This was supposed to be a week of rest and relaxation for the New England Patriots.
Instead, it's become a time of hand-wringing and internal concern. Rob Gronkowski's surgery went well, but his timetable for recovery remains murky. And then there's Aaron Hernandez, who's connected to, well, a lot of bad stuff.
Debate: Pats due for a setback?
With Rob Gronkowski still not healthy, our analysts debate whether the Patriots are bound to take a step backward in 2013. **More ...**
The Patriots are unlikely to garner much sympathy for their plight, of course. Case in point: New York Jets center Nick Mangold, who told Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post he was amused by the hardships that have fallen upon Patriot Way.
"I bet Bill (Belichick) is losing his mind right now," Mangold said.
A tad premature for some salt-in-the-wound dialogue from a divisional rival? Perhaps. But we don't imagine Mangold would lose that wager in Vegas.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
