Gronkowski mulling retirement

[Hammock Parties]

If Gronk retires...that offense is done.

Will Rob Gronkowski retire? Why the Patriots star's decision isn't easy

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2...-decision-easy

When asked whether he had just played his last game, Gronkowski deferred.

"Tonight's about celebrating with our teammates," he said. "That decision will be made in a week or two."

Someone mentioned a hit he took during the game -- in the second quarter, he collided with a pair of Rams defenders after a short catch -- and he replied quickly, "Yeah, my quad. It hurts a lot. I can barely walk right now." He added, his delivery more deadpan than joyful: "But it's all good, because we're Super Bowl champs."

After the hit, Gronkowski, who played every snap, staggered off the field. Whenever he suffers a blow -- he has endured more than most players, in part because his gigantic frame makes it difficult for defenders to tackle him any other way -- he limps like a cinematic monster hobbled by arrows. The effect is similarly heartbreaking. Gronkowski had surgery on his spine before entering the league (explaining why the Patriots were able to snag him in the second round), and he has experienced a litany of painful injuries and operations over the years. This season, he missed three regular-season games, reportedly because he was suffering from Achilles tendinitis and a bulging disc in his back.

Earlier in the week, he acknowledged how difficult it has been for him to come back at times.

"Try to imagine getting hit all the time, and trying to be where you want every day in life," he said. "It's tough. It's difficult. To take hits to the thigh, to take hits to your head, abusing your body ... isn't what the brain wants."

After his news conference at the Super Bowl, Gronkowski trudged to the locker room, where he started peeling his pads off. As a staffer pulled his nametag off his locker (empty, save for a roll of tube socks and a half-eaten sandwich), Tom Brady's personal trainer, Alex Guerrero, walked over and gently unwrapped the tape on his arm. While his teammates sprayed champagne and danced on one side of the room, Gronkowski was quiet -- solemn, almost. A reporter asked him where he was partying, and he muttered in response: "We'll see, we'll see."

When he had changed into a towel, the large scar on his shoulder shiny with sweat, it was evident that his right thigh was absurdly swollen, to the point where it looked bloated. His movements were halting. I asked him if he was looking forward to the offseason -- potentially, the rest of his life -- and he smiled softly, "I'm super excited to just chill."

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Trade, pending physical: Patriots are trading TE Rob Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick, source tells ESPN.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020

[ToxSocks]

Man, they must really ****ing hate Bill.

[ChiefBlueCFC]

Originally Posted by ShowtimeSBMVP

Trade, pending physical: Patriots are trading TE Rob Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick, source tells ESPN.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020

I had to check roughly 6 times to see if this was from Barry again... I'm still skeptical

[carcosa]

lol

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by ChiefBlueCFC

I had to check roughly 6 times to see if this was from Barry again... I'm still skeptical

There’s been rumors about it floating around for a while

[Shields68]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Man, they must really ****ing hate Bill.

Have to wonder if Bill is the Jerry Krause" of football.

[Shields68]

The #Patriots and #Bucs have agreed to terms on a trade: Tampa gets Rob Gronkowski and a 7th rounder in exchange for a 4th rounder, sources say.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020

[VAGOMO 4 LIFE!]

Leroy was the first to mention this two weeks ago

[The Franchise]

So now where does OJ Howard go

[Mecca]

This makes me wonder if Gronkowski did not like Belichick..some guys like to have some fun when they get older.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Mecca

This makes me wonder if Gronkowski did not like Belichick..some guys like to have some fun when they get older.

He already talked about how being on the Pats wasn’t fun because they would never celebrate wins.

[Shields68]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

He already talked about how being on the Pats wasn’t fun because they would never celebrate wins.

They also tried to trade him a couple years ago and he refused.

[The Franchise]

So when do the Bucs dig up Hernandez?

[tatorhog]

They tried to trade him a couple of years ago to the Lions and he nixed it with a retirement threat. he just likes his balls soft and underinflated I guess.

[RealSNR]

**** thread bumping.