FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Star tight end Rob Gronkowski stood in front of his Gillette Stadium locker Monday and announced he will be playing in the New England Patriots opener at Miami this Sunday. Meanwhile, the news hardly caught the Dolphins by surprise. "Im super excited," said Gronkowski, who didnt play in any of the four preseason games as he completed his recovery from December right knee surgery. "I wont have to see my teammates grind all week - (Ill) go back out there with them, get in the huddle, break the huddle with them. "Its going to be an honour to be back out there with my teammates. Super pumped, super excited and just preparing for the game." The pronouncement came as a bit of a surprise in a locker room not known for players "breaking news." "Yeah, yeah, Im just getting it out of the way there," Gronkowski said. "Every single day this week (he would have been asked about returning) - get it out of the way now." "It just feels good in my mind to know that Ill be out there with my boys, working hard, grinding with them, being out there." The Patriots are 6-0 all-time when Gronkowski plays against the Dolphins, but Miami has kept him in some check of late. Gronkowskis last two games against Miami resulted in a total of only four catches. Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said his team was "fully prepared" for a Gronkowski sighting. "Hes an excellent player," Philbin said Monday. "Hes been a very very productive player throughout his career. Well have a good plan in place, but hes certainly an important part of their offence, and a productive part of it. Well be ready for him, for sure." Gronkowski, who tore his right ACL and MCL last Dec. 8, is a two-time Pro Bowler and was an All-Pro in 2011. He has 226 catches with 42 touchdowns in 50 regular-season games. Last season, coming off multiple surgeries and an arm infection, he appeared in seven games, catching 39 passes, four for touchdowns, before going down on a hit by safety T.J. Ward, then of the Cleveland Browns. Asked if he feels ready, Gronkowski said, "Definitely. I feel mentally and physically ready, for sure, no doubt about it." "Just the way we just worked throughout all camp and the last few weeks, everythings just been going well," Gronkowski added. "Theres been no setbacks, just more and more (work) every single day. "Now I just have to focus on the Miami Dolphins, just keep focusing on getting better and getting stronger." Dolphins defensive co-ordinator Kevin Coyle said hes been working under the assumption Gronkowski would be ready for Week 1. "Hes also been a big target for them in the red zone," Coyle said. "If he plays, and how much he plays, we dont know how much that will be, thats not going to change what we do." Gronkowski says he doesnt expect to play "every single snap" Sunday, but is ready for "whatever the coaches have." "Its been long and tiring for sure," he said. "But you just got to be patient and everything comes along well. Thats the way Ive been - just keep working hard and it will all come." Last week, the Patriots traded veteran guard Logan Mankins to Tampa Bay for tight end Tim Wright, who has been added to provide depth. "So far, hes been working hard. Its been great seeing him improving every single day, learning everything, and its always fun with a new guy that wants to work hard," Gronkowski said. NOTES: WR Josh Boyce, cut Saturday, was one of 10 players signed to the taxi squad, a list that includes DL Charley Hughlett, who is being signed for the second time as a long snapper after the release of Danny Aiken. DE-LB Rob Ninkovich is currently the only long snapper on the roster. ... Also re-signed were DL Jake Bequette, LBs JaGared Davis and Deontae Skinner, S Kanorris Davis, RB Jonas Gray, OL Chris Martin and DB Daxton Swanson. The club also added quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, last with San Francisco. ------ AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Davie, Fla. contributed to this story. Marlins Jerseys 2020 . The 22-year-old Spanish midfielder recently signed a new three-year contract with Chelsea, and after spending last season on loan with Valencia in La Liga, Romeu will move to the Bundesliga for the 2014-15 campaign. Miami Marlins Gear . When a game is in the balance, however, they still have the personnel and the experience to end up with the two points. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/. -- Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jarrod Parker and A. Miami Marlins Pro Shop . Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds. Wholesale Marlins Jerseys . LaQuinton Ross scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half, hitting his first four 3-pointers, to send No. MILWAUKEE -- One slugger back, one slugger down for the Milwaukee Brewers. Outfielder Ryan Braun has been activated from the 15-day disabled list after being sidelined with a right oblique strain. He started Tuesday nights game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez was placed on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. He got hurt fielding a bouncer in Saturday nights 5-4 win over the Yankees. The battered Brewers lost another key player when outfielder Carlos Gomez left the Pirates game after the bottom of the fifth with lower back tightness. He was considered day-to-day. Braun was hitting .318 with six homers and 18 RBIs when he got hurt. Seeing Ramirez go down didnt add any extra urgency, Braun said. The Brewers had discussed possibly sending Braun to the minors for a rehab game Monday but weather and travel issues curtailed that plan. Instead, the slugger was back his customary No. 3 position in the batting order Tuesday. "I think hes going to be good. Hes a guy that when he sat in the past hes been pretty good rright off, so Im hoping thats what happens," manager Ron Roenicke said.dddddddddddd Neither Roenicke nor Ramirez knew how long it might take for the veteran third baseman to get over his pulled hamstring, the first such injury of Ramirezs 16-year career. Milwaukee on Tuesday also optioned outfielder Caleb Gindl back to Triple-A Nashville and recalled utility man Elian Herrera, who was batting .359 in the minors. Herreras versatility should help if Gomez has to begin a suspension this week for his role in a benches-clearing scrum against the Pirates in April. Milwaukee expected to hear soon from the National League about Gomezs appeal. It has been a tough few days for Gomez. Milwaukees leadoff hitter was hit in the left forearm by a pitch Sunday against the Yankees; he was hit on the arm again Tuesday on a changeup by Pirates starter Gerrit Cole. For the Pirates, Starling Marte was out of the starting lineup again with a sore back, though manager Clint Hurdle said it was possible the outfielder might be available off the bench. ' ' '