The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Gronkowski practiced on Thursday for the first time since injuring his left ankle in the AFC Championship game, and HC Bill Belichick said his young TE came through well. "He was OK this morning. I don’t think he had any setbacks," Belichick said today at his final press conference before Super Bowl XLVI.
Diehards Line:The coach added: "We'll see how it goes out there today, but I think he's gotten treatment probably morning, noon and night, and he's gotten better on a daily basis. Hopefully he’ll be able to continue that same progress today and tomorrow and all day Sunday, and we’ll see where it takes us." Asked to elaborate on Gronkowski's load in practice Thursday, Belichick said only: "He practiced on a limited basis. He did some of the things that we did in practice but not all of them. ..." Gronkowski said he may take a pain-killing injection before the game or wear a supportive device on his foot. He said he will make the decision on if he plays, based on his pain tolerance.