If the New England Patriots are concerned about the colorful slate of off-field hobbies enjoyed by tight end Rob Gronkowski, they aren't saying anything publicly.
NFL Network's Willie McGinest, the former Patriots pass rusher, suggested this week that Gronkowski's antics -- mostly confined to bone-headed soliloquies and harmless spurts of public dancing (sometimes under the influence of alcohol) -- place the team in a bad light. But New England's veteran left guard, Logan Mankins, doesn't see much danger in Gronk spreading his wings.
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"As long as he's not getting DUIs and doing things that are against the law ... I don't think he's hurting anyone," Mankins told ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss on Tuesday.
Gronk sent Patriots fans into a cold sweat after he landed awkwardly on his broken arm earlier this month during a post-Super Bowl shirtless dance routine that's become a ritual for the 23-year-old behemoth. Gronkowski was uninjured in the fall, and -- bottom line -- his health is what the Patriots are most concerned about.
"Hopefully he doesn't hurt his arm. Then that would be bad," Mankins said. "Gronk is a big meathead that likes to party and play football."
Gronk isn't the first of his kind on that front, and the Patriots likely will put up with his frenzied lifestyle as long as he remains a whirlwind on the field.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
