Patriots: Gronk’s latest comment on joining Bucs will infuriate Pats Nation
By Jerry Trotta
Patriots fans aren’t going to enjoy Rob Gronkowski’s latest comments.
When you consider how much wear and tear his body endured throughout his career, it didn’t come as a surprise that former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski decided to retire after the 2018 season.
Though he was only 29 years old, the perennial All-Pro just didn’t seem to have as much fire and desire towards football as he did three or four years earlier. This popular observation prompted many fans in New England to come to the conclusion that Gronkowski would stay retired and reject any comeback pitches from the Patriots or any other team.
As we know, that turned out to be anything but the case.
Not only did the former second-round pick spurn retirement, but he forced a trade out of New England to join forces with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
For any members of Patriots Nation that were just starting to find peace with the blockbuster deal, you might want to shield your eyes, because Gronk just dropped a powerful quote about his decision to join the Buccaneers.
Gronk says “I feel like I’m supposed to be here.” Says no regrets about returning, game felt fast first few days but feels better as days go by. Game is slowing down.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) August 20, 2020
“Supposed to be”. Oh.
This obviously wasn’t a direct shot at the Patriots, but you can’t deny that the five-time Pro Bowler was enticed by the prospect of joining an organization that doesn’t live and breathe football around the clock and actually gives its players some leeway off the gridiron.
As if Gronkowski’s bullish outlook on his transition to Tampa wasn’t enough of a gut punch to Patriots fans, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians provided an update on his health, revealing that the Arizona product looks like the player he was before injuries started to take a toll on his body.
What’s equally demoralizing? The fact that Gronk is no longer sporting the ginormous elbow brace he famously donned in New England for what seemed like forever.
Arians said he sees a different Rob Gronkowski in practice, more like five years ago before he was limited by multiple injures. Isn't stiff, is moving well, "doesn't have a gigantic elbow brace on."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 20, 2020
Fasten those seatbelts, Patriots fans, because if you thought the adjustment to life without Brady was going to be exhausting, watching him throw touchdowns to the greatest tight end in franchise history again in a different uniform (without the cumbersome protective gear) is going to be an emotional rollercoaster.
We were doing so well the last four months, too. Thanks a lot, Gronk.
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