Rob Gronkowski called the hit from Seahawks safety Earl Thomas that put him in concussion protocol in the second quarter of Sunday night's game one of the hardest he's ever experienced.
Rob Gronkowski had the party knocked out of him by Earl Thomas. 5'10 EARL THOMAS. 😂 #SEAvsNE #LOB pic.twitter.com/93R7u9Tn2e
— (@3lone) November 14, 2016
The Patriots tight end was examined by team trainers and missed four snaps before returning to the field.
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“Yeah, that was a big hit for sure; probably one of the hardest I’ve got hit in my career for sure,” Gronkowski told reporters after the game. “[It was] by a good player; a good fast player who’s like a missile. It was a good, clean hit; nothing against it.
"I just took it and it just knocked the wind out of me a little bit, that’s all. If you’ve ever gotten the wind knocked out of you, you know what that feels like. Just down for about a minute or two, it’s a little tough to breathe, but once it comes back, you’re good.”
Gronkowski didn't complain to officials after the hit like he did near the end of the game when a fourth-and-goal pass to him fell incomplete to seal the Seahawks' victory. Gronkowski and Seattle safety Kam Chancellor collided on the play but no penalties were called.