Patriots: Rob Gronkowski’s NFL return motivated by chance to play ‘somewhere else’

Former Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski was ready to play “somewhere else.”

This offseason has been packed with change for the generally-steady Patriots.

Their rock at QB is gone, with Tom Brady giving way to redemption story Cam Newton under center. Much of the defense walked in free agency, including the speedy linebacking corps, opening up playing time and opportunity for Michigan’s Chase Winovich and Josh Uche.

And, wildly enough, the Patriots even lost a retired player: Rob Gronkowski, away from the game for a full year, wriggled out of New England to join Brady in Tampa Bay.

So, what motivated the comeback? Gronk made it clear while speaking with WEEI this week that he wasn’t too keen on resuming his career, if it were to take place in New England. The basher was firmly looking to play “somewhere else,” and no doubt appreciates an all-new challenge.

“As a player, you always want to see what it is like somewhere else. (I) thought of that before, definitely after playing nine years in the NFL and I also thought about it when I came out of retirement,” Gronk told WEEI this week. “I loved my time in New England, no doubt about it. But it was another opportunity that presented.”

Of course, the Hall of Fame tight end was also…plenty thrilled to have Tom Brady on board at this new destination, too. Don’t get that twisted. But he doesn’t want Boston to think this was all some sort of well-orchestrated grand plan to get them both out of Foxborough, and insists that wasn’t the case.

”…No, we never really talked about that before,” Gronk continued. “It kind of just happened. (With) my retirement and him hitting free agency, it just kind of lined up like that.‘’

We’re not sure what Gronk on the Bucs will look like, though Madden contends he’ll be quite special, slapping a 95 rating on him after a year of relaxation.

The Brady-to-Gronk connection might look muted, as the QB loses another year of arm strength and his big target tries to shake off a WWE stint.

Turns out, though, that Gronkowski was just as curious as the rest of us. He was always entertaining a comeback, but never in New England. Pats fans can officially put those concocted hopes of last November and December in the rearview.