NFL Notebook: Starting this weekend, Tom Brady needs to play his role in a Gronkowski Renaissance

In this week’s edition of the NFL Notebook, we compare James White’s workload this year to some of the other workhorse backs under Bill Belichick, possible divisional clinching scenarios for the Patriots over the next few weeks, and look at which members of the New England roster have the best snap/penalty ratios through the first 10 games. But first, we argue that when it comes to Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady needs to do his part to make “make 87 Gronkowski again.”

1. Four years ago, when Tom Brady was down and out and being questioned about his future, Rob Gronkowski boasted to his brother before the "On To Cincinnati" game he was going to make “12 look like Brady again.” He did that on a memorable night against the Bengals with six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. No one questioned Brady’s bonafides the rest of the way on the way to the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl title.

Starting Sunday at MetLife Stadium, Brady needs to return the favor and do his part to make 87 look like Gronkowski again.

It’s been a rough year for the big tight end, who has struggled with health and coverage, all while dealing with a myriad of possibilities when it comes to his future, including retirement or trade. At one point, the usually gregarious Gronkowski ended a presser early, likely because of frustration over questions regarding his health and production. He hasn’t played since Oct. 29, and has watched as the NFL world has continued to spin without him.

But his press conference appearance Friday looked like a return to his old self. No one is suggesting the back and/or ankle is back to 100 percent. But as we’ve seen in the past, a freewheeling Gronkowski during the week with the media usually leads to good things on the field Sunday afternoon.

A Gronkowski Renaissance wouldn’t just provide an emotional kickstart for the tight end (like Gronkowski helped spark that evening in 2014 for the quarterback), it’ll change the conversation around the Patriots and the Super Bowl. A healthy Gronkowski will help put to bed any questions around the consistency of the New England offense down the stretch and into the postseason.

“I feel good. I’m ready to go,” Gronkowski said Friday. “I’m ready to play. That’s all. I’m excited to be back out there come Sunday and just been working hard to get back out there and ready to roll.”

Brady force-fed Josh Gordon over an extended stretch earlier this season to get him up-to-speed in the offense. The night of Julian Edelman’s return in October, Brady targeted him three times on New England’s first series of the night, and his trusty slot receiver responded by accounting for 28 of the 75 yards on the opening scoring drive on the way to an early touchdown.

Now, it’s Gronkowski’s turn. Brady needs to do his part to make 87 Gronkowski again. Find him early and often against the Jets, and it’ll provide a boost the New England offense needs down the stretch and into the postseason.

2. We’ve written a lot about James White’s accomplishments through the first 10 games, but his workload — and whether or not he should be on a pitch count the rest of the regular season — is a legitimate discussion. Through 10 games, White already has 127 touches (66 catches, 61 carries). It blows away his previous mark for touches in a season (he had 99 a year the last two years). While it seems like an awful lot, it wouldn’t even put him in the top 5 when it comes to workloads for a back under Bill Belichick. Here’s a look at the top 5 finishers when it comes to offensive touches in a season for the Patriots since 2000:

2004: Corey Dillon — 360 (345 carries, 15 catches)
2016: LeGarrette Blount — 306 (299 carries, 7 catches)
2001: Antowain Smith — 306 (287 carries, 19 carries)
2012: Stevan Ridley — 296 (290 carries, 6 catches)
2002: Antowain Smith — 283 (252 carries, 31 catches)

Three things come to mind — one, all of those backs were bigger, between-the-tackles types who didn’t have much of an issue when it comes to serving as a traditional workhorse. Meanwhile, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound White would be the first of his size to break 200 touches in a season since Kevin Faulk did it in 2003 (226 — 178 carries, 48 catches). Two, White is different than those because his run-pass splits are far more even than anyone on that list. And three, for the most part, those guys were much further along in their careers than White, who is just 26 and in his fifth year in the league. The only exception was Ridley, who was in his second full season in the NFL and 23-years old, but would never be the same after blowing out his knee two seasons later.