FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Fake Saints Jerseys . -- Rob Gronkowski looked "almost Gronk-esque" on Sunday as he practiced in full pads for the first time since having back surgery. The star tight end for the New England Patriots participated in drills with his teammates during the 15 minutes reporters were allowed to observe the start of practice. Gronkowski isnt expected to play in the first few games but wasnt placed on the physically unable to perform list, a move that would have required him to miss at least the first six games of the season. "He looked good," tight end Michael Hoomanawanui. "He looked almost Gronk-esque." In his three NFL seasons, Gronkowski has been chosen for two Super Bowls and caught 187 passes for 38 touchdowns despite missing the last five regular-season games last year. Hes had four operations this year, three on his broken left forearm and one on his back on June 18. He had another forearm surgery last year after breaking it on Nov. 18 while blocking on an extra point against the Indianapolis Colts. Gronkowski walked into the locker room with a smile Sunday and told reporters he would speak with them later in the week. The other two tight ends were glad to see him working out in pads. During training camp, he frequently watched practice from the sideline while dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. "It was very cool to see him out there" on Sunday, said tight end Zach Sudfeld, who made the team as a rookie free agent from Nevada. "This is the first time Ive been able to practice and have him be out there, so it was a great experience." The cheerful Gronkowski has attended team and positional meetings and watched film, so he hasnt been a stranger to his teammates. Practicing with him, though, provided "a little sense of normality," Hoomanawanui said, "Its definitely great to have him out there back with the team even though we see him each and every day in every meeting. Were used to that, but just to have him out there -- Gronk being Gronk -- kind of lifts everyones spirits, helps the team out." Last years other star tight end, Aaron Hernandez, is being held without bail on a murder charge. The Patriots released veteran tight ends Jake Ballard and Daniel Fells on Saturday. That left just Gronkowski, Hoomanawanui and Sudfeld as tight end on the roster. Sudfeld was expected to make the team after a strong preseason but was thrilled to get the official word on Saturday. "I was very excited, obviously," he said. "Its kind of a childhood dream come true to make the team in the NFL. But, at this point, Im trying to look forward because theres a lot of work that has to be done. ... Now the real work begins." At 6-feet-7 and 260 pounds, Sudfeld is about the same size as Gronkowski. "Hes been teaching me a lot," Sudfeld said. "Just for him to be able to show me the ropes a little bit has been really good." Hoomanawanui is three inches shorter than Sudfeld and has greater versatility, sometimes lining up in the backfield. He played 14 games for the Patriots last year after being released by the St. Louis Rams on the final mandatory cut. He has 25 catches in 30 NFL games. He took a pay cut this year to stay with the Patriots. "Its tough going from team to team. Ive done that once before, last year, and the learning curve is tough," he said. "Usually, the guys that pick up on it are the guys thatll stick around. ... Being able to come back here in the off-season, in the spring, in training camp, definitely helped my cause." So did his ability to fill different roles. "Since I got here that has always been my (goal), to do whatever it is that (coach Bill Belichick) needs me to do to help them win," he said. "I think coaches have noticed that and Ive taken it to heart and really worked on that. So thats why Im still here." Hes here practicing, again, with Gronkowski. "Hes the same each and every day," Hoomanawanui said. "Theres really no highs and lows with him, no matter the situation, and I think thats maybe the greatest characteristic of all. Hes obviously a great football player, but things he brings to the meetings and the team each and every day are pretty special, too." Wholesale Saints Jerseys . Tepesch, back from the minor leagues, earned his first major league victory in more than 10 months and the Rangers edged the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Wednesday. Stitched Saints Jerseys . -- Canadian Erik Bedard pitched into the fifth inning in his bid to win a spot in Tampa Bays rotation, helping the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Saturday. https://www.saintsjerseyssale.com/ . At 11:06 of the first period, Neal struck Marchand with his knee when Marchand was down on the ice. Marchand remained in the game. Neal was assessed a kneeing penalty for his hit on Marchand.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Vivek Ranadive is widely credited with being one of the principal reasons the Kings still reign in Sacramento. His ownership exhilarated a new fanbase and he helped expel the increasingly aloof Maloof brothers from the hierarchy of the Kings. Ranadives methods have been strange to say the least. Publicly, the Kings owner has tinkered with the idea of having his team play 4-on-5 on the defensive end with an offensive cherry-picker hanging back. The Kings D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, average a staggering 138.5 ppg. Sure, they allow 136.3 ppg, but theyre 6-5. The latest strangeness around Ranadive and the Kings was the abrupt dismissal of head coach Mike Malone earlier in the week. The Kings are 11-14, but 2-9 since DeMarcus Cousins left the lineup. The first record is very respectable in the brutal Western