New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski emerged from hiding Thursday just in time to answer questions about his team's latest off-the-field problems.
Gronk's former tight end tag-team partner, Aaron Hernandez, is in jail after being charged with murder, and Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was arrested and cited for driving under the influence Thursday in Lincoln, Neb.
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Gronkowski, who did not have a cast on his surgically repaired arm, said he was in "great spirits" while promoting his book "Growing up Gronk," but he had less to say when NFL.com's Albert Breer asked him about the NFL's crime problems.
"Ask Roger Goodell," Gronkowski said.
As for Dennard and Hernandez, Gronkowski said, "I don't have any comment on that."
Look for the Patriots' organization to take a similar approach when training camp starts. And look for Gronk to have finished the first chapter of his book by then.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.