Rob Gronkowski went into the Patriots Hall of Fame on Saturday, Tom Brady calls Sunday's game for FOX, and A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson are out. Here are the week's top Patriots videos from WEEI and everything you need for Packers at Patriots.
Gronk's Hall of Fame Saturday
Rob Gronkowski is officially a Patriots Hall of Famer. The four-time Super Bowl champion was inducted Saturday afternoon on Patriot Place Plaza outside the Patriots Hall of Fame presented by RTX, becoming the 38th inductee in franchise history after fans voted him in last April. He is the fourth straight player with at least three Super Bowl titles in New England to enter the Hall, following Julian Edelman in 2025, Tom Brady in 2024 and Mike Vrabel in 2023. Gronkowski played nine seasons for the Patriots (2010-18) and finished with 521 catches for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns in the regular season, plus 81 catches for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns in the playoffs. His 80 total touchdowns are the most in Patriots history. Read more from the Patriots Hall of Fame and watch the ceremony replay. He will be recognized again at halftime Sunday.
Tom Brady was there for it. WEEI was on Patriot Place Plaza as the crowd erupted when Brady was introduced, and Gronkowski explained afterward how much it meant to have his longtime quarterback there supporting him.
▶ Rob Gronkowski explains how much it meant to have Tom Brady there supporting him during his Patriots Hall of Fame induction | WEEI (Instagram) · Watch on Facebook
▶ The crowd goes wild as Tom Brady is introduced at Rob Gronkowski's Patriots Hall of Fame induction | WEEI (Instagram) · Watch on Facebook
Brady, Mike Vrabel and Gronkowski caught up before the ceremony, Josh McDaniels was in attendance, and Brady and Gronk shared a laugh watching Julian Edelman's video message. Rob Ninkovich made his case for Gronkowski as the greatest tight end of all time.
▶ Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski share a laugh while watching Julian Edelman's video message | WEEI (Instagram) · Watch on Facebook
▶ Rob Ninkovich explains why Rob Gronkowski is the greatest tight end of all time | WEEI (Instagram) · Watch on Facebook
More from the plaza on WEEI: Gronk officially becomes the 38th inductee, embracing fellow Patriots Hall of Famers, Matt Light's Yo Soy Hall of Famer moment, a special shoutout for wing man Jermaine Wiggins, Never change, Gronk and Gronk feeling the love from Patriots fans. The full list of WEEI induction clips, with Facebook links, is below.
Ken Laird and Chris Curtis spent Saturday on WEEI celebrating Gronk, comparing his peak with Pedro Martínez's brilliance and hearing a caller's Make-A-Wish story about the Patriots legend. Listen: Gronk's Pedro-like dominance and a caller's unforgettable Make-A-Wish story. They also stacked 28-3 against the 2004 Red Sox and debated how Brady should take part in the championship reunion: 28-3 or the Red Sox down 3-0: Which comeback was more improbable?
Brady in the booth Sunday
Twenty-four hours later, Brady is back at Gillette Stadium, this time calling Packers at Patriots for FOX with Kevin Burkhardt on play-by-play and Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi on the sideline, as Packers.com confirmed in its Week 9 preview. Maye's note that he owned a Gronk jersey growing up gave the weekend an extra local hook. It will be Brady's first time calling a game at Gillette Stadium in his broadcasting career. Jones & Keefe also asked how critical he will be of Maye.
▶ Tom Brady will call a game at Gillette Stadium for the first time in his broadcasting career | WEEI (Instagram) · Watch on Facebook
Late Saturday, Ken and Curtis split on their Patriots-Packers picks, with Brady's return to the booth part of the conversation: Will a lack of weapons cost the Patriots against the Packers?
