Mike Reiss: My Memories of Gronk & Jules

One of the enjoyable parts of being a reporter following the New England Patriots is the opportunity to connect with players and share their stories.
 
Here’s one about Julian Edelman few might remember: It was 2009 and he was new to the team, a seventh-round draft pick out of Kent State selected with the 232nd overall pick. He faced longer odds to earn a roster spot, especially considering the Patriots were transitioning him from college quarterback to NFL wide receiver and punt returner.
 
It’s hard enough to play in the NFL. Then try doing it at a position you’ve never played.
 
So here’s Edelman on the practice fields at training camp behind Gillette Stadium attempting to catch punts and struggling mightily. He muffed one. Dropped another. It made one wonder if he had just cost himself a chance to play in the NFL.
 
As if Edelman didn’t feel bad enough about it, the thousands of fans that sat in the metal bleachers and packed the hillside let him know what they thought of it.
 
“Booooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!”
 
That was the modest NFL beginning for a player who will be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in September.
 
Many might also forget that it wasn’t until his fifth season – after visiting the New York Giants as a free agent who generated little interest across the NFL before re-signing with the Patriots on a modest contract — that he truly broke through.
 
Edelman’s response to adversity, and his persistence, was admirable.
 
Rob Gronkowski’s introduction to the NFL, in 2010, was quite different.
 
He was a highly-touted second-round pick out of the University of Arizona, the 42nd overall player selected. And unlike Edelman, who initially preferred to fly under the radar and not draw attention to himself, Gronkowski’s boisterous enthusiasm was on display from the start.
 
Who could forget how he put on a Patriots helmet the night the team drafted him and bounced up and down in celebration with his family in an impromptu huddle?
 
Of all the stories to share about Gronkowski, this is a favorite place to start. He was a fierce force on the field who will soon follow Edelman into the Patriots Hall of Fame, but behind the scenes, he was one of the most fun-loving and kind-hearted people to be around.
 
Make a walk over to his corner locker near the team’s equipment window and prepare to laugh. A lot.
 
How he kept such a positive approach despite sustaining heartbreaking knee and back injuries was impressive, and a lesson that any young student and/or athlete might attempt to emulate: Always find joy in the journey.
 
As for Edelman, one of his most joyful moments is another favorite story to relay.
 
It came after the Patriots defeated the Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019. Edelman was named the Most Valuable Player after totaling 10 catches for 141 yards.
 
The Patriots partied all night after the game, and then the following morning at 8:30, a sleepy-eyed Edelman and coach Bill Belichick joined commissioner Roger Goodell for the traditional MVP news conference. When it was over, Edelman retreated to the men’s room, where a short, spectacle-wearing Patriots reporter from Westwood was preparing to exit.
 
Edelman said hello and then added, “How about that? First ever Jewish MVP.”
 
Up to that point, Edelman hadn’t been as comfortable sharing that part of his life, how his father was Jewish. But it was something he was growing prouder to identify with, and sensing that, a request was made: Would you mind saying it again, but this time in a video so it could be sent back to Temple Beth David in Westwood?
 
He obliged. Still have that one saved in the phone.
 
As for Gronkowski, another thing that stands out is how perception isn’t reality. Yes, he likes to have a good time. But unlike other players who lived in the city to cater to that lifestyle, he preferred a quieter life with a home in Foxboro near the stadium.
 
He’s also one of the smartest businesspeople to have ever played for the Patriots, perhaps the only person who hasn’t spent any of the money earned from his contract. All the money spent came from endorsements and marketing deals, many of which he brilliantly created with his father and four brothers.
 
There’s another side to Gronkowski many might not be aware of. When he moved on to play for the Buccaneers in 2020, following Tom Brady, one of the nice parts was that it drew him closer to his mother, Diane Walters, because she was living in a suburb of Fort Myers.
 
So the day after Buccaneers road games, he would drive to her house, stay overnight, and they would enjoy the standard players’ day off by riding bikes, taking walks, and having dinner together. This was 1-on-1 time that they had never had before. A high-ranking source (wink, wink) relayed that Mama Gronk’s chicken soufflé is legendary and that Rob’s favorite side dishes are roasted vegetables and potatoes.
 
These are fun stories to share, a small peek behind the curtain of the people under the helmets who came through in the highest-stakes moments to deliver championship memories to New England that will never be forgotten.
 
Rob, the big tight end (6-foot-7, 265 pounds!) with the big heart, one of the kindest most joyful people to ever play for the Patriots.
 
Julian, the ultimate underdog with the big heart who overcame more early-career adversity than most to will himself into stardom.
 
A true pleasure to report on them – both as players and beyond.
 
Much respect.
 
Mike Reiss has reported on the Patriots since 1997. He moved to Westwood with his wife, Sigalle, in 2005. Their daughter, Talia, is a junior at Westwood High School and a contributor to Westwood Living. Their son, Nathan, is an eighth-grader at Thurston Middle School.