannon’s future with the team likely lies at offensive guard, where his tantalizing combination of size (6’5”, 358 pounds), length (34” arms), speed (5.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and strength (33 reps on the bench) could make him a long-term starter.Logan Mankins is firmly entrenched as the organization’s starting left guard, but the incumbent starter at right guard, Dan Connolly, could be improved upon. Connolly’s contract is somewhat generous, so this appears to be an excellent opportunity to examine Cannon’s aptitude at the position. Cannon is a cheaper option with significantly more upside, so it makes sense for the Patriots to work him onto the field in 2013; if Cannon impresses at right guard, New England’s offensive line should be solidified for years to come.3. DE Jake BequetteAlthough Jake Bequette assembled three years of quality production in the SEC, his play recognition and his awareness appeared raw on tape, so it was unsurprising that he was on the field for just 29 snaps in 2012. However, the fact that his playing time was eclipsed by undrafted free agent Justin Francis, who played 302 snaps for the Patriots last year, is more concerning.With starting left end Rob Ninkovich entering the final year of his contract, it would be nice to see what Bequette has to offer in his second season; an encouraging performance would allow New England to get cheaper and younger at the position, while a lack of refinement would increase the importance of re-signing Ninkovich. Bequette will have to compete with Jermaine Cunningham, Justin Francis, and 2013 seventh-round pick Michael Buchanan in order to see the field.4. CB Ras-I DowlingThe addition of Rutgers cornerback Logan Ryan in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft doesn’t bode well for 2011 second-rounder Ras-I Dowling, whose career has been derailed by injuries. Dowling managed just 83 snaps in 2012, down from the meager 93 snaps he appeared on the field for in 2011 before landing on injured reserve. To compound concerns about Dowling’s inability to remain on the field, New England’s coaching staff has appeared hesitant to play him even when healthy.That reluctance is somewhat bizarre considering his level of play while on the field, which has been encouraging (10/16, 123 yards, no touchdowns.) Dowling’s physical tools suggest starting potential, but h

CHICAGO — Bears fans may be more panicked about Josh McCown being the team’s backup quarterback than they were about the Chicago-area water levels being higher than sled hills last month.Understandable.McCown is a quarterback with a 71.2 career passer rating. He has been cut twice and traded twice in his NFL career, and his last regular professional paycheck from a pro team before his joining the Bears was from the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.But having McCown as your No. 2 is not the same as having the Titanic as your cruise ship.