Who's out for Packers at Patriots
The Patriots will host the Packers without A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson. New England ruled both out on the final Friday injury report, Brown with an ankle/knee issue and Henderson with an illness after each missed all three practices, as detailed in Patriots.com's injury report analysis. Hunter Henry (foot) is questionable after a limited Friday. Mack Hollins (calf) and Greg Van Roten (hamstring) were also listed as questionable while in their injured-reserve return windows. On Saturday, the Patriots activated Hollins from injured reserve to the 53-man roster, filling their open spot, and he is expected to play Sunday after carrying a questionable designation on Friday's report. Van Roten was not activated; his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, and the team has until Nov. 25 to activate him. New England made no practice-squad elevations, with Brown and Henderson the only two active-roster players ruled out. Henderson remains on the 53-man roster, which is now full. Tackle Marcus Bryant was activated from injured reserve earlier in the week, on Nov. 3. Read Evan Lazar's Patriots.com roster analysis.
It's the final chapter of a week that ends with Gronk in the Hall and Brady in the booth, after the Miami comeback, the A.J. Brown worry and trade-deadline buzz. Here are the week's top Patriots videos from the Greg Hill Show, Jones & Keefe and Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson, followed by a preview of Packers at Patriots, Sunday at 4:25 p.m. on FOX.
Maye, Miami and Patriots Monday
The Patriots trailed 13-3 at halftime in Miami, then scored 21 unanswered to win 24-19 on Nov. 1 and stay perfect against the AFC East. Drake Maye finished 16-of-20 for 199 yards and two touchdown passes, plus a rushing touchdown — his fifth straight game with three or more total touchdowns — as Justin Turpin laid out in 7 takeaways as Patriots stay perfect against the AFC East. Boomer Esiason joined the Greg Hill Show for Patriots Monday and summed up why Maye's level makes New England so hard to handle.
▶ "When Maye Plays Like This, They're Tough to Beat": Boomer Esiason on the Patriots | The Greg Hill Show (YouTube)
Maye also joined Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson and talked touchdown tributes, Randy Moss celebrations and facing Green Bay with Gronk's Hall induction weekend. He said he honored Hunter Henry with a jump-spike after his Miami rushing score, cited favorite celebrations from Moss and Antonio Brown, and noted he owned a Gronkowski jersey growing up — as Ottolini wrote in Drake Maye talks touchdown tributes, Randy Moss, and facing Green Bay with Gronk's Hall induction.
The A.J. Brown worry
Brown missed Miami after the knee flared on top of the ankle, and Mike Vrabel offered little beyond treatment updates when Justin Turpin tracked the story in Mike Vrabel mum on Patriots' handling of A.J. Brown's injury. ESPN's Adam Schefter joined Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson and walked through the knee issue behind the setback.
▶ Adam Schefter: The knee issue behind A.J. Brown's setback | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson (YouTube Short)
The Greg Hill Show went further on Friday, with the panel saying it doesn't believe Brown will be seen the rest of the season and debating whether the trade could land worse than the Antonio Brown deal.
▶ "I don't believe we will see him (A.J. Brown) the rest of the season" | The Greg Hill Show (YouTube)
Ted Johnson argued on Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson that Vrabel should take a step back from personnel moves after the Brown trade, as buyer's-remorse talk spilled across Jones & Keefe and the rest of the station. Hollins, activated from injured reserve Saturday, is the clearest near-term boost in the receiver room.
▶ Ted Johnson: Vrabel should take a step back from personnel moves | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson (X)
Trade deadline buzz
With the Nov. 10 deadline approaching, Ottolini argued after Miami that scraping by on a skeleton crew is unsustainable and that it's time for New England to buy, in Patriots' skeleton crew pulls off win over Dolphins, but it's time for New England to buy. Jones & Keefe hit the same buy-not-sell theme. Tom E. Curran told Jones & Keefe the Patriots would love to sell Christian Barmore.
The station also floated whether New England should chase Derrick Henry given Vrabel's history with him in Tennessee, and Adam Schefter joined Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson to talk who the Patriots could target before the deadline.
