Rob Gronkowski Injury: Patriots TE Denies Needing Surgery on Bothersome Ankle

New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski says his ankle is fine and will not need surgery. Not that we can believe him. He was lying through his teeth about his ankle all night.

Gronk made the declaration following New England's 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in the 2012 Super Bowl. Peter Abraham of Boston.com reported Gronk's denial.

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Gronkowski said he would continue to get treatment on his ankle but denied he needed surgery. 

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Take that comment for what it is worth, which is nothing at all. This is the same Gronkowski that Abraham relayed as saying:

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He patiently repeated that he was “100 percent’’ and “good to go’’ several times when asked whether the injury limited him.

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And if you believe that, then I have dehydrated water I'd like to sell you. 

Gronkowski admirably refused to use his ankle as an excuse following the game. He would have had every right to because it wasn't an excuse—it was a reality. 

He was clearly slowed by the high ankle sprain he received in the Patriots' AFC Championship game. He finished with just two catches for 26 yards and was thrown to just three times. 

He was not running, cutting or jumping like the player that dominated this past NFL season. 

Of course, he may be correct about the fact he won't need surgery just by coincidence. High ankle sprains are a slow healing injury, but they rarely require surgery.