New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski issued a late hit to the back of the helmet of Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Tre’Davious White. White was placed in the concussion protocol as a result of the hit.
After the game, Bills players were reasonably upset about Gronkowski’s actions, with linebacker Lorenzo Alexander saying, “I’ve never seen him do that, [but] that was a dirty play at the end of the day, dropping on a guy like that when he is clearly down and the play was over,” and strong safety Jordan Poyer saying the Bills “definitely will remember the play when [the] two teams meet again.”
Gronkowski knew he did something wrong and apologized after the game.
"First off I definitely want to apologize to No. 27,” Gronkowski said via NBCB’s Phil Perry and ProJo’s Mark Daniels. “I'm not in the business of that. It was just a lot of frustration. I was just really frustrated at that moment. It just happened naturally through emotions, frustration and just want to apologize to Tre'Davious White. I don't really believe in types of shots like that.”
Gronkowski also added that he was frustrated with how the officials were calling the game and how penalties are applied differently to both himself and defenders covering him versus any other player in the league.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick benched Gronkowski after the hit. The tight end can expect a fine for that hit and hopefully won’t repeat the mistake moving forward.
UPDATE: Belichick was recorded apologizing to Bills head coach Sean McDermott for Gronkowski’s hit after the game.
Bill Belichick apologizes to Sean McDermott for the Gronk hit that gave Tre' White a concussion. Called it bull%^&*. pic.twitter.com/qfkBB9bgid
— Prescott Rossi (@PrescottRossi) December 3, 2017
“It was bull—,” Belichick told McDermott about the hit. “I’m sorry, I apologize.”