Rob Gronkowski's advice for Gordon Hayward when it comes to rehab: 'Dominate it'

FOXBOROUGH — Like just about every other New England sports fan, the Patriots saw what happened to Gordon Hayward in the Celtics’ season opener against the Cavs on Tuesday night. And to a man, they all offered words of support for the Boston forward in the wake of his horrific injury.

Rob Gronkowski is a guy who knows something about serious injuries and the process of rehab. That’s why he can speak with some depth on the subject. On Wednesday, the tight end said he wishes Hayward “nothing but wellness” going forward.



"Hopefully, he heals ASAP. You never want to see that with a player in any sport. When my friend showed me that last night, you get that feeling in your body, like, your heart drops. I wish him well,” Gronkowski said. “I can't wait to see him back. I know he's going to bounce back. Being here in Boston, he's going to be a hard worker, it feels like. I can't wait to see him back."

On Wednesday, the rest of the locker room echoed Gronkowski’s good wishes.

“It’s just a crazy thing to happen,” said fullback James Develin. “I feel for him. It’s a tough thing to happen that early in the season; really, anytime in the season. It’s tough.”

“You never want to see a guy go down that early in the season,” said wide receiver Danny Amendola. “I’ve been there before. I know how it feels. I know that as a city and a team here, we’re all happy to have him. He’s a great player. I’m excited to see him get back.”

Gronkowski has dealt with a surgically-repaired ACL and multiple surgeries on his back and arm, and rehabbed his way through all of them. He has a simple message for Hayward.

"Just go into rehab just like you go into anything else. Dominate it," Gronkowski said. "Come back when you feel ready. Come back when you're 100 percent.

“He wouldn't be where he is now if he wasn't a hard worker. I don't know the guy. Never met him. But it's not something you want to see as an athlete happen to anyone else."

When it comes to rehab, Gronkowski said the mental is just as important as the physical.

"There is a big mental challenge, definitely, with that," Gronkowski explained. "It's not just not being able to be with your teammates and all that. It's outside of football, too. Because it takes away your whole life, going out like that.

"You can't do anything. You can't walk. You gotta have people do (things for you). You get really frustrated. You just want the people around you to help you out and keep you in the best mindset throughout the whole process."