Rob Gronkowski Responds To Earl Thomas, Says He Used ‘A Real Football Hit’

There’s no bad blood between Rob Gronkowski and Earl Thomas.

Gronkowski took a huge hit from the Seahawks safety before halftime of the New England Patriots’ game against Seattle on Sunday, and it was so hard that the tight end was originally believed to have punctured a lung. That diagnosis has seen been refuted, but Thomas still reached out to Gronk on Twitter on Tuesday to wish him well and let him know he’s one of the best.

And Gronkowski returned the respect to Thomas.

Gronkowski sat out four snaps after the hit but ultimately played through the rest of New England’s 31-24 loss. He said the hit was one of the hardest he’s ever taken.

Thumbnail photo via Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports Images