The New England Patriots assign wide receiver Romeo Doubs the team’s No. 87 jersey, formerly worn by tight end Rob Gronkowski. Multiple outlets report that Gronkowski reacts to the change and notes that it surprises him.
Yahoo Sports says Gronkowski discussed the decision on Up & Adams, including a personal revelation about learning that Doubs would wear No. 87. Newsweek similarly focuses on Gronkowski’s reaction to the Patriots reassigning his old number to Doubs.
Across the coverage, the central points are consistent: No. 87 is closely associated with Gronkowski’s Patriots career, and the jersey number is being carried forward by a new player. The accounts mainly differ in how they frame the reaction—ranging from general surprise to a more detailed explanation of what Gronkowski says he learned—but they all describe the same handoff of the iconic number.
