FOXBOROUGH, MASS. — New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski will have to wear a protective cone dog collar in the wake of his back surgery to repair a herniated disk due to concerns from doctors and team officials that the exuberant tight end might gnaw or lick at his incision wound, preventing it from healing quickly.
Gronk was put in the collar this morning while still groggy from surgery. He tried to wrestle with the bonnet when coming to, but nurses quickly tranquilized him.
John LaCadia, the Patriots team veterinarian, says the biggest concern going forward with Gronk — outside of his back healing — is that he will try to fill his cone with food and smother himself or choke to death.