Tight end Rob Gronkowski came under fire this week after he was filmed dancing on his injured ankle the night the Patriots lost Super Bowl XLVI. But while many fans and even media members were critical of Gronk, Pats owner Robert Kraft said he has no problem with the second-year player's actions.
"I actually have only heard about it. I haven't seen the video," Kraft told ESPN Radio on Friday. "I was long gone from the party when that took place. The one thing I do know is the guy absolutely is 100 percent a passionate, passionate competitor when it comes to football. He loves football. He wants to win. He wants to get better. He doesn't like losing. … He's an ultimate competitor; we're excited he's on our football team."
Kraft said he thinks it's unfair for people to question Gronkowski's motives, noting that "players probably have different ways of both celebrating what we were able to achieve and then dealing with the disappointment of that night."
"I think it's hard to personalize how any individual would deal with that and then project it on someone else," Kraft said. "He's a young single guy. … I think he does everything, and then some, that he's asked to do as it relates to the locker room, the football field, the weight room. And he brings huge time, energy and passion to that."
Gronkowski had 1,327 receiving yards and an NFL tight end-record 17 touchdowns during the 2011 season, but was held to two receptions for 26 yards in New England's 21-17 loss to the Giants.
On Friday, the 22-year-old had arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle, which he injured in the Pats' AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens, and is expected to make a full recovery.
