Rob Gronkowski + life-size Operation = a whole lot of fun.
On Wednesday, Gronk and teammates Matthew Slater and Chris Jones showed off their competitive spirit – and surgical skills – as they played a giant version of the popular kids' game at Massachusetts General Hospital's annual employee picnic.
Thirty-six MGH staffers got to join the fun, after being selected in a raffle that raised more than $23,000 for the hospital. Divided into groups of four with festive names like Team Broken Hearts and Team Charlie Horse, they each got a chance to play alongside one of the Patriots in whirlwind heats. After every team had competed and a little lighthearted smack talk was exchanged, Chris Jones' team Adam's Apple was declared the winner. Â
Before they left MGH, the guys also made a surprise visit to the hospital's pediatric ward, where they chatted, posed for photos and even played video games with a handful of patients.
For Gronk, the day at MGH is just one in a string of recent charitable efforts with a special emphasis on giving back to youth. In the month of June alone, he's surprised students at Foxborough's public schools, shaved his head for pediatric cancer at the annual One Mission Buzz Off, and met with young cancer patients while in Chicago for a NASCAR event. Â
On Wednesday, June 25, Rob Gronkowski, Matthew Slater and Chris Jones joined staff at Massachusetts General Hospital for their annual employee picnic. The guys played a life-size version of the game Operation before visiting with patients in the hospital's pediatric ward. Read more about their visit.Â
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB - He has a beard. He went to Harvard. And for some reason the veteran turnover machine is still the starting quarterback for the 3-7 Jets despite 13 interceptions, a 67.6 rating and no future with the team. Still, Fitzpatrick has given the Patriots problems in the past, including last year, and the New England pass defense needs to force the veteran into the negative plays he can be prone to.
David Andrews, OL - Â New England's second-year center is front and center on a line that will be tested with a big, talented Jets front. Andrews will have to deal, at times, with second-year stud Leonard Williams, who might just be the best of the bunch that also includes Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson. Andrews has his hands full, first figuring out how the Jets line and up and then blocking whichever elite athlete is across the ball.
Tom Brady, QB - TB12 rolls into yet another battle with the hated Jets looking to tie Peyton Manning for the NFL record with his 200th career win. Brady, who missed practiced this week to a knee injury, will look to continue his impressive season against a somewhat porous New York pass defense, owning a 91.1 career rating in 27 previous regular season meetings in the series.
Matt Forte, RB - The veteran, first-year Jets running back is having a solid season. Forte has topped 20-plus carries and 90-plus yards in three of the last four games as the centerpiece of the offense. New England's run defense has allowed 26 or more rushes in three straight games and opponents have topped 4.3 yards a carry in three of the last four. Forte will try to test a Patriots front trending in the wrong direction against the run.
Dont'a Hightower, LB - The Patriots run defense has been fading a bit in recent weeks and could have to play for a month without solid veteran tackle Alan Branch. Hightower is having another very impressive season and is a key cog against the run. He'll need to continue to prove that against a varied Jets ground game that ranks 11th in the NFL.Â
Malcolm Mitchell, WR - The rookie receiver was on the receiving end of maybe Tom Brady's prettiest touchdown pass last week in San Francisco. Mitchell is building a growing rapport with his veteran quarterback and could be leaned on again with ongoing injury concerns for Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett and Chris Hogan.
Darrelle Revis, CB - The future Hall of Fame cornerback has seen both sides of this rivalry. He's also seen better days. But, according to Bill Belichick, Revis is still a guy who is not to be underestimated in the back end of the Jets defense. Â It will be interesting to watch how much Tom Brady tests his aging former teammate as the cornerback continues through a disappointing season in New York.
Leonard Williams, DL - The second-year former first-round pick is a tremendous athlete and young talent. Williams leads the Jets with six sacks and is one of three big, talented bodies - along with Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson - who can move all over the defensive front.
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