While it probably won’t make much of a difference against the lowly Los Angeles Rams Sunday, the New England Patriots home field, and maybe Super Bowl, plans have taken a hit. All-Universe tight end Rob Gronkowski will go under the knife Friday to surgically repair his injured back. He should be out “several” weeks.
According to the NFL Network, Gronkowski has a herniated disc.
Rob Gronkowski's back injury worse than thought. He is getting surgery tomorrow, per source. No time frame on possible return.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 1, 2016
Gronkowski is, without a doubt, the biggest mismatch on offense in the NFL since Marshall Faulk’s heyday with the St. Louis Rams. Gronk is a consistent problem and the Patriots offense, and Tom Brady’s stat line, seems to always take a hit with Gronkowski out of the line up or evern in a limited role. Gronk has 25 receptions for 540 yards (that’s a league-leading 21.6 yards per catch) and three touchdowns.
The Pats hedged their bets in the offseason trading for Martellus Bennett. Bennett has been productive this season too, catching 42 passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns. But it’ll all be on his shoulders now for the next six weeks at least.
That’s right. Six weeks. That’s the normal recovery time for herniated disc surgery and that will keep Gronkowski out of the line up until the AFC Championship game. And that’s if everything goes as planned and the Pats even make it that far without him.
Siemian day-to-day
The Patriots weren’t the only AFC team to get some bad injury news. Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian injured his foot in Sunday Night’s overtime loss to the Chiefs and has been listed day-t0-day. He did not practice Wednesday.
#Broncos QB Trevor Siemian is missing practice today with a sprain foot. The severity is not clear. Doesn’t sound like multi-week injury
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 30, 2016
If there’s a game Siemian should be OK to miss it’s this one. Denver travels to Jacksonville to take on the hapless Gus Bradley-led Jaguars. This is a perfect time to plug Paxton Lynch into the offense and let him run it against the worst-coached team in the league.
This is the second injury Siemian has suffered during his first year as a starter. Earlier this season he missed a game with a shoulder injury. Siemian has completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,396 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Lynch played in two games this season and started one. He completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 393 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.
Sammy Watkins out of Wednesday’s Practice
After one game back for the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Sammy Watkins is out again. Watkins caught three passes for 80 yards and apparently that was enough. Wednesday trainers yanked Watkins from practice after his foot began bothering him. It’s the same foot he had surgery on this offseason. He played in the Bills’ first two games, but has been held out ever since.
Per reporters on the scene, #Bills WR Sammy Watkins has returned to practice a day after experiencing foot soreness.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 1, 2016
With just five games to go in the season, it might be best for Buffalo just to shut Watkins down. But considering Rex Ryan is battling for his job, the health of one of his star players may not be that important to him so Watkins was back at practice Thursday, hurt foot and all.
Jeff Fisher is oblivious to all criticism
The good news for me, at least, is that all the shit I consistently talk and write about Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, he knows we’re out here making fun of him. The bad news is the aura of his own farts he lives inside will not let our words sufficiently hurt him. Dammit.
The Rams five-year bill for Jeff Fisher comes to around $35 million. His teams so far are 31-43-1.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 1, 2016
Fisher was asked about the team he hand-picked, with a coaching staff he hand-picked, looking like they’ll be lucky to reach 7-9 after Fisher famously derided the possibility of his team finishing with that record (or 10-6) on HBO’s Hard Knocks.
“We opened our world to Hard Knocks,” Fisher said told ESPN. “Those comments came after a couple of issues that we had. I’ve never been satisfied with 7-9 or 8-8. I’ve had a number of winning seasons. I’m not concerned. I don’t look over my shoulder, like I’ve said over and over again. I’m not concerned about my job. I have a great relationship with (Rams owner Stan Kroenke). He understands the difficulties that were placed on this organization as far as the move is concerned. And I’m moving forward optimistically with this team.”
Jeff Fisher praising the Patriots' running backs on a conference call. Says "Brandon" and "Danny" are playing well this season. 🤔
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) November 30, 2016
What Kroenke should also understand is that “moving” isn’t that big a deal. Teams travel all the time, literally eight or more games a season counting the playoffs (something a Fisher team hasn’t had to worry about). Woopdeedoo. You moved in the offseason. That’s why you got your ass crushed by the Saints Sunday? You have to rent a new town house in Los Angeles? Idiot.
On a conference call he praised two Patriots running backs, “Brandon” and “Danny,” when the Pats have no “Danny” on the roster. There is a “Brandon” but he only plays special teams. Jeff Fisher obviously does jack shit in prepare. And if he’s thinking Danny Woodhead is still on the New England roster, and that’s pretty much the consensus, he needs to go to the hospital and be checked for a head injury.
The fact is Stan Kroenke has let Fisher coach out his very lucrative and undeserved contract. He hasn’t fired him (yet) and doesn’t have to. He can let that contract run out at the end of the season. And he better. Los Angeles isn’t putting up with this shit.
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