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Everyone says that Bill Belichick is the worst to receive information regarding important team injuries- and is generally crotchety during press conferences. So when he dropped this bomb shell at the opening presser of training camp?
Oh boy.
According to Belichick, Patriots All Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski has been "cleared to play" by team doctors and that the rising star will not be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
If Gronkowski can continue on his trajectory for recovery, it wouldn't be beyond reason to see him ready to play in Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season. He'll have to have a positive camp, but his clearance is another step on a long road for improving his health.
Gronk is one more All Pro player, along with Sebastian Vollmer, Jerod Mayo, Vince Wilfork, and others, that will be returning from a season ending injury in 2013, or will be moving forward from a 2012 injury (Darrelle Revis).