A Gronking to Forget

As it was reported by ESPN/Jeff Darlington over the weekend, Rob Gronkowski is “pretty certain” he’ll return to the Patriots in 2018. He’ll probably come back but maybe there’s still kind of a slight chance he might retire or want a new contract or BB to say sorry or force a trade or go to the WWE or become an actor or something.

It’s so hard to be mad at Gronk, but this wishy-washy stuff is getting old. I don’t know if this is coming from Gronk or his agents in a push to get him out of New England and into a monster deal somewhere else or what but it’s really dragging on.

The South Florida connection of Darling to Drew Rosenhaus is an easy one to make. Earlier this offseason Tom E. Curran had the first “Gronk No Happy” report.

From Darlington:

For Belichick, since the season’s end, sources say he has expressed frustration with those close to him about Gronkowski, specifically questioning whether he remains “all-in,” a critical aspect of Belichick’s blueprint for success.

Examples of Belichick’s frustrations are as nuanced as his discontent with Gronkowski’s message in a recent Instagram post regarding former Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola, who left New England to sign a contract with the Miami Dolphins. Beneath a video of him hugging Amendola that Gronkowski posted on March 14, he wrote, in part, “Be FREE, Be HAPPY.”

So you’re telling my BB is on IG and getting overanalytical about player posts? I don’t doubt there’s some tension, but shit or get off the pot Gronk.

 

If he really does want to retire and try something else I’d totally get it! The guy’s body has been destroyed and while it would suck to lose a legendary Patriot too soon, Gronk has sacrificed his body enough and has two Super Bowl rings to show for it. At least then we don’t have to ever see him play for another team!

If it’s about money, he can leak his intentions to hold out for a better contract. Sometimes it works (Richard Seymour), sometimes it doesn’t (Deion Branch). Perhaps this is more an effort to get him traded, in which case the media is happy to throw gas on the flames every chance they get. Ultimately I think the Patriots would call this bluff.

The draft is coming, it’s time for Gronk to make up his mind. I dismissed the post-Super Bowl comments and I still think he’s playing football for the Patriots, but non-committal is never a good look, especially with the offseason program starting up on April 16th, aka me and BB’s birthday.

His presence there would be a good way to turn the page, especially if he wants to set the record straight.