The Facts: It isn't exactly a shock but Gronkowski was the star of yesterday's Patriots workout. It was Gronk being Gronk. He was full-go in the rain, which speaks volumes in itself. Granted, it's an offseason workout, but there were no kid gloves for the tight end, who underwent back surgery on Dec. 2.

Diehards Line: So wrote Herald staffer Karen Guregian, who went on to note while that phrase has come to have a few different meanings, on the football field, the definition is pretty clear. When Gronkowski is on the job, there’s no one quite like him. There aren’t many 6-6, 265-pound men who beat safeties down the field, routinely make one-handed catches, or leap up over defenders to make plays. He’s the best tight end in the game when healthy, and a huge difference-maker in the Patriots offense. Guregian added the sight of Gronk flying down the right sideline, blowing past safety Jordan Richards Thursday to haul in a high-arcing Tom Brady floater put a nice exclamation point on his day. The trouble with Gronk, of course, has been his downtime. He’s played in 15 or more games in just four of seven pro seasons. Can the tide possibly change? There are no guarantees.