Though it remains to be seen whether the back injury that wiped out the 2009 football season for tight end Rob Gronkowski, and that also pushed him out of the top 40 picks in the 2010 draft, will limit his NFL career in any way, the early returns suggest that the Patriots have gotten a steal in the second round.
Gronkowski played like a beast on Thursday night against the Rams, dragging a defender 10 yards for a score and then stretching out to nab another one.
In three preseason games, Gronkowski has scored three touchdowns. With opposing defenses keeping close watch on Randy Moss (who hauled in a 65-yard touchdown on Thursday night) and Wes Welker, Gronkowski could find plenty of openings in opposing defenses.