Bucs GM talking about Rob Gronkowski will make Patriots fans miss him even more

Buccaneers GM Jason Licht gassing up tight end Rob Gronkowski will hit Patriots fans right in their feels.

Just a few days after Tom Brady disclosed his intentions to test free agency last offseason, he inked a two-year, $50 million contract with the Buccaneers. That decision left the Patriots at a crossroads they hadn’t encountered in two decades, and they unsurprisingly felt the effects after offseason signing Cam Newton came up well short in his attempt to fill his shoes.

The nightmare somehow became much worse when Brady lured Rob Gronkowski out of retirement to join him in his quest to capture another championship. As we know, the Patriots, seemingly left with no other choice, sent the Pro Bowl tight end and a 2020 seventh-round draft pick to the Bucs in exchange for a 2020 fourth-rounder.

Fast forward almost a year and the former Patriots stars are now one win away from adding another Super Bowl ring to their resumes after upsetting the No. 1 seed Packers this past weekend. It goes without saying that fans would do just about anything to have them back, and Bucs GM Jason Licht’s latest comments about Gronk’s infectious personality is guaranteed to hit them right in their feels.

These comments are no surprise, as Gronkowsi had a similar impact during his nine-year tenure with the Patriots. The three-time champ isn’t recognized for his leadership ability, though we would argue that’s an unfair criticism based on his humorous personality, but the sheer ease in which he lights up a room was definitely invaluable from a locker room perspective while playing for a no-nonsense head coach in Bill Belichick.

On top of being a consistent ray of positivity, Gronkowski was incredibly effective this season for somebody who was out of football for a year. He appeared in all 16 games for the first time since 2011 (his second year in the league) and registered 45 receptions for 623 yards and seven touchdowns, the latter of which ranked fifth among all tight ends.

The 31-year-old hasn’t had quite the same impact as a receiver during the playoffs — he has just two catches for 43 yards over two games — but he’s been dominant as a blocker and keeps defenses off balance when he’s on the field.

We hate to rub salt in the wound, but perhaps Patriots fans will feel better knowing that this misery-littered year was a long time coming after they witnessed six championships and nine Super Bowls over the last 20 years. Nonetheless, it’s hard not to miss Gronk even more after realizing just how much he’s meant to the Bucs this season.

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