New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is recovering from back surgery that will keep him sidelined and force him to miss Rob Gronkowski's Patriots Hall of Fame induction on Saturday afternoon. "As much pain as I was in before having surgery, it pains me even more to miss the ceremony," Kraft told ESPN on Thursday.
Kraft, 85, said doctors have instructed him to stay off his feet, which also means he will miss Sunday's home game against the Green Bay Packers and the Patriots' trip to Munich to face the Detroit Lions the following week. He shared the news with Gronkowski, who underwent multiple back surgeries during his playing career, with a touch of humor. "I always told Gronk that in my next life, I wanted to come back as him because I had never seen him have a bad day. But after a couple of back surgeries, I take that back," Kraft said.
Gronkowski was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame by fans in April in his first year of eligibility. Because he is part of Fox's pregame show, the Patriots worked with the network to coordinate his schedule, allowing him to attend his induction Saturday and be honored at halftime Sunday. Kraft praised Gronkowski's impact after he joined the team as a second-round pick in 2010, saying he "became a fan favorite almost immediately and remained the standard at tight end for nearly a decade."
The Patriots (5-3) have been plagued by injuries this season, especially to key offensive players. Gronkowski played nine seasons in New England, won three Super Bowl championships, and totaled 521 receptions for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns in the regular season.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing