New England

Bills' Tre'Davious White Calls Rob Gronkowski a ‘Dirty Player,' Says 1-Game Suspension is ‘a Joke'

Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Tre'Davious White shook nervously in anger at his locker Thursday while accusing Patriots Rob Gronkowski of being a dirty player for blindsiding him in the back of the head.

As for the NFL issuing Gronkowski a one-game suspension for the hit last Sunday, White turned away from the television cameras and muttered: "It's a joke, dog." White then turned back toward the cameras and said he didn't know what to say before noting that Gronkowski could have broken his neck.

White made his first comments since being hit by Gronkowski with 4:50 left in Buffalo's 23-3 loss to the Patriots. White lay near the New England sideline after intercepting a Tom Brady pass. Gronkowski led with his forearm and struck White in the back of the helmet. Gronkowski was penalized for unnecessary roughness following the play, and then issued a one-game suspension by the NFL a day later.

White was dazed and immediately evaluated for a concussion. He was cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol on Thursday, putting him in a position to play Sunday when Buffalo (6-6) hosts Indianapolis (3-9).

Gronkowski apologized after Sunday's game, saying "I'm not in the business of that. There was a lot of frustration. I just want to apologize to Tre'Davious White. I don't believe in taking shots like that."

The Patriots (10-2) will be without Gronkowski when they face the Dolphins (5-7) on Monday. The league denied the appeal of his 1-game suspension earlier this week. The Patriots and Bills are scheduled to play each other again in Foxboro on Christmas Eve.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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