The New England Patriots have taken more criticism this year than probably any other season over the last 10 years, with many fans and media pundits calling this the weakest Patriots team of the last decade and saying that Tom Brady is almost cooked.

Of course, the Patriots have gone on to prove everyone wrong in the playoffs, advancing to their ninth Super Bowl since Brady took the reins at quarterback in 2001.

Pats tight end Rob Gronkowski says he does not take the criticism to heart and actually uses it as fuel for jokes to lighten the mood in the locker room.

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“We know that there’s a lot been said about us this year, and we’ve been embracing it I would say a little bit more than usual,” Gronkowski said, according to Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston. “But we’re not letting it distract us. We’re just embracing it to take it in and bring it out in good energy. It actually is a fun part about it. You know, you get to laugh at the other player that gets made fun of, and then you get to say the comments to him too, like ‘Tom has a noodle arm.’ We’ve heard that one before, and then all practice we’re telling Tom he has a noodle arm. But we’re just doing it all for laughs and fun, because we know he doesn’t have a noodle arm, and we know he’s legit and his arm is as strong as ever.”

Leave it to Gronk to turn anything into a joke.

The Patriots will take on the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl this Sunday.