INDIANAPOLIS — The only thing that has gotten more attention around the Patriots than Tom Brady this week is Rob Gronkowski’s left ankle. The Patriots tight end has dominated the news this week with the will he or won’t he play in Super Bowl XLVI question.
Gronkowski took a step toward playing yesterday. He practiced on a limited basis, his first practice since suffering the high ankle sprain on Jan. 22 in the AFC Championship.
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“He did some things. He didn’t do everything,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick told a pool reporter. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow. I think that will be the big key — how he responds to this today.”
Earlier in the day, Gronkowski said it would be his call if he plays Sunday.
“I will make the final call,” he said. “I listen to the trainer’s advice, but it’s how I feel. I’m just trying to get better. The trainer has helped me get to a place where I need to be.”
Gronkowski anticipated the rush of playing in the Super Bowl helping him deal with the pain.
“Right now, I’m just going into it day-by-day to get healthy,” he said. “When it comes to game time, it will be a whole lot different. It’s the Super Bowl. The adrenaline rush will be going wild. It will be crazy.
“It’s going to be a huge atmosphere and you aren’t sure how it will feel on that day,” he added. “That’s why we are just day-by-day. You never know. I can wake up tomorrow 100 percent and be good — that happens. You can wake up one day and feel great. You just never know. When it comes to Sunday, I hope I’m feeling great.”