Rob Gronkowski has come a long way since doubting his NFL future following the New England Patriots' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

Gronkowski Vic Beasley Jersey , who has battled injuries throughout his eight-year pro career, was asked about what was next for him after the 41-33 loss in Minneapolis.

"I'm definitely going to look at my future," he said in February. "We'll sit down in the next couple of weeks and see where I'm at."

There was brief talk of an acting career or possibly joining professional wrestling.

It left New England fans knowing Tom Brady would be returning for his age 41 season, but not knowing if the All-Pro tight end would be there with him.

Those doubts are now gone as Gronkowski awaits his ninth season, which starts Sept. 9 at home against the Houston Texans.

"I definitely feel ready for sure, and I feel good," Gronkowski said Tuesday.

"But it's a long season. It's kind of hard to describe the body. You gotta go through it in order to understand. It's what every player 鈥?I mean, one day you can be feeling great and then the next day you just don't how you're are going to feel 鈥?taking hits, you could take a helmet to the thigh, you can take a helmet to the chest, wherever and your body can just react differently ... and you're feeling like garbage the next day.

"I can't ever really get up here and ever say that I feel amazing, because you just never know and every single day, though Dion Jordan Jersey , I prepare myself to the fullest so I can feel the best I can feel the next day."

Gronkowski was coming off back surgery when camp began last year.

This summer, he arrived at camp without a restructured contract he was seeking. He shrugged that off Tuesday 鈥?while also acknowledging the substantial deal given to Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. 鈥?"those are great players" 鈥?and also the contract extension reportedly signed by teammate Shaq Mason on Monday.

"I'm in for the players always 鈥?I'm a player, so it's good to see that," he said.

Asked about tight ends being given that kind of respect, he smiled and said, "That would be pretty cool."

As far as his own situation being resolved soon, he said, "I'm always looking for that," but added, "It is what it is. That's not really my focus. I've got a long season ahead and I'm just trying to focus on what I really need to do 鈥?let everything else play out."

Gronkowski won't play in the preseason finale against the New York Giants on Thursday night, but the work will continue to prepare for the regular season.

"I've always got stuff to work on, big-time, no matter what it is Jack Tatum Jersey ," he said. "Route running, route detail, blocking ... but I felt like it was a good camp overall. We got a lot of conditioning in, a lot of reps in, the passing game, the run game, whatever it is. Now we'll just focus on keep on going to the next level, keep on getting in better shape ... gotta keep grinding.

"It's good to be out there every day, get the work in, get the body adjusted."

Gronkowski feels good heading into the season with the Patriots favored to maintain their dominance in the AFC East and make another run to the Super Bowl.

"I just love playing the game," he said. "I feel good right now. I definitely feel like a hundred times better than I did last year during training camp.

"When you're feeling good you love playing the game and I feel good enough to where I thought I could come back, go throughout the whole season, go throughout camp and just keep playing the game and enjoying it.

"That's how it's been 鈥?when you're enjoying the game Deatrich Wise Jr Jersey , when you're feeling good, you just love playing the game. It's just something where when you're out on the field, your mind's just in another place because you're just focusing on what you gotta do."

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Travis Frederick will not go on injured reserve initially as he battles a condition that affects the nervous system, although the Dallas Cowboys still don’t have a timetable for the return of their four-time Pro Bowl center.

Coach Jason Garrett said Monday that Frederick hasn’t had any “drastic setbacks” while getting treated for Guillain-Barre syndrome. The disorder attacks nerves and causes weakness in various parts of the body.

Joe Looney is expected to start when the Cowboys open the season Sunday at Carolina.

The 27-year-old Frederick traveled with the team to the final preseason game in Houston and is attending meetings. He has started all 83 games, including three playoff games, over five seasons. A move to IR would force Frederick to miss at least eight games.

“It’s been positive since he started his treatments,” Garrett said. “And that’s given us cause to be optimistic. He’s working out on his own. He’s been able to handle the work so far. From my perspective, the information that I’ve gotten, there hasn’t been any drastic setbacks in any way.”

The Cowboys added depth on the interior line by claiming center Adam Redmond on waivers from Buffalo and acquiring Kansas City backup Parker Ehinger in a trade. Ehinger was a fourth-round pick two years ago.

Dallas doesn’t want to move four-time Pro Bowl right guard Zack Martin to center, but he is the emergency option. Martin injured a knee in the second preseason game against Cincinnati but says he will be ready to start against the Panthers.

Frederick hasn’t spoken to reporters since announcing his diagnosis almost two weeks ago.

“He reached out to me and said, ‘Coach, would you mind if I came to Houston? I’d like to be part of the visit to NASA and I’d like to be part of the team when we play on Thursday night Charles Clay Jersey ,'” Garrett said. “I said, ‘Would I mind? Are you kidding me? I’d absolutely love to have you be a part of it.’

“He’s been very proactive and he’s taken the initiative of being back and being part of our team and trying to be involved in everything that we do short of going out on the practice field.”

Frederick, Martin and left tackle Tyron Smith — all first-round picks and all Pro Bowlers each of the past four seasons — have anchored a line that the Cowboys hope can make them a run-first team with Ezekiel Elliott, the NFL rushing leader as a rookie in 2016.

La’el Collins is going into his second year as the starter at right tackle, and rookie second-round pick Connor Williams is at left guard.

NOTES: The Cowboys placed WR Noah Brown (hamstring) on IR and brought back WR Deonte Thompson in his place. Thompson was among the final cuts after signing as a free agent in the offseason, but Garrett said the Cowboys intended to bring him back. Thompson was slowed by an Achilles injury most of training camp. … Rookie RB Bo Scarbrough of Alabama, a seventh-round pick, was signed to the practice squad.

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