While Tom Brady will be back for another season with the Buccaneers, it’s uncertain if his tight end will stick around. Speaking to TMZ Sports, Rob Gronkowski said he was unsure if he’ll play in 2022.
“Right now, I’m not ready to get back out on that field,” Gronkowski said (via ESPN.com). “I’m not ready to commit to the game of football right now.”
“Even in your 30s, I mean, you just can’t just slack it and just be 50% all-in, then you’re going to get caught off with the game and it’s going to just spit you right out. You’ve got to be fully dedicated. I’m not ready to do that yet, I’m not going to sign a contract if I’m not fully ready.”
Gronk has obviously flirted with retirement in the past, sitting out the entire 2019 season. He reunited with Brady in Tampa Bay for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but the tight end has refused to commit to a 2022 campaign. Brady’s retirement and unretirement has fueled talks that Gronkowski could give it one last go, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if the player just decides to hang up his cleats.
Despite only appearing in only 12 games, Gronkowski managed to top his 2020 numbers this past year, finishing with 55 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns. With O.J. Howard heading to Buffalo, Cameron Brate currently leads the depth chart at tight end.
While the 32-year-old didn’t want to discuss his own future, he was more than eager to speak about Brady’s offseason. The tight end admitted that he wasn’t surprised when Brady announced that he was in fact returning for another season in 2022.
“I knew he was going to come back, but I didn’t think he was going to come back this year, to tell you the truth,” he said. “I thought he was going to come back in a year, spend some time with his family.”
Please stop reporting on these morons.
It’s a story on Gronk not on you
Isn’t this the same thing he did last year? Just admit you have to do one more year with Brady. Must like the attention instead of his Tide Pod commercials
Gronk, like his buddy Brady, sometimes seems incapable of either making up his mind or giving a straight answer. I know that he was asked the question, but that doesn’t mean he has to answer it.
Just delaying his return so he doesn’t have to participate in offseason practice.
Totally agree with you brad
My guess is he comes back but a multitude of reasons have stopped him from resigning.
1. Singing further hamstrings bucs cap.
2. He wants to skip off-season workouts.
3. What if Brady is traded tomorrow for Tua or Jimmy G I don’t think anyone would be shocked. Where Brady goes gronk goes or retires.
I also think he could just play half a year
Brady doesn’t unretire and go back to the team just to request a trade. Whoever started that rumor is an idiot and just hating.
News flash: players don’t like training camp and preseason football. He will come back after all of that is over.
You can only do an end run around training camp if your a top player. Look at what happened to all the average players that chose the Covid opt-out approach. Most got cut when they tried to return the following year.
When he isn’t dealing with an injury, Gronk is still a top tier TE. I believe he is good enough to get away with it. And all the extra pounding serves no purpose for him. He is still very physical.
Umm he is the best to ever play his position possibly and had the 7th most reception yards by a tight end last year while missing 5 games. So yeah I would call him a top player . . .