FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski underwent back surgery Tuesday, his fourth operation this year.

This surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins and was successful, said Drew Rosenhaus, Gronkowski’s agent.

On May 20, Gronkowski had the most recent operation on the left forearm he broke Nov. 18 while blocking for an extra point in a 59-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
He had an operation soon after, the first of four on his forearm.

He broke it again in the Patriots’ first playoff game, a 41-28 win over the Houston Texans on Jan. 13, and has had three forearm operations since then.

Rosenhaus said the surgery performed last month was expected to be the last on his forearm.
The Pats open training camp in late July and start the regular season Sept. 8 at Buffalo.

• State and local police in Massachusetts spent hours at the home of New England tight end Aaron Hernandez as another group of officers searched an industrial park about a mile away where a body was discovered Monday.

Police at the scene and prosecutors wouldn’t comment on the actions. Sports Illustrated, citing an unidentified source, reported Hernandez wasn’t believed to be a suspect in what was being treated as a possible homicide. The magazine said police have spoken with Hernandez.

Sports Illustrated reported that the link between Hernandez and the case was a rented Chevrolet Suburban with Rhode Island plates that police had been seeking.

The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro, Mass., said the SUV was registered to Enterprise and investigators wanted to analyze it for fingerprints.

FALCONS: Tight end Tony Gonzalez won the Good Guy Award from the Professional Football Writers of America.

Gonzalez was honored for his professionalism in helping pro football writers do their jobs.