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The New England Patriots and Rob Gronkowskis family released a joint statement Thursday night confirming that the star tight end will undergo back surgery Friday, while saying, We do not expect that he will be able to play for the remainder of the 2016 season, but will await the results of tomorrows surgery before making a final determination.The statement further clarified Gronkowskis injury status, which initially was traced to the big hit he absorbed from Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas on Nov. 13.Rob sustained a hit to the chest that resulted in a pulmonary contusion to his lung. Rob was examined by several specialists at Massachusetts General Hospital as directed by the team, as well as an independent physician, the sides said in the statement.He received medical clearance to return to play two weeks later for the New York Jets game on November 27. After a hit early in the Jets game, Rob began to experience significant back and leg pain. This injury forced him to leave the game, and he did not return.This marks the second straight season that the team and Gronkowskis family have released a joint statement on his injury status. The club has seldom, if ever, done so with other players.The statement also said, With the help of the Patriots medical staff, along with the consultation of several medical experts, it has been determined that it is in Robs best long-term interest to undergo surgery to address his lower back injury.Rob has always been one of our hardest workers and was voted captain for the leadership he provides on our team. We are deeply saddened any time a player is lost to injury. We are committed to assisting Rob throughout his recovery and look forward to his return to playing football for the New England Patriots.Earlier Thursday, a source told ESPNs Adam Schefter that Gronkowski has been diagnosed with a herniated disk. The need for surgery was first reported by The Buffalo News.This will be Gronkowskis third back surgery. He has had two previous surgeries to repair herniated disks in his back -- in 2009, when he was at the University of Arizona and missed the entire season, and in 2013, his fourth season with the Patriots, when he underwent surgery in June and didnt return until Week 7.This season, Gronkowski returned to action Sunday after missing the teams game against the Niners the week before because of a chest injury.Obviously were all disappointed, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Friday. Nobody has worked harder than Rob and been a better teammate. So hopefully things will work out positively as possible with him. All the information we gave you is really all we have for now. Im sure there will be more coming in as we go through the next few days. So well just take it as it comes. Its an unfortunate situation for him.Gronkowski played seven snaps in the 22-17 win over the Jets, leaving the game late in the first quarter as he walked off under his own power while accompanied by members of the teams medical staff. The team later announced he had sustained a back injury during the game and would not return.It was unclear on what play Gronkowski was hurt. It could have happened on a third-and-7 with 9:04 remaining in the first quarter; Gronkowski was the intended receiver on a deep pass down the middle of the field as he dived for the ball. But Gronkowski played one more series after that play, and he was the intended receiver on an incomplete pass down the right sideline on a third-and-4 before walking off.The Patriots are nearly two-touchdown favorites for Sundays home game against the Los Angeles Rams.It doesnt help losing great players, and to not have Gronk out there -- one of our best players and one of our most dependable, consistent players -- makes things challenging for us, quarterback Tom Brady told Westwood One Radio on Thursday night. But thats what the NFL season is about. Its about overcoming challenges, adversities.Brady, who is listed as having a knee injury, returned to the field Thursday after missing practice the previous day. He told Westwood One, Im feeling so much better today. Im excited about this weekend, going out there and playing against a great Rams defense ... Ill be feeling a lot better than I was feeling last week.The Patriots used their injured reserve/return designation on quarterback Jacoby Brissett on Wednesday, so the team wouldnt be able to place Gronkowski on injured reserve and activate him if it makes a deep playoff run. Each team is allowed to designate only one player to return.Gale Sayers Jersey . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. Ian Bunting Jersey . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. http://www.cheapbearsjerseyschina.com/jameer-thurman-jersey/ . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Emanuel Hall Jersey . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Danny Trevathan Jersey . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida States offensive line was thought to be strength at the beginning of the season, especially with a mobile dual-threat quarterback. Instead it has been a disappointment.The 12th-ranked Seminoles (5-2, 2-2 ACC) go into Saturdays game against No. 3 Clemson with one of the worst pass protection units in the Football Bowl Subdivision. They have allowed 21 sacks, which is 106th out of 128 teams. It is also tied for third-worst among Power 5 schools.Things wont get any easier against the Tigers (7-0, 4-0). With 25 sacks, Clemson is tied for third among Power 5 teams and tied for fourth nationally.You have to get in front of them and block them. Its that simple. Put a hat on a hat and get an attitude, coach Jimbo Fisher said.Fisher and some of the linemen have pointed to technique as the root of the problems, but it is a variety of things.I think it is communication sometimes. Some plays we just have mental lapses or missed a call or assignment, tight end Ryan Izzo said. I think it is really frustrating. Sometimes you get in a groove and have a mental lapse that stalls the drive.Not all of the pass protection problems can be blamed on the offensive line. Quarterback Deondre Francois is a freshman and has had periods where he has held on to the ball too long, especially on deep routes. However Pro Football Focus, which grades offensive lines, has Francois being pressured on nearly one-third of the times he drops back to pass.Francois has taken his share of hard hits this season, including two in the Oct. 8 win at Miami where he was out for a series. Fisher has lauded Francois toughness, but everyone knows there are limits.It doesnt matter if hes hit one time or 40 times, hes frustrated. I would be frustrated too if my offensive line didnt protect me, and I got hit multiple times during a game, left tackle Rod Johnson said. He doesnt show his frustration though. I ttip my hat off to him, but were going to keep those sacks to a complete minimum.ddddddddddddFrancois hasnt shown his frustration, but Fisher has on occasion. During an episode of Showtimes A Season Inside series, Fisher got in each offensive linemans face during halftime of the Oct. 15 game against Wake Forest and challenged them.A major focus of practice the past two weeks has been on trying to fix the mistakes.Its halfway through the season. Weve made mistakes, left guard Kareem Are said. Sometimes it has been a little bit sloppy, but now we have to take that to the next level.Despite having two defensive lineman drafted in the first two rounds, Clemson has one of the nations toughest defenses again. Of the Tigers 25 sacks, all but 5.5 are by the defensive line.Clemsons a really good defensive line, Are said. Theyre big guys. We just have to make sure we play physical and hold the point.Clemson will be focused on getting pressure on Francois, but some of the players think another key will be trying to contain running back Dalvin Cook.Florida States run blocking has improved since the beginning of the season as Cook has rushed for over 100 yards in four straight games. But a lot of his big runs have come on stretch plays as yards inside the hashmarks have been difficult.The Tigers enter the game allowing only 3.3 yards per rushing play, which is 20th in the nation.They are most similar to NC State last week, just the stretch plays they run, linebacker Kendall Joseph said. They have an exceptional talent in Cook and do a good job getting the ball in his hands.---AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli contributed to this report from Clemson, South Carolina.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.orgFollow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy.Cheap Jerseys [url=http://otball.ap.orgFollow Joe Reedy on Twitter Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '