Rob Gronkowski Calls Out Patriots for 'Ridiculous' Celebration vs. Bills

Rob Gronkowski was a crucial player as part of the New England Patriots' most iconic run in team history, as he and Tom Brady teamed up to claim three of the Patriots' six Super Bowl victories during the Brady era (and the duo claimed a fourth when they migrated south together to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

To that end, Gronkowski and the Patriots had a lot of high-level reasons to celebrate during the tight end's illustrious career. So perhaps it should come as little surprise that Gronkowski disapproved of the team's celebration after they beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. After all, the victory lifted the Patriots to just 2-5 overall and still left them languishing in last place in the AFC East.

In a conversation with Patrick Chung on FanDuel TV's Up & Adams, Gronkowski expressed his dismay at seeing the Patriots dance their way through the end zone in the final minute of Sunday's game.

"If you ask me, that celebration was pretty ridiculous, Chung," Gronkowski said. "Whenever we celebrated just a little bit, we would get hounded. They just won one game, and they celebrated more than we would when we won a Super Bowl.

"That was one of the most absurd celebrations. I'm like, 'Wow, they won a game. They went that crazy.' They are acting like they never been there, Chung. So what do you think? They were griddling, or Griddying, all over the place to an absurd level."

For his part, Chung was diplomatic.

"Times are different, Gronk. You know that," Chung said. "[They are] younger kids. And at the same time, bro, it's a division win, very much needed, so that's a big booster for the team. So whatever they've got to do, celebrate all you want to, just win some more games. We'll be good."

Still, Chung acknowledged Gronkowski's point about being hounded for celebrations, especially by Patriots' coach Bill Belichick.

"I used to try to pump the crowd up when I was younger, and Bill would say, 'Stop worrying about pumping the crowd up and cover the tight end,'" Chung said, chuckling. "I'd be like, 'Oh damn, all right, coach, my bad. My bad.' But, different time. Let the kids have fun. If it's going to boost their morale or get them going in the right direction, then I'm all for it."

Sunday was a dramatic win for a young Patriots team. Jones' starting spot has been in question at times during a difficult season, but he led the team on an eight-play, 75-yard final drive capped by a 1-yard pass to Mike Gesicki that gave the Patriots a 29-25 lead with 12 seconds remaining.

Another of Brady's former teammates, Matthew Slater, still plays for the Patriots. The 38-year-old said the team was excited for Jones.

"I think our entire football team is happy for Mac, to see him go out and perform the way he did," Slater told reporters. "Certainly, it's been a trying year for him, just like it's been for all of us. But it says a lot about who he is as a young man to be able to go out and put all that behind him and perform the way he did. When he plays well, it gives our whole football team a boost."