Hernandez Comes Up Big For Patriots
BOSTON (CBS) - While the New England Patriots were keeping Tim Tebow at bay, the Denver Broncos were doing the same with tight end Rob Gronkowski.
For the first time since October, Gronkowski was held without a touchdown, catching four passes for 53 yards. The Broncos had him double, and sometimes triple-teamed, taking away one of Tom Brady's favorite targets.
But Brady's favorite target is whoever is open, and with most of the attention on Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez made the most of it. He set a career high with nine receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win, his first touchdown since early November and first 100+ yard game since the season opener in Miami.
"I just tried to get open, make some plays, and Tom came to me," Hernandez said after the 41-23 win.
"What's so great about having gall these weapons, someone is always going to be open," said Gronkowski.
"Aaron's a heck of a player," receiver Wes Welker said after the game. "He's tough to cover one-on-one. He's a big mismatch for a lot of defense, so getting him involved and him making the plays he did is huge for us. I'm sure he'll continue to do that for us."
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Hernandez wasn't surprised Gronk got so much focus from the defense, just that it hasn't happened sooner.
"I don't know why any team wouldn't. He's 6-7, 260 with good speed," said Hernandez of Gronk. "It just leaves me some opportunities to make some plays for the team."
Since being drafted in 2010, both of the Patriots tight ends have put up huge numbers. Gronkowski set an NFL record for touchdowns in a season by a tight end with 15, and still has two games left to play. He has 26 career touchdowns in 30 games. Hernandez has also produced, with 113 career receptions and 12 touchdowns.
But there is no competition between the two young tight ends, just pushing each other to be the best.
"We're never really competing just with each other; we see each other as one," said Hernandez. "We both work together, when he has a great game I'm happy for him and if I have a great game he's happy for me. We work off each other. The reason I had a big game was they were focused on him. When they're focused on me, he's probably going to have a bigger game. we work together and we love each other."
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"We always push each other out in practice and out in the game field. We're always helping each other out too, helping each other get better," said Gronkowski. "It was great to him go out there and do those kind of things. He got a touchdown, (129) yards, great jukes and everything; that's the kind of player he is. He can do that all the time. It's great playing with him, and it can't be any better."
Hernandez also got some high praise from his college quarterback, Tim Tebow. The two played together at Florida from 2007-2009. While Tebow was happy for Hernandez' success, he just wishes he had not seen it first-hand.
"I wished he didn't do it against us, but good for him. He's a great kid and great player, and I'm so proud of him and how hard he's worked and what he's overcome," said Tebow. "I guess you could say New England is smart for taking him, but they also waited until the fourth round, so a lot of teams passed on a great player and one of the best tight ends in the league in my opinion.
"I was happy to have him on my team for a long time, and it's not always fun to play against him," he added.
Hernandez said he spoke with Tebow before and after the game, and is proud of what his college quarterback is doing in Denver.
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Tune into the Patriots-Dolphins game Saturday, December 24 on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV. Pregame coverage begins at 9:00am on WBZ-TV with Patriots Gameday, with coverage beginning on 98.5 at 10:00am. After the game, tune in to The Postgame Show on the Hub, and Patriots Fifth Quarter on WBZ-TV.
