Superbowl-Bad News for Gronk
 

Patriots' Gronkowski 'getting better' but TE misses practice

* By Pro Football Writers of America


INDIANAPOLIS -- An almost-complete New England Patriots squad conducted a two-and-a-half hour Super Bowl XLVI practice in helmets and shells Wednesday at Indianapolis Colts team headquarters.

"We had our moments -- some good ones and some things we've got to work on," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said afterward. "They're trying. They're working hard. We've got a ways to go, though.

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"We've had a little bit of extra time to prepare so we hit all the areas. I thought we had good tempo and good timing. We'll back down a little bit the next couple of days."

Tight end Rob Gronkowski was the only player who didn't participate during Wednesday's session. Gronkowski suffered a left ankle injury January 22 during New England's 23-20 AFC Championship Game victory over Baltimore.

"He's day to day," Belichick said. "He's getting better but, we'll just take it day-to-day."

Tackle Sebastian Vollmer (foot/back) worked out on a limited basis, while left tackle Matt Light, who battled an illness earlier in the week, completed a full practice.

To prepare for the crowd noise expected inside Lucas Oil Stadium during Sunday's match-up against the New York Giants, the Patriots blasted loud music through much of practice inside the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.

"We can make it loud enough so that [the players] can't hear," said Belichick, whose team has not played inside a dome this season. "As long as they can't hear, you have to do silent communications whether it's on defense with hand signals or offense with tapping the center [for the snap] and all that."

Among the selections played were songs from Jon Bon Jovi -- a personal friend of Belichick's -- and Super Bowl XLVI halftime performer Madonna. Belichick said he and his assistant choose the songs but added with a smile, "I get veto power."

Belichick said Thursday's practice will "be a little shorter and really more review for everything like we did today -- first, second, third down and red (zone) area and all the situations."