Brandon Browner and the Passion of the Gronk!

Photo courtesy of Elise Amendola

After serving his 4 game suspension, the play of Brandon Browner has been nothing short of electrifying.

Doug Kyed,NESN.com:

Fellow cornerback Darrelle Revis described Browner as the defense’s Energizer Bunny on Sunday after the Patriots trounced the Denver Broncos 43-21. Browner said he’s drawing inspiration from Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

I’m just trying to be that attitude. I’m just trying to spark a flame in the guys by the way I play, because I know that goes a long way,” Browner said Tuesday in the Patriots’ locker room. “Just like when I’m on the sideline, and I watch Gronk make a big play and he spikes the ball, I feel that energy. I’m just trying to be that guy on the defensive side of the ball.

Who would've guessed that a healthy Rob Gronkowski could have such a huge impact on both sides of the ball? Usually drawing the assignment of covering the opposing team's tight end, who else better for Browner to practice against then Rob Gronkowski?

In three games, Browner has held tight ends to 14 catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Now I know you are probably thinking that Browner has let up a ton of yards and touchdowns. In all fairness, the yards and TDs allowed in the last two games came at a time when the Patriots had a sizable lead. Browner's performance against Julius Thomas was his best performance so far. Thomas was held in check by Browner and had two catches for 33 yards and a TD (not Browner's fault).

Safe to say that Gronk's presence on and off the field has certainly helped Browner shake the rust off and develop into a lightning rod for the Pats defense. As long as Browner can minimize the number of penalties while keeping his level of physicality, he will certainly be the "Gronk" like energy source on the defense.

The Patriots are off this week, but I hope that Browner and Gronk spend time charging their batteries before they play the Colts on the night of November 16th.




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