Bedard's Daily Briefing 08.27.19: Gronk tears up; Andrews likely out; Felger & Mazz return

Good morning!

A few random thoughts while I wonder what the NFL will do to counteract all this pain discussion recently...

• Rob Gronkowski revealed his "next chapter": he's partnering with CBD Medic to push for legalization of CBD in sports.


• Gronk talked about how much pain he was in after the Super Bowl, and how the pain had affected his life. A return to football is far from imminent, but he didn't rule it out.


• “Wherever I go, Patriot fans always ask, am I coming back, when I’m coming back, where am I coming back? I’m walking across the street, and they’re like, ‘You’re walking because you’re coming back.’ It’s crazy. I understand. I feel that love. But I want to be clear to my fans: I needed to recover. I was not in a good place. Football was bringing me down, and I didn’t like it. And I was losing that joy in life.” He later added: “I’m not retired from life. I want the joy in life again. I want the passion in life again. … That’s where I’m at in life. I’m enjoying it, and it’s a good place.”


• "When I feel like my body’s top-notch, my soul, my mind, mentally and physically, I’m ready, then I would go back to the NFL — if I ever get to that point."


• Hearing Gronk speak emotionally about this (vid below), you almost wish for him that he doesn't return to football and just goes off and finds happiness.


• The Patriots are unlikely to have center David Andrews this season as he deals with a blood clot in his lungs. Good player and a captain, but it's nothing the Patriots haven't dealt with before.


• My latest 53 ... one backup QB.


• Jaylen Brown lighting it up Down Under.


• I'm making my return to Felger & Mazz today, from 2-4.

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