News & Neuigkeiten » Alan Branch is facing a four-game susp

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots went back to practice without Rob Gronkowski on Friday as the 2015 All-Pro tight end prepared for season-ending back surgery.It didnt look much different than a lot of their workouts this season.Weve had some experience I think this year being without him, quarterback Tom Brady said a day after the team announced that Gronkowski is expected to miss the rest of the season recovering from a herniated disk in his back. Its not something that you want to deal with. But at some point in the year, based on how long the season is, youre always going to deal with something.One of the dominant tight ends in NFL history, Gronkowskis biggest struggle is often to stay on the field. He has had ankle and knee surgery once, three operations on his forearm, and two previous back operations. He was the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year, a year after he played in just seven games because of injuries to his back, forearm and knee.The 2010 second-round draft pick has already missed three weeks this season and had a limited role in three others -- the fifth year in a row that he hasnt been able to play in every game.Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Friday he is disappointed for Gronkowski, praising his work and his contributions to the team. Brady made it clear that he still has plenty of targets for this weekends game against the Los Angeles Rams, even without the three-time All-Pro.Weve still got a lot of good players, Brady said. Well keep battling without him. Weve got a lot of tough guys in the locker room still, and well see what we can make of this season. We were off to a good start and weve got to keep it going.After spending the first half of the season on the injury report with a hamstring problem, Gronkowski was hurt again on Nov. 13. He took a shot in the chest from Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas that Gronkowski said was probably one of the hardest Ive got hit in my career. He missed the Nov. 20 game against San Francisco; when he returned last week against the New York Jets, he left late in the first quarter with a back injury.He did not practice this week.On Thursday, the team and Gronkowskis family issued a joint statement saying the hit in the Seattle game resulted in a pulmonary contusion to his lung, but doctors cleared him to return. Against the Jets, though, Rob began to experience significant back and leg pain.It has been determined that it is in Robs best long-term interest to undergo surgery to address his lower back injury, the statement said. We do not expect that he will be able to play for the remainder of the 2016 season, but will await the results of (Fridays) surgery before making a final determination.One Gronkowski returned to the Patriots when the team re-signed fullback Glenn, Robs brother, to the practice squad.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Tennessee Titans Jerseys China . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Cheap Seattle Seahawks Jerseys China . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. http://www.cheapfootballchina.com/ . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Cheap New York Giants Jerseys China . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Cheap Dallas Cowboys Jerseys China . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. New England Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy, league sources told ESPNs Adam Schefter.Branch tested positive for marijuana and will appeal the four-game suspension.The suspension will not start until after the appeal is heard, so Branch is expected to play Sunday against the New York Jets.He has started nine of the Patriots 10 games this season and has one sack and 33 tackles. Last season he appeared in 16 games, starting 15, and finiished with one sack and 35 tackles.dddddddddddd.Branch, 31, was suspended by the Patriots for a few days in August for violating team rules.Branch joined the Patriots in the middle of the 2014 season. He had been released by the Bills in August 2014, when he was entering the second season of a three-year, $8.5 million deal ($3.1 million signing bonus) but made headlines with a DUI arrest. ' ' '