Rob Gronkowski can't seem to stay off the operating table. According to reports, the New England Patriots tight end will need to undergo surgery to repair a disc issue in his back. Gronkowski has already undergone four procedures since fracturing his forearm last season. Two of the procedures were due to an infection in his arm.
NFL news roundup: Rob Gronkowski needs more surgery, ‘Redskins’ name under fire
Rob Gronkowski is going under the knife again. Meanwhile, Dan Snyder is still under fire for the “Redskins” moniker. Those stories and more in Wednesday’s NFL roundup.
Jim Rogash
Back problems aren’t new for Gronkowski. He missed his senior season at Arizona due to another procedure to repair a disc. He has reportedly dealt with back soreness for over a year. The good news, however, is that he might not need any additional recovery time because of the procedure, since he is still recovering from the fourth procedure on his forearm.
No timetable has been set for Gronkowski’s return, though there is hope that he could return by the end of training camp.
Congress is amping pressure on the Washington Redskins to change their name. Ten senators sent a letter to owner Dan Snyder urging him to change the "Redskins" moniker, which many consider insensitive to Native Americans. Snyder has said in the past that he will not change the name under any circumstances, however.
The Redskins’ name has been a subject of debate in the past, yet the team has yet to make any overtures to soothe tensions. Whether a crop of senators will be successful remains to be seen.
Brian Cushing is in the last year of his rookie contract with the Houston Texans, and coming off a torn ACL, this season could be critical to the linebacker's long-term financial future. He told the Houston Chronicle that he isn't thinking about contract extension talks with the organization, however.
“No, you know, if they have, I wouldn’t even know because my main concern right now is just getting healthy and that’ll take care of everything else,” Cushing said. “If they have, I wouldn’t even know. I try to stay out of that stuff. Obviously, I would like to get that done but it’s not really up to me.”
Cushing was the 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and was potentially on track for an All-Pro season before going down after just five games in 2012. The Texans have reportedly told Cushing that they would like to retain him for the foreseeable future.
Brent Grimes told ESPN's James Walker that his rehabbing torn Achilles tendon "feels fine," and that he has no more mental hurdles to clear on his way back to the practice field for the Miami Dolphins. Grimes appeared in just one game for the Atlanta Falcons last season. He is hoping to step into the Dolphins' starting lineup after being signed to one-year contract this offseason.
At 30 years old, Grimes will need to prove he is fully healthy if he hopes to earn a multi-year deal. He turned in a Pro Bowl season in 2010, but was underwhelming in 2011, missing four games and recording just one interception.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Cody Grimm was arrested for public intoxication last weekend outside of a Hampton Inn in Virginia. He was arrested for the exact same charge on March 10. Grimm will go to court to defend himself on July 9.
Grimm is fighting for a roster spot in a secondary that added Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson in the offseason. His second indiscretion in as many months won't help his cause. Grimm has started 12 games in three seasons with the Buccaneers, but the secondary has consistently been one of the NFL's worst in that span. The SB Nation blog Bucs Nation doesn't expect Grimm to last much longer with the organization.
The Bucs could act swiftly and release Grimm, even though the charge is a misdemeanor and not necessarily a big deal. The Bucs forced Grimm to take a pay cut this season as well, and two misdemeanor public intoxication charges gives them little reason to hang on to him.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
