The New England Patriots are currently slated to be without All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski in Week 14 against the Miami Dolphins due to a one-game suspension after his hit on Buffalo Bills defensive back Tre'Davious White.
Head coach Bill Belichick weighed in on the situation on Tuesday, giving an open-ended response that didn't exactly divulge much concerning his outlook on the situation. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“Well, we’ll see what happens when we get the final word,” Belichick told reporters on Tuesday. “That’s not a decision that we have. It’s not our decision.”
Belichick has built a strong reputation for being a tight-lipped head coach, and this response falls directly in line with that train of thought. The Patriots don't have any control of whether Gronkowski will be available on Monday night against the Dolphins, as Derrick Brooks or James Thrash, who are the officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, will handle the entire appeal process.
Although Belichick and the Patriots prefer for Gronkowski to be on the field, the team is more than comfortable moving forward with Dwyane Allen as the temporary starter. Allen has been sparsely used this season in the passing game, hauling in five catches on 13 targets for 40 yards and a touchdown.
New England also is not a team that solely depends on a single receiving option, as Tom Brady has resourcefully used all of his options over the years, including out of the backfield at times. This could be the case with three capable running backs in Rex Burkhead, Dion Lewis, and James White. Meanwhile, Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola will likely be the primary wide receivers in the passing game.
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