FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rob Gronkowski is getting some help from a couple of very talented friends as he continues his comeback from knee surgery: Tom Brady and Darrelle Revis. As the New England Patriots prepare for their second preseason game, Gronkowski, their star tight end, awaits a return to contact. Meanwhile, he works on the side, and part of that work includes catching passes from Brady, with star cornerback Revis "covering" him without contact. Pretty fair workout partners for Gronkowski until he is ready for hitting. "Its good just to have a defender out there, instead of just running all of my routes on air right now," Gronkowski said after Sundays practice. "To break off a guy, right in front of you, just like its a game, youve got to break off a guy, break off a defender. Having Darrelle out there giving me a little contact, a little bit, pushing me on my routes, just making me a better player out there, as of right now." Asked if Revis is merely offering some resistance, and not working on his own things with his new team, Gronkowski said, "Its basically more of a drill for me, but hes definitely learning, too, I would say. "Hes just breaking a little bit, not going full, full out. Hes just helping me out and getting me back adjusted to having a defender out there in front of me." The drills also further advance the already special connection between Brady and his tight end. Gronkowski, who underwent surgery on his right knee back in December, didnt accompany the team last week as the Patriots joined the Washington Redskins for workouts prior to the teams meeting in the first preseason game. He stayed behind getting his work in and reports continued improvement. "Pretty good, improving every single week so far," he said when asked about his progression --which is aimed at the apparent goal of him returning for the season opener. "No setbacks or anything like that. Just going out there and feeling better every single time I get on the field." He said the team being away also allowed him to get some rest for the knee. "Im feeling better since the time off so Im doing well," he said. "When you (have) something you cant just keep going on it - youve got to let your body heal, youve got to let your body rest and recover. "It was a good week and now Im back to this week going hard and getting back at it." The next step, of course, is contact, something a 100-per cent Gronkowski loves. "Closer every single day," he said. "Closer every single day, to get in there with the team, getting in there and getting some contact. Talking to the trainers, we dont have a set date or anything. Just taking it day by day and well see how it goes. Just improving every day to get back out there and start hitting." Notes: The Patriots will host two dual practices with the Philadelphia Eagles this week before the team meet in a preseason game at Gillette Stadium on Friday night. . Backup quarterback Ryan Mallett, who played a shaky first half in the 23-6 loss to Washington, was among the missing on Sunday, but coach Bill Belichick wouldnt say if it was for physical reasons. . The Patriots released tight ends Asa Watson and Justin Jones, and running back Stephen Houston, and signed veteran tight ends Ben Harstock and Steve Maneri and undrafted rookie tight end Terrence Miller. This is Maneris second time with the team and he has also played offensive tackle in the NFL. Darin Erstad Jersey . Spieth again showed game well beyond his 20 years with a 9-under 63 on the North Course, giving him a one-shot lead over Stewart Cink going into the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open. Matt Harvey Jersey . Hall had a goal and three assists in a 5-4 loss to San Jose on Tuesday, had an assist in each of Edmontons next two games the capped the week with a goal and two assists in the Oilers 4-2 win over Anaheim on Sunday. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/jonathan-lucroy-angels-jersey/ .com) - Maria Sharapova rallied for a three- set win over Ana Ivanovic on Saturday to capture the season-opening Brisbane International tennis tournament. Cam Bedrosian Angels Jersey . Footballs governing body said Tuesday that of the 2,577,662 tickets allocated for this years tournament, 1,041,418 have gone to people in Brazil. The U. Justin Upton Angels Jersey . The top-ranked Djokovic also beat Gael Monfils and then routed Roger Federer en route to his first Abu Dhabi title. "Its always great to win a title. This is the best way to start the 2012 season," Djokovic said. CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Venus Williams advanced in the tournament where her top-ranked sister could not, battling from behind at the Family Circle Cup to defeat Chanelle Scheepers 7-5, 7-5 on Wednesday. It was another long day for Williams, ranked No. 28 in the world, who needed 1 hour, 50 minutes to finish the straight-set victory over the South African. Williams fell behind 3-1 in the first set and trailed 4-1 in the second. "She was playing so well, but the good thing is that when I get behind, I give even more effort and get even more focused. And Ive been playing well from behind lately, which is something you really have to be able to do to win big matches," Williams said. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has battled injuries and Sjogrens syndrome, a fatigue-causing autoimmune disease, during the past two years. She was on the green clay in Charleston for 2 hours, 15 minutes on Tuesday in a three-set victory and said she has been ill this week. "Im still dealing with the bug, but my goal is just to hang in there until it hopefully goes away and then I can just continue to play my way into the tournament and play stronger," she said. "But its definitely a challenge." On Tuesday night her sister, top-ranked Serena Williams, was stunned 6-4, 6-4 by Jana Cepelova of Slovakia, ranked No. 78 in the world, in the second round. Serena Williams said later she was tired and needed time off to regroup. "I definitely can see where she is tired and her body is taxed," Venus Williams said of her sister. "She gave an amazing effort yesterday, and shes going to get some well-deserved time off from winning." Venus Williams, who won the Family Circle a decade ago, now faces No. 20 Eugenie Bouchard. No. 8 Jeleena Jankovic, the tournaments No.dddddddddddd2 seed, later scored a 6-0, 6-3 victory over American Lauren Davis. Jankovic won the Family Circle back in 2007 and was runner-up last year to Serena Williams. Earlier Wednesday, American Sloane Stephens was upset 6-4, 6-4 by 19-year-old Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine, who has a career-high No. 35 ranking. It was her fourth career victory over a top 20 player, the third coming last week at the Sony Open. "She played pretty well, and its just unfortunate that I lost, but I mean, you can just learn from the mistakes and things like that and build on it," Stephens said. "I started to believe more in myself that I can compete with players like this, top level, top 20 and top 10," said Svitolina, who is making her first appearance on the green clay in Charleston. "I think this is the key. That I believe more in myself and I play more solid from the baseline and trying to go forward to finish the point earlier." In other matches, Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia defeated American qualifier Grace Min 6-2, 6-3 while Elena Vesnina of Russia stopped Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Italian Sara Errani, ranked No. 11 in the world and seeded third, advanced as well. She won the first set 6-3 when qualifier Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands retired. Fourth-seeded Sabine Lisicki of Germany was extended to three sets before defeating American Vania King 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Andrea Petkovic of Germany, the 14th seed, defeated Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain 6-0, 6-0 while Shuai Peng of China eliminated 15th-seeded Madison Keys of the United States 6-1, 6-7 (3) and 7-6 (4). Qualifier Belinda Bencic of Switzerland defeated Marina Erakovic of New Zealand 6-2, 6-1. ' ' '