

Dear Santa,

I know were not close, my last name being Kaufman and all. My wifes a big fan, if that helps any.

Listen, if I could ask you for just one present this Christmas  and no need to worry about my kids; well cover you there  please dont let Bill Belichick play Rob Gronkowski on Sunday.

Were going to do the same thing that we always do, our media Grinch of a coach told Buffalo reporters in a conference call Tuesday. Were going to do whats best for the New England Patriots. Thats what we do every week. Thats what Ive always done. I cant imagine ever doing anything different.

If thats true, he has to know he cant risk Gronk getting hurt, right? I mean, this guys a hell of a coach and weve been calling him a genius for years, but putting Gronkowski on that field  or even at the CBS Scene  this weekend would be beyond dumb.

Im sorry; I mean to say it wouldnt be in the holly, jolly spirit.

Youre always watching everything, compiling your Naughty and Nice lists. I dont have to tell you how naughty Belichicks early rounds of the draft were or, at the time, how his decision to trade Logan Mankins felt. Clearly, the coach has stomped his way back onto the Nice pad after guiding the Pats to the top seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs, but now its all about the Super Bowl.

New England hasnt won a championship in a decade. A decade!

You know as well as I do, for that to happen, the Patriots need Gronkowski!

Ill admit it: I didnt think Id be able to write this. I was worried the hulking tight end wouldnt be healthy come January. Entering this season, riding an unenviable string of back, forearm, and knee injuries requiring at least eight surgeries in recent years and only 18 games played over his last 32, I wondered if hed ever reach All-World status again.

But, youve seen it  hes back! One hundred percent; maybe better. Gronk has smashed and dashed his way to 82 catches (eight shy of a career-high), 1,124 yards (202 yards off a personal-best), and a dozen touchdowns (his high is 17). He hasnt missed a game. Hes a Pro Bowler for the third time  where, if he goes, hell inevitably funnel beers like he did in the Entourage trailer.

If he wants to, or Belichick decides so, Gronkowski will appear in his 16th regular season game of the year this weekend; a feat he hasnt achieved since 2010 and 2011.

I get it. Im sure he cares about the Ironman status after being limited the last two years, but theres literally nothing else on the line for him. I bet hed prefer that first Lombardi Trophy. After all, he said he just wants Ws for the holiday!

Work with me here, Saint Nick.

The Patriots have the highest-scoring offense in football at 30.6 points a game. Even if they lose this weekend, their immediate playoff future is set. First round bye; home for round two. Throw a candy cane in Peytons stocking as a Thank You from me, would ya?

The Bills have nothing to play for, other than to irritate and avoid a .500 finish. Their postseason dreams wont be realized yet again and youd have to go back to 2003 to total two times theyve beaten the Pats.

What am I saying; you know Gronk doesnt need to play this weekend for Belichicks bunch to win. Back to the point

Gronkowski said this week, Im preparing to my max and expecting to play the whole game.

Thats exactly what I dont want to hear. I know hes not gonna say, Im preparing for a restful weekend on my couch watching Sponge Bob, and maybe Ill text Tom to see how we did, but itd be great if he felt that way.

Heck, let him rock around the Christmas tree or hang out under the mistletoe. Theres less of a chance of him catching something that could harm him there.

Santa, sorry to be crass, but Im just tired of the not knowing  not knowing what might have happened the last few years, when the Pats were sent home by the Broncos, Ravens, and Giants, had they had a healthy Gronk on the field. The fact is they can't win without him.

I love Tom Brady and Darrelle Revis, like anyone else. Those two shouldnt play this weekend either, at least not more than a series or two. Theres no way Julian Edelman will be out there when he could give that concussion recovery an extra couple weeks.

But Gronkowski cant play at all. Hes this teams MVP. Hes the man who makes the offense go; the kind of nightmare Tim Burton couldnt have dreamed up. Hes the one whos gonna help bowl over the completion on the way to Glendale.

Hey, he went to college two hours away. Its fate!

I know this sounds desperate, paranoid. I know Ive been on this crusade going on two years. Sometimes, though, I still see Gronk as the guy who only had reconstructive knee surgery 11 months ago. I worry hes fragile and that one dumb hit Sunday will make the Pats look like they did last January all over again. Its crazy, but Im definitely not the only one. How many of these letters have you received, anyway?

Maybe I shouldnt get too excited. Wednesdays injury report had 16 names, and big Robs wasnt one of them. Not even limited? Cant we just make something up?

When the Buffalo Bills come caroling to town, I really hope you-know-who doesnt.

Thanks, Santa. I appreciate your help.

Merry Christmas. Gotta go hide the Elf from my boys

Adam

Follow me on Twitter at @AdamMKaufman and email me here.