Bill Belichick reacts to Rob Gronkowski’s Patriots honor

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — After his North Carolina team finished off its win at UConn in his first game back in New England, former Patriots coach Bill Belichick responded to events happening in Foxborough.

About 100 miles away at Gillette Stadium, Rob Gronkowski was being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.

"He played a tremendous role in who I am as a player. I really loved the way he challenged me," Gronkowski said. "He's the best football coach I've ever seen in my life, that I've ever been a part of as well. ... I thank him for that and I wouldn't be here without him."

Belichick, who won six Super Bowls in New England, has often steered clear of any Patriots-related discussion after being fired by the team.

But he made an exception for Gronkowski. Belichick smiled when told what Gronkowski said. He revealed that he'd reached out to his former star to congratulate him.

"That's nice of Rob to say that," he said during his postgame press conference. "I talked to Rob and congratulated him on his selection into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Well deserved. He was the best tight end in football during his time and one of the best of all time. I'm proud of Rob and what he's accomplished.

"He came a long, long way from barely playing in college at Arizona," Belichick continued, "to where he ended up, which was an incredible credit to him, his work ethic, his toughness and his dependability. It's a hard position to play, but he excelled at it. We wouldn't have won as many games as we did without him, I can tell you that. He's a big part of it. I love Rob."

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