Mike Lombardi has twice worked for Bill Belichick, first in Cleveland and most recently from 2014-16 with the Patriots and has gained a reputation as somewhat of a sycophant for the Hoodie.
Still, he can be critical at times. Case in point, the 2016 Jamie Collins trade and earlier this season when he was down on Rob Gronkowski.
This week, Lombardi threw in criticism of Josh Gordon and this "not a good Patriots team" in general in his GM Street podcast from The Ringer.
ESPN's Adam Schefter was also on the Gronk-just-isn't-the-same train on WEEI's "Mut and Callahan" on Friday morning.
“I think everyone who has watched would agree that he just doesn’t look the same," Schefter said. "He’s lacked explosiveness, he looks like he’s lumbering out there. He’s always looked like he’s lumbering, but he looks like he’s lumbering and just piling over people. You don’t see that as much this year. I think they are hoping that this time off will help invigorate him and that he will bounce back from the bye week and be ready for the stretch run and be like the Gronk of old."
Plenty of post-bye week bulletin-board fodder for the Patriots locker room.
New England Patriots
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