From Mego and Justin Turpin on WEEI.com
- Meghan Ottolini: Drake Maye can sling it with anyone, if only his receivers could stay on the field
- Meghan Ottolini: Drake Maye talks touchdown tributes, Randy Moss, and facing Green Bay with Gronk's Hall induction
- Meghan Ottolini: Inside Andy Borregales' inconsistent second season at kicker in New England
- Meghan Ottolini: Patriots' skeleton crew pulls off win over Dolphins, but it's time for New England to buy
- Justin Turpin: Mike Vrabel mum on Patriots' handling of A.J. Brown's injury
- Justin Turpin: 3 things to watch in Patriots vs. Packers
- Justin Turpin: 7 takeaways as Patriots stay perfect against the AFC East
Mego and Turpin also host 6 Rings. This week's episodes include Patriots vs. Packers Week 9 Preview with Tom Silverstein, Should Drake Maye be higher in the MVP race? What Pats need at the deadline, Reaction: Patriots SURVIVE in a sloppy, ugly win over the Miami Dolphins, ANALYSIS: The Patriots would have LOST to the Dolphins if they didn't have Drake Maye and, on Audacy, 6 Rings On Air: Turpin on Patriots Injuries & the Trade Deadline.
Preview: Packers at Patriots
▶ Mike Vrabel: A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson are OUT vs Packers | WEEI (X)
When and where: Sunday, Nov. 8, 4:25 p.m. ET, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. TV: FOX (WFXT Channel 25 in Boston), with Kevin Burkhardt on play-by-play, Tom Brady as the analyst and Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi on the sideline. Here's how to watch and stream the game.
Records: The Patriots are 5-3 (3-0 at home) and the Packers are 5-3 (2-2 on the road), both coming off Week 8 wins. See the ESPN matchup page. Line: Consensus as of Saturday morning was Patriots -3 with an over/under of 44.5 at FanDuel Research (Patriots around -164 on the moneyline); Covers consensus showed Patriots -3.5. FanDuel Research odds · Covers odds. Re-check closer to kickoff.
Injuries and roster: Brown (ankle/knee) and Henderson (illness) are out; Henderson remains on the roster. Mack Hollins was activated from injured reserve Saturday and is expected to play; Greg Van Roten was not activated, and there were no practice-squad elevations. Henry, Kevin Byard III, Carlton Davis III, Morgan Moses and Brenden Schooler are questionable on New England's Friday report. For Green Bay, Zaire Franklin, Travis Glover, Micah Parsons, Sean Rhyan and Josh Whyle are out; Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd and Keisean Nixon (groin) are questionable. Patriots roster analysis · Patriots injury analysis · Packers injury report.
Keys to the game
- Force Love off schedule. Green Bay is pass-heavy (second-highest pass rate) and last in rush EPA at about 2.9 yards per carry, with Jordan Love leading the league in deep attempts. Dig into Evan Lazar's Patriots.com Gameplan.
- Take profits vs. Gannon's D. The Packers rank seventh in EPA/play on defense, play heavy zone and have been strong against explosives; Maye may need to cash easy throws rather than force deep shots.
- Gonzalez vs. Watson. Christian Gonzalez matching up with Christian Watson is a featured individual battle; Milton Williams gets interior chances with Rhyan and Glover out.
- Parsons is out. Micah Parsons remains in his 21-day PUP practice window and is ruled out, but Lukas Van Ness and the rest of the Packers' edge group are still producing pressure.
- History. The regular-season series is 6-6; Green Bay's last win at New England came in 2002, and the last meeting was Green Bay's 27-24 overtime win at Lambeau in 2022.
WEEI Football Sunday is on from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET at Six String Grill & Stage at Patriot Place with Ted Johnson, Christian Arcand, Meghan Ottolini and Chris Scheim. Find WEEI podcasts and related audio at audacy.com/weei/podcasts.
WEEI at Gronk's Hall of Fame induction
- Rob Ninkovich explains why Rob Gronkowski is the greatest tight end of all time: Instagram · Facebook
- Rob Gronkowski on what it meant to have Tom Brady there supporting him: Instagram · Facebook
- Rob Gronkowski feeling the love from Patriots fans: Instagram · Facebook
- Tom Brady will call his first game at Gillette Stadium as a broadcaster: Instagram · Facebook
- Never change, Gronk: Instagram · Facebook
- Gronk gives Jermaine Wiggins a special shoutout for being his wing man: Instagram · Facebook
- Rob Gronkowski officially becomes the 38th inductee into the Patriots Hall of Fame: Instagram · Facebook
- Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski share a laugh at Julian Edelman's video message: Instagram · Facebook
- Yo Soy Hall of Famer: Instagram · Facebook
- Gronk embraces fellow Patriots Hall of Famers: Instagram · Facebook
- The crowd goes wild as Tom Brady is introduced: Instagram · Facebook
- Tom Brady, Mike Vrabel and Rob Gronkowski catch up before the induction: Instagram · Facebook
- Josh McDaniels is in attendance for Gronk's induction: Instagram · Facebook
More from WEEI's Patriots week
- Christian Elliss on Ollie Gordon: 'it just added fuel to the fire'
- Patriots Insider: New England would LOVE TO SELL Christian Barmore
- Could the Patriots TRADE for Derrick Henry?
- Will Tom Brady be CRITICAL of Drake Maye this Sunday?
- Any extra 'pop' with Gronkowski and Brady in the house Sunday?
- Are the Patriots Super Bowl Contenders?
- Are the Patriots considering trading Carlton Davis & Christian Barmore?
- Mishandled A.J. Brown Injury? Patriots Adding at Deadline? | The Greg Hill Show
- WR Concern? Should Patriots Look at Josh Downs? Tyreek Hill?? HoF Ty Law LIVE! | The Greg Hill Show
- Tom E. Curran prediction for Sunday: "3 Picks" for the Pats | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson
- Maye "Putting Offense On Back"? Hollins Return? A.J. Brown Situation? Brian Hoyer Joins! | The Greg Hill Show
- Drake Maye had to temper his TD celebration yesterday
- Drake Maye carried the team yesterday. Just another day at the office. | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson
- Does Brian Hoyer believe the Patriots mishandled the A.J. Brown recovery?
- Tom Brady Back at Foxboro! BOOS? Top 5 Brady Gillette Moments? | The Greg Hill Show
- The Patriots may have WHIFFED on their decision to trade for A.J. Brown | Jones & Keefe
- Drake Maye Dominates 2nd Half in Miami! Did Patriots Handle A.J. Brown Injury Well? | The Greg Hill Show
- "You Need A.J. Brown" Brown EXPECTATIONS Going Forward? Hunter Henry Concern? | The Greg Hill Show
- Adam Schefter joins: Who could the Patriots target? | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson
- BUYERS REMORSE? Are the Patriots already REGRETTING trading for A.J. Brown? | Jones & Keefe
- Are the Patriots TRUE CONTENDERS in the AFC right now? | Jones & Keefe
- Boos or cheers Sunday with Brady's return? What will we hear?
- "IT'S GROSS" Patriots should NOT sell off pieces at the trade deadline | Jones & Keefe
- The Patriots need Drake Maye to CARRY their offense right now | Jones & Keefe
- Drake Maye has a MASSIVE test this Sunday with short-handed cast against Packers | Jones & Keefe
- Will A.J. Brown play again this season? | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson
- Could the Patriots actually MOVE ON from A.J. Brown after this season? | Jones & Keefe
- Do the Patriots have MORE TALENT than the Packers? | Jones & Keefe
- Ken & Curtis HR 2: Was the Patriots comeback Boston's greatest? (audio)
- Drake Maye shares his favorite Bible verse
- What are the Top 5 Tom Brady moments at Gillette Stadium?
- Pop Douglas joins: Drake Maye for MVP, A.J. Brown & Gronk/Brady | The Greg Hill Show
- Sparky Fifer joins: How Green Bay beats the Patriots | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson
Best of WEEI on Facebook
- Mike Vrabel's role in the A.J. Brown trade — Ted Johnson weighs in
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- Ted Johnson on facing Brett Favre with the '96 Patriots
- Justin Turpin on A.J. Brown's injury and a potential trade
- Pat Boyle previews Patriots-Packers and the weekend NFL slate
- A.J. Brown's disappointing season and rest-of-year speculation
- Drake Maye's test vs Green Bay with a short-handed cast
- Ted Johnson previews Sunday's Packers game at Gillette