Conference and the second record is expected when the best player is unavailable. Ranadive hired Malone before he hired his GM, Pete DAlessandro, a move Ranadive acknowledged was out of order. I know it was unconventional to get the coach before we got the GM, Ranadive conceded in an interview with Sacramentos News10. I consulted some of the experts in the game. They said Malone was the right guy and we should get him as soon as we could ... Malone was exactly what the doctor ordered. How could Malone be exactly what the doctor ordered, then be unemployed just a season and 24 games later? Everything was literally and figuratively falling apart, Ranadive explained to News10. There was chaos, even anarchy in the locker room. The draft was weeks away. We needed to get a coach in place who would restore order. Malone must have done that. In all my years watching the NBA, let alone covering it, I never witnessed a coach publicly call out his team to the media like Malone did. He wouldnt throw guys under the bus, hed do that, back them over with the bus, then repeat. But, as Yahoo Sports Adrian Wojnarowski reported, Malone softened a bit. Wojnarowski reported that Malone traveled to visit Cousins and Rudy Gay while they were on Team USA for the FIBA World Cup this summer. Wojnarowski even went as far as to say Malone was a big reason for Gay extending his contract in Sacramento and that Malone was getting through to Cousins, who could, at times, be a little difficult. So why then, fire the teams coach, a coach who was hired without approval of either DAllesandro, or Ranadives closest advisor, Chris Mullin, this early while the team is progressing and while the teams best player has VIRAL MENINGITIS? The Western Conference is arguably the most competitive that it has ever been, Ranadive explained. Its a little like the hi-tech business. Just because you invent the iphone, doesnt mean you can rest on your laurels. Just because you win 50 games, you cant be satisfied with the status quo. We live in a time when good enough, isnt. We need to take this to the next level. We needed to pivot so that we move from a great defensive orientation to having both defense and offense. Move from an isolation offense to a more free-flowing offense. Move from a rules-based culture which was important when there was chaos, to more of a value-based culture so you can have more of a read-and-respond offense. Wow, thats interestting, equating a value-based culture to a fluid NBA offense. New Orleans Saints Shirts. Its certainly not owner speak. Thats a detailed, thought-out offering from someone who takes his job very seriously. Ranadive also said that the DAlessandro/Mullin combination made the final call, but Ranadives explanation was candid and very much forward-thinking. Clearly, offense is a big part of the problem Ranadive had with Malone. Owners meddling in sports matters is older than fire. Does Ranadive understand what he has in Cousins? A dominant, two-way big man who can shoot and pass, all while 24 years of age is a unique commodity. Does he want to flush Cousins impact in the future for the love of offense? Maybe he does, but Ranadive is a man who wont settle for anything but the best. Mark Cuban is a Maverick in team name and in personality. He did things oddly it seemed, and hes always had a hand in things. Now, Cuban is an elite, shrewd owner who has a championship ring and one of the most consistently strong teams every season. Cuban also backed off and let the basketball people run things when needs be. Wojnarowski said Ranadive really wanted Detroits Josh Smith and told other owners Malone didnt, yet still pursued him. Thats too meddlesome and hell need to curb that kind of behavior. But Ranadive isnt willing to settle. Doesnt that pinpoint exactly what a fanbase should look for in an owner? Progress is fine, but when that progression plateaus, hell find the next guy for the next level. Ranadive used Malone to balance his roster out mentally, then chucked him. Its like when Bane snapped that dudes neck who provided money and infrastructure, although the comparison is not exactly flawless. Ranadives methods are goofy, but his mind is where it should be. There will still be issues to flesh out for Ranadive going forward. Will any worthwhile coach want to work for an owner who fires coaches when the best player is away? Will any worthwhile coach want to work for an owner who fires coaches a little over 100 games into his tenure? Will any worthwhile coach want to work for an owner who wants to employ a 4-on-5 strategy? Ty Corbin is not the answer. He didnt do anything of note with the Utah Jazz and he wont in Sacramento. George Karls name was pumped up early based on the fact he has a working relationship with DAlessandro, but thats already appeared to fizzle. Sam Amick of USA Today reported that Mullin, DAlessandro and Cousins met with Mark Jackson after he called the game for ESPN Tuesday night. That would be fun - taking the most recent genius who butted heads with ownership and pair him with a guy who wants his coach to use lessons from his days coaching his daughters youth team. If this episode proved anything else, its that Ranadive isnt in this to just be owner and deposit checks. He wants to win and his desire to do so borders on impatience. Whoever the long-term solution is in Sacramento, be it Jackson, Karl or Mullin, better be on guard. Ranadive is doing things his way based on his background in the business and technology world. Its his right. He may have some trouble getting coaches to trust him for now, but his honesty and approach is refreshing. Improvement is the only acceptable outcome. Did he have a cherry-picker in software development? ' ' '