Had ESPN not spiked its "YOU GOT JACK'D UP!" segment by now -- where have you gone, Tom Jackson? -- there surely would've been a 30-minute special dedicated solely to the hit Seahawks safety Earl Thomas laid on Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on Sunday night.
In case you missed it:
After the game, Gronk acknowledged it was one of the hardest hits he'd ever taken in his career. A day later, it was revealed that Gronkowski had suffered a perforated lung during the game. The legend grew.
The play added another level to the fascinating dynamic between the Pats and Seahawks, but don't expect it to leave any bad blood, as evidenced by a Tuesday night Twitter exchange between the two men.
Nothing but respect for Gronk. One of the best I've lined up against. Hoping to see him back on the field sooner than later.
— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) November 15, 2016
The respect is mutual man, you got the best of me on that one. The grind is real, you showed the fans a real football hit. https://t.co/p57PLVQZ3C
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) November 16, 2016
If Gronk and Earl Thomas can move past their shared trauma, so, too, can America. If I can change ... and you can change ... everybody can change!