

Sergio Brown wouldn’t mind returning the favor.

Rob Gronkowski delivered a vicious block on Brown the last time the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts hooked up in Week 11, after which Gronkowski said he threw Brown “out of the club” for trash-talking too much. Brown downplayed the significance of any lingering bad blood Wednesday, but the Colts safety still plans to bring the intensity in this Sunday’s AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium.

“Of course,” Brown told CSNNE.com when asked if he’d like to throw the Patriots tight end “out of the club” this weekend.

Brown and Gronkowski know each other from their time together in New England. Brown appeared in 26 games with the Patriots during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Things came to a head in November after Gronkowski emphatically shoved Brown out of bounds on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jonas Gray. Brown later claimed on Twitter that Gronkowski “had the straps put on him,” though the three-time Pro Bowler did catch four passes for 71 yards and a touchdown in New England’s 42-20 win.

“I mean, it was a tough play. It was a hard play,” Brown said Wednesday of Gronkowski’s block, which sent the safety into an NBC camera truck. “I mean, I’m not mad about it. I was more mad about him saying he ‘threw me out of the club’ after the game. We just lost. You’re pissed off.

“It’s football. I know Gronk. He knows me, and, I mean, I play tough, too.”

Gronkowski, who was fined $8,268 for the play, also was asked about the incident Wednesday. He, too, downplayed the players’ rivalry, instead insisting that everyone must keep their emotions in check during what should be a hard-fought AFC Championship Game.

Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images