Gronk, Edelman among several Patriots' PUPs

Better break out the big bag of kibble, 'cause there's some mighty big dogs on the New England Patriots' PUP list.

The Patriots generated their Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday evening, and as expected Tight Ends Rob Gronkowski and Jake Ballard both appear on it, as does wide receiver Julian Edelman and right guard Nick McDonald.

WR Edelman still recovering from broken bone in his foot

Gronkowski's status was expected, given the fact that he underwent four different surgeries this offseason, the most recent a back procedure in June.  Ballard is recovering from microfracture surgery and Edelman is hobbled by a surgical procedure on a broken bone in his foot.

Like all of the candidates, Gronkowski was placed on the PUP/Active list, which means that he is available to return to the active roster anytime before August 31st.  If he or any of the others are not ready to see the field by that time, they are transferred to the PUP/Reserved and must sit out the first six weeks of the season.

If at that time they are still hobbled, they will revert to the Injured Reserved list and their season will be over - but if they are ready, the team has a three week window in which to activate them to the active roster.

Naturally, the team hopes that all are ready to go before the deadline

In addition to the veterans, Non-football injury designations went to wide receiver Mark Harrison, offensive lineman Matt Stankiewitch and safety Kanorris Davis.  All three are rookie free agents and are laid up with injuries suffered before signing with the team.

The only real head-scratcher on the list was defensive tackle Armond Armstead, who was designated with a non-football illness - which is assumed that the listing was precautionary, the 1st year star from U.S.C. - via the Canadian Football League - being monitored closely by team physicians in relation to a medicine-induced cardiac episode that he suffered will in college.

Given the life-threatening nature of Armstead's episode, it goes to figure that the criteria to be satisfied in his case is more detailed and involved than a player who has never suffered a heart attack, and the designation will be lifted when and if team doctors find him to be fit and declare him physically able to safely perform his job.

The Patriots' PUP list is rather large compared to recent years past, but it is understood that these moves are mostly precautionary in nature - the individual situations not severe enough to warrant an IR designation, so seeing these athletes designated to the flexibility of the PUP list should be should be cause for optimism among Patriots' faithful.