Gronkowski Brothers Ready to Stampede Through Hometown of Buffalo When Patriots Square Off With 2-0 Bills

by Jeff Howe on Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 5:16PM

FOXBORO, Mass. — The Gronkowskis are about to invade Buffalo.

Patriots tight ends Rob and Dan Gronkowski return to their homeland this weekend, but the elder brother didn't know how much support they'd have out there.

"Yeah, there will be a lot of rivalry, I guess, but I don't know who they're going to root for and everything," Dan Gronkowski said. "It's always fun going home, and we've just got to stay focused on the game and not allow all of the other stuff to get to us."

His family and friends will be in their corner, though, right?

"They better be rooting for me," Gronkowski said. "But, just fans in general in Buffalo, I'm sure a lot of them root for us, but they still want their Bills to win."

Dan Gronkowski might have a bigger role this weekend with Aaron Hernandez's knee injury, which will reportedly sideline him from anywhere between one and six weeks. Gronkowski said he's had an advantage with the offense due to his time in Denver with Josh McDaniels, whose playbook was seemingly identical to New England's.

Yet, there were some plays the Patriots ran Sunday that Gronkowski hadn't practiced, so the coaching staff was teaching him on the fly on the sideline. It's all part of the process for someone who signs at the start of the regular season, and Gronkowski said he'd be ready when called upon.

"They expect me to know everything, and I'm at that point," he said. "I'm ready to get in there and just help out the team however I can."