FLORHAM PARK (NJ) -- Immediately following the New York Jets signing of Rob Gronkowski to go along with fellow Pro Bowler Tyler Eifert, fans wondered what the plan would be for a squad that also owned the rights to the up-and-coming TE OJ Howard fresh off a positive rookie campaign. This morning, we got that answer from head coach Todd Bowles who introduced us to the 'Gronk Rules.'
"Here's the thought around it all," Bowles said. "For the past three seasons, the Super Bowl Champion has come from the AFC East. There's no getting around the fact that to win it all, you have got to win this division. Rob will practice with us each week, get some package work in most games, and be a full participant when we play the Bills, Patriots, and Dolphins."
Bowles then quickly backtracked and offered that Gronk may also sit out Miami games after their "dumpster fire" offseason.
These 'Gronk Rules' could either be revolutionary or the precursor to a ticket out-the-door for Bowles if is tight end is unable to produce during the team's most critical games of the season. Fantasy owners will now need to determine if the coach is bluffing or serious about the pitch count for Gronkowski.
As for Howard, he was less than impressed with the talk from Bowles.
"It's a slap in the face to us all to think he's just going to sit around, get some goalline work, then play against our rivals," Howard said. "We all are just grinding day in and day out and this dude will be out at the club. I'm not giving up that spot - write that down."
Let's look at new from the rest of the division.
BUFFALO BILLS
Late last night the Bills signed off on a trade with the Miami Dolphins to acquire 32-year old Danny Amendola, Stephone Anthony and a 2019 4th rounder in exchange for much-maligned LB Shaq Thompson. The acquisition give Aaron Rodgers a receiving corps of Brandin Cooks, Jordy Nelson, and Amendola while pushing sophomore JuJu Smith-Schuster to the 4th spot.
"I'm pissed off," Smith-Schuster said. "You draft me and I do everything asked of me to move up the chart and, right before camp, they do this. I'm a professional and will use this as motivation, but don't expect me to take the guy out for beers when he gets here."
Rodgers worked the media in JuJu's favor referencing his preference to spread the ball around while subtly guaranteeing that he'd regularly look #19's way whenever he takes the field. The receiver later tweeted the following to move the story forward:
@TeamJuJu - Sorry, was triggered. We a 4-headed monster now. #DiscountDoubleCheckGotMe
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The NFL finally acted last last week by announcing a 2-game suspension for linebacker Reuben Foster stemming from his difficult offseason. This was Foster's statement as first reported by NFL.com:
"I accept the League's decision and am sorry that my mistakes have hurt my team," Foster said in a statement released by the team. "I have a responsibility to the Patriots, our fans and our community, and I am committed to learning from this situation and making better choices in the future. The support I have received over the last five months has been humbling, and I do not take it for granted."
Foster will miss the team's opener at home against the Houston Texans in addition to their first road trip to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars.
Rookie Tremaine Edmunds seems the obvious choice to take the place of Foster during his absence. However, do not look for Edmunds to take a seat once Week 3 begins as we view him as a stalwart for the Pats all season long.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
After a week that saw the team part ways with a few veteran players to bring in the afore-mentioned Thompson and Jatavis Brown from the New York Jets, the Dolphins look to be re-building their defense after an offseason that saw a complete overhaul of personnel.
"It's great to get a fresh start for all of us," DT Davon Godchaux said. "Me and Xavien (Howard) are the only two guys left from last year, so we have a lot to do in terms of building continuity and re-establishing ourselves as a dominant unit."
Thompson and Brown will most likely play each of the outside linebacker spots as the team looks to implement a 4-3 base defense. Rookie Minkah Fitzpatrick, fresh off a strong camp, has been rumored to be the full-time nickel back for the team while mixing in looks at safety in base defenses.
"Wherever they want me, I'll play there," Fitzpatrick said. "The owner (Stephen Ross) has been public that he didn't want to draft me, but with our GM back in the house, I know that I'm wanted now."
