FOXBORO, Mass. –- Rob Gronkowski is just a few days from playing the most important game in his young career.
And with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, one would be able to understand if the second-year tight end was a little nervous, even a little anxious with Sunday’s game rapidly approaching.
However, Sunday's AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens will present Gronkowski with another chance to do what he loves to do most –- play football.
"You gotta be excited," Gronkowski said Wednesday. "It's a big game. It's the AFC Championship. How can you not get excited? Going out for practice, that's what motivates you, all the excitement. Obviously can't wait for the game, but we obviously have a big week of practice and I'm excited."
In fact, a player like Gronkowski, who thrives on emotion, still knows that he needs to keep those emotions in check once kickoff comes.
"It's exciting every day coming in and everything," he said. "Obviously you’re excited. Obviously mad pumped about Sunday, but you just gotta contain it a little bit so you're ready to go on Sunday.
"Just chillin', practicing hard, getting ready so when the big game comes Sunday, we're all high on energy and all excited."
Gronkowski hasn't had any problems controlling those emotions in his brief playoff career. In two career postseason games, Gronkowski has hauled in 14 catches for 210 yards and three touchdowns. Those stats were helped along by a dominating performance last Saturday night against the Broncos, in which he caught 10 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
Regardless, this supposedly pressure-packed week presents Gronkowski with just another chance to do what he does best and what he enjoys most.
"It's a lot of fun. It's great coming out, especially being with your boys, with your teammates, it's basically like family. Just going out there, joking around with your teammates and working hard with them. You've got 53 other guys out there grinding with you out in the practice field getting you motivated and get you working hard, too.
"It's cool coming in and seeing everyone. You're never bored -– I hate being bored -– so I love coming out and being with the team and running around and everything all the time."
