PATRIOTS TIGHT END ROB GRONKOWSKI

Q: Are you frustrated with how things are going in the first three games?

RG: I mean, I'm frustrated - well I mean, the frustration comes from the aspect of the losses and I would say so, just got to get back on track of practicing, focusing on the Dolphins, doing what we've got to do out on the practice field and studying film. Doing the meeting rooms and getting better so we can go out and we can be ready and focused on the Dolphins coming this Sunday. 

Q: Did you know your brother was going to go on the radio yesterday?

RG: No, I didn't talk to him at all and to tell you the truth, I mean I feel like he probably was going on for a promotion thing for his ice shaker because if you've ever seen - no lie. I mean, because he's been on Shark Tank with it, he's teamed up with A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez] so it's actually a pretty big deal. So I guess buy his ice shaker is what he was trying to get to and then he probably got caught up in all that nonsense. But I mean, he doesn't speak for myself and he knows he doesn't. But he probably just got caught up a little bit. Just got to move on, buy his ice shaker I guess and that's all.

Q: So you're cool with everything here right now?

RG: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, definitely.

Q: Does he give you a discount on the ice shaker?

RG: I mean, he better send me a couple free ones now or something. Got to get one, you know?

Q: As one of the veterans on the offense, what have you noticed from Josh Gordon?

RG: He's just studying his playbook every time I see him. He's in the playbook, just studying and just trying to get better.

Q: Anything you've noticed from him out on the field?

RG: You've got to ask Coach [Bill Belichick] about that one.

Q: What was your reaction when you first got the playbook your rookie year?

RG: I mean, you've definitely got to study it. It's a playbook that is definitely pretty thick and you've got to be on top of your game. You can't be slacking when it comes down to that. I remember my rookie year, you have to be in it at all times. Luckily, I've been here now going on Year Nine so I know the playbook, I mean, I would not say like the back of my hand, but there's always new things you can learn. So just always got to study it and the new plays that come in, whatever it is, you've got to be on top of it every single day.

Q: What is going to help you get open?

RG: Myself. Going out there, adjusting to coverages, running faster, getting open and just working together as a team, as an offense. I really wouldn't say - I mean, definitely for myself, my goal is obviously I want to get open all the time. But overall, I'm just focused on having the chemistry with the offense and executing plays and getting drives started so we can work together as a whole.

Q: Have other teams thrown coverages at you that you haven't seen before?

RG: I mean, it's all about kind of the same. [I] couldn't really say that I see different coverages that I've never seen before. [I've] seen them basically all. I don't suspect there's going to be some brand new coverage that I've never ever seen before coming this Sunday. [I've] just got to be prepared for anything.

Q: Do you think you're as fast as you've ever been? Do you feel any different?

RG: I mean, that's a tough question. It really is. It's football. Any given day, you can feel different to tell you the truth. 

Q: Do you feel this offense has the receivers to get the job done?

RG: Yes. I think the personnel we have, I mean the guys we have, definitely can get the job done. I feel like just overall, as an offense, we've just got to go out and we've got to execute. We've got to put some plays together, we've got to put some drives together but definitely confident with the guys that are all around, that I'm out there with and with myself too.

Q: You guys have had some early season struggles before. Can you take anything from the previous seasons where you have struggled early on?

RG: I mean, every year is different but going through years when you've been here and it's like that when you've been part of them. You've just got to keep going forward, no matter what it is, if you're winning or if you're losing. You've got to just put that week behind you, just focus on the week coming up and take one game at a time, one day at a time. Just got to keep on grinding. Keep your head up, keep working hard and just put some plays together and keep working.

Q: Yesterday David Andrews talked about the importance of being consistent and thinking things will change ultimately. Is there something to that?

RG: Yeah, definitely. I mean, if you're going out to the practice field and you're consistent all the time - we go out there, we're consistent, we're making plays out on the practice field, it's going to change into the games. So consistency is definitely huge in the game of football.

Q: At the end of the game, the Lions were keying in on you. What's the mindset when you're going down the field and you know that there's going to be a couple guys banging on you the whole way?

RG: You've got to get into a different mindset knowing - like I said, I've got to start adjusting to coverages. You've got to go into another mindset, another level, in order to take on two guys if you want to get open so that's what I feel like I've got to do and I've got to work on.

Q: What is the mindset when you have two guys on you?

RG: Just got to go harder or you've got to take them away and let the offense execute what the offense has to do. Make sure I still do my job and take those two guys with me or whatever it is and keep going full-speed so the play can develop wherever it's going to. 

Q: What's the mindset being 1-2 facing a Dolphins team in the division that's 3-0?

RG: Oh yeah, it's a big game. It's a divisional game, our first one of the year. They're 3-0, we're 1-2. It's going to be a big game. We've just got to keep our heads up and we've got to be prepared when it comes down to Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Q: Are you excited to see Danny Amendola again?

RG: I'm always excited to see Danny. Miss that guy. He's fun.

Q: What do you lose with Rex Burkhead being placed on Injured Reserve?

RG: It's never good to see guys like that going to IR. He's a good dude and a good guy to have around. It's football. We've just got to keep on grinding and whoever's in, just got to step up and keep on playing.

Q: Is it important this week with the Dolphins' pass-rushers, Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn, to get the ball out quickly?

RG: I feel like every team has good pass-rushers and you've got to definitely get the ball out quick. I would say that definitely disturbs the defenses pretty well, if you can get the ball out quick and make yards. So definitely that's what you want to do when you've got good pass-rushers on the other side of the ball. 

Q: What kind of player and teammate did the Dolphins get in Danny Amendola?

RG: He's quick, he's feisty. Definitely miss that guy but he's doing what he's got to do and it's going to be good to see him.

Q: Are you still in touch with him?

RG: Oh, yeah. I've always been in touch with Danny. Just like any other guys that have been on the team, you see them.

Q: What are some of the things that are really special about the chance to play with a guy like Tom Brady?

RG: Just the way he prepares. His work ethic, the way he's just still going at his age. Just still has a competitiveness to him every single time he steps out on the field. It's obviously an honor to be next to a quarterback like that in the huddle and it's really basically how he brings it every single day, no matter what kind of day it is.

Q: We've heard Bill Belichick say on many occasions he wouldn't have any other quarterback like Tom Brady and it sounds like you feel that way as well.

RG: Definitely. I'm going on Year Nine with him. To tell the truth, you're not just going to walk in with another guy and have chemistry like that. I don't care who it is, what kind of player, you've got to build chemistry. We've been going on Year - what is this, Year Nine now? So to build all that chemistry up, you just want to keep it going, keep it flowing. You know how to expect you can get the best out of each other so it's good to have that connection, it's good to have that chemistry and just got to keep on improving every single time we can.

Q: How's your ankle? You were limited in practice today with it.

RG: Yes. Feeling good. This is football - bumps and bruises here and there so feeling good. It was a good practice today overall as a team, as a unit.

Q: Was there a point where you and Tom Brady really became friends beyond just having chemistry on the field?

RG: Just throughout our career. I would say basically the friendships are developed over football too. Over studying football together, getting together in the offseason, extra stuff during the season and you just want to build that up so you can be on the same page and be the best chemistry possible that you can be.

Q: You seem sometimes a little bit more exuberant than Tom. Do you think you bring that out of him?

RG: I would say so, sometimes. It's always good to bring the best out of each other in all different aspects and ways.  

Transcripts are provided by the Patriots media relations department as a courtesy to the media and are edited for readability. All press conferences are posted and archived in their entirety at patriots.com.