Rob Gronkowski return not ruled out by Julian Edelman

Julian Edelman wasn’t ready to close the door entirely on a Rob Gronkowski return to the Patriots one day, giving it an “11% chance.”

Hoping Rob Gronkowski changes his mind on retirement and walks back through the door at Gillette Stadium to save the day (and the Patriots‘ dreadfully thin tight end depth chart) may sound like a pipe dream to many, but not to Julian Edelman.

The veteran Patriots receiver – who has been extremely active in the media of late as he promotes his upcoming sports documentary – was asked recently during an interview what percentage of a chance there was of Gronkowski coming back to Foxborough and suiting up for the Pats once again.

“A percentage? I’d say, maybe, an 11 percent chance,” Edelman said. “So, you’re saying there’s a chance?”

The reigning Super Bowl MVP will evidently take any opportunity he can to plug his own jersey number in New England while quoting from the beloved comedy film “Dumb and Dumber” at the same time. (Can you blame him?)

"“I’m a fan for (a return). I mean, (Gronkowski)’s a valuable player. You could just tell that he was feeling it a little bit here and there. He got banged up. When you’re banged up, football’s not always fun. I can speak for myself on that. When you’re dealing with things — ankle, foot, back … Football is amazing when you feel great. But it’s not easy, especially when you get older and have accumulated a lot of injuries. So, you started seeing that it was tougher (for Gronkowski).”"

Though Edelman gives the odds of a Gronkowski return as being somewhere around 11%, we’re a bit more skeptical. Obviously the Patriots could desperately use even a hobbled Gronk back in their offensive lineup next season and for the foreseeable future, but if he’s really been subjected to as many serious injuries and injury scares as it sounds like from Edelman’s account, then perhaps it’s best he focus on the next chapter of his life after all.