As the Pats gear up for their game against Buffalo this weekend, one valuable New Englander has some insider info on their competition.
Rob Gronkowski grew up in upstate New York and has a pretty good idea of what to expect.
“I love the atmosphere,” he told NBC Sports. “It’s a football atmosphere no doubt. It’s loud. Third down you can barely be able to hear Tom [Brady] if he’s not in a silent cadence, but it’s just a good atmosphere. It’s a good football atmosphere.”
There’s a reason it’s called Bills Mafia, though. And as a native New Yorker, Gronk has seen it firsthand.
In Buffalo, it’s tradition to jump through tables, better known as “going through tables.” It’s a violent, raw tradition that keeps fans’ adrenaline levels, high, no matter the score inside the stadium.
“Not at a tailgate, but I’ve been through tables before. For sure,” he said. When asked what other setting he’s had an opportunity to bust through a table, he answered “in family get togethers, I’ve definitely been growing up [going] through tables.”
Never stop being #Billsmafia pic.twitter.com/4jvhzYPqVH
— Boston Sports Extra (@BosSportsExtra) November 28, 2017
Umm haven’t seen this around yet but we here the @LABillsBackers tried to go threw our own tables at yesterday’s tailgate before the @buffalobills at chargers game and… @barstoolsports @notthefakeSVP @TheBillsMafia @LeBatardShow #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/Bmz9dgBMjd
— Anthony Mariani (@AntonMariani) November 20, 2017
#billsmafia pic.twitter.com/QB955kCCrB
— Dan Terzian (@danterzian) November 19, 2017
Naturally, the press wanted to know if Gronk had participated in the tradition before. And his answer was highly unsurprising.
Bills Mafia tailgates are Little League compared to Gronkowski family BBQs pic.twitter.com/brT6Nysgrf
— Laces Out (@LacesOutShow) November 30, 2017
“Not at a tailgate, but I’ve been through tables before. For sure,” he said. When asked what other setting he’s had an opportunity to bust through a table, he answered “in family get togethers, I’ve definitely been growing up through tables.”
The Gronkowski family brand is one of the strongest and most consistent ones out there. Let’s hope we get to witness him go through a table this Sunday.