Rob Gronkowski: I’m not ready to commit to the game of football right now’
Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times
TAMPA, Fla. — Rob Gronkowski hasn’t ruled out returning to the Bucs to play another season, but at the very least he’s in no hurry to do so.
The team begins its voluntary offseason workout program next week, and the tight end didn’t even want to catch passes from Tom Brady at a charity event over the weekend for fear he might get the itch to begin training for the upcoming NFL season.
In an interview with TMZ, Gronkowski said he’s not ready to commit to playing football.
“I knew if I started catching some passes that my head would have started turning, like, ‘Oh, crap, I got to get back out on the field,’ ” Gronkowski said. “And, right now, I’m not ready to get back out on that field. I’m not ready to commit to the game of football right now.”
Gronkowski retired once from the NFL after winning Super Bowl 53 with the Patriots following the 2018 season.
But last year, he struggled with injuries once again. He missed five games with a rib injury, catching 55 passes for 802 yards with six touchdowns.
It was March 22, 2021 when Gronkowski signed a one-year deal to remain with the Bucs. It’s clear he has no desire to attend the offseason program and could wait until the start of training camp to make a decision.
Gronkowski told TMZ he was not surprised Brady ended his retirement but didn’t think it would be this year.
“It was just incredible that he even retired,” Gronkowski said. “I knew that he was going to come back, but I didn’t think he was going to come back this year, to tell you the truth. I thought he would come back in like a year, you know, spend some time with his family, which he sure is.
“You know, the offseason is pretty long, so, he was like, ‘Man, I’ve got to get back to football. It’s only been two months, I’m ready to go again.’ I just didn’t think … it was going to be that soon. But glad to see him back. He’s not done, man. Let me tell you, the guy is 44 and he doesn’t look a day over 23 when he’s throwing the football around.”
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
Paramount
Nick Nolte is wide receiver Phillip Elliott in 1979's "North Dallas Forty," ranked No. 1 on Tribune News Service's list of the 11 best football movies. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff and includes Mac Davis and former Oakland Raider John Matuszak in the story of the North Dallas Bulls, a team modeled after the Dallas Cowboys.
Paramount
Nick Nolte is wide receiver Phillip Elliott in 1979's "North Dallas Forty," ranked No. 1 on Tribune News Service's list of the 11 best football movies. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff and includes Mac Davis and former Oakland Raider John Matuszak in the story of the North Dallas Bulls, a team modeled after the Dallas Cowboys.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
Paramount Pictures
Burt Reynolds stars as quarterback Paul Crewe, thrown into prison in 1974's "The Longest Yard." Robert Aldrich directed the story about a group of prisoners taking on the guards on the football field. Eddie Albert played the evil warden.
Paramount Pictures
Burt Reynolds stars as quarterback Paul Crewe, thrown into prison in 1974's "The Longest Yard." Robert Aldrich directed the story about a group of prisoners taking on the guards on the football field. Eddie Albert played the evil warden.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
TriStar Pictures
Sean Astin stars as the Notre Dame football underdog in 1993's "Rudy." David Anspaugh directed the story of walk-on Rudy Ruettiger's time with the Fighting Irish. The cast included future stars Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau.
TriStar Pictures
Sean Astin stars as the Notre Dame football underdog in 1993's "Rudy." David Anspaugh directed the story of walk-on Rudy Ruettiger's time with the Fighting Irish. The cast included future stars Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
Peter Berg directed 2004's "Friday Night Lights," based on H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger's 1988 book about the Permian High School team in Odessa, Texas. Billy Bob Thornton played coach Gary Gaines.
Peter Berg directed 2004's "Friday Night Lights," based on H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger's 1988 book about the Permian High School team in Odessa, Texas. Billy Bob Thornton played coach Gary Gaines.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
Paramount
Warren Beatty stars as Joe Pendleton, a backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams who is summoned to heaven before his time, in the romantic fantasy movie "Heaven Can Wait." Beatty co-directed the 1978 romantic comedy with Buck Henry and co-starred with Julie Christie, James Mason, Dyan Cannon, Jack Warden and Charles Grodin.
Paramount
Warren Beatty stars as Joe Pendleton, a backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams who is summoned to heaven before his time, in the romantic fantasy movie "Heaven Can Wait." Beatty co-directed the 1978 romantic comedy with Buck Henry and co-starred with Julie Christie, James Mason, Dyan Cannon, Jack Warden and Charles Grodin.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
TriStar
Tom Cruise stars as the title character, a sports agent, in 1996's "Jerry Maguire." Cameron Crowe directed the blend of a romance and a sports story. The film co-starred Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. and spawned the catchphrase "Show me the money!" shouted by Gooding's character, wide receiver Rod Tidwell.
TriStar
Tom Cruise stars as the title character, a sports agent, in 1996's "Jerry Maguire." Cameron Crowe directed the blend of a romance and a sports story. The film co-starred Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. and spawned the catchphrase "Show me the money!" shouted by Gooding's character, wide receiver Rod Tidwell.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
Paramount
The Marx Brothers take the field in 1932's "Horse Feathers." Norman Z. McLeod directed this college-based comedy that features Groucho as headmaster Quincy Adams Wagstaff, who tries to recruit a couple of ringers for the football team but winds up with Harpo and Chico.
Paramount
The Marx Brothers take the field in 1932's "Horse Feathers." Norman Z. McLeod directed this college-based comedy that features Groucho as headmaster Quincy Adams Wagstaff, who tries to recruit a couple of ringers for the football team but winds up with Harpo and Chico.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
United Artists
The offensive line of the New Orleans Saints awaits the call of quarterback Ron Catlan, played by Charlton Heston, in 1969's "Number One." Tom Gries directed the story of an aging quarterback who doesn't know when to hang it up. Jessica Walter played his wife, with Diana Muldaur as his mistress.
United Artists
The offensive line of the New Orleans Saints awaits the call of quarterback Ron Catlan, played by Charlton Heston, in 1969's "Number One." Tom Gries directed the story of an aging quarterback who doesn't know when to hang it up. Jessica Walter played his wife, with Diana Muldaur as his mistress.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
United Artists
Alan Alda puts on his football gear for a practice session with the Detroit Lions in 1968's "Paper Lion." Alex March directed the story from the real-life adventures of George Plimpton, who spent a training camp and preseason scrimmage with the Lions. NFL stars Alex Karras and Roger Brown played themselves.
United Artists
Alan Alda puts on his football gear for a practice session with the Detroit Lions in 1968's "Paper Lion." Alex March directed the story from the real-life adventures of George Plimpton, who spent a training camp and preseason scrimmage with the Lions. NFL stars Alex Karras and Roger Brown played themselves.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
ABC
Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) comforts Brian Piccolo (James Caan) in 1971's "Brian's Song." Buzz Kulic directed the true-life story about the friendship between Sayers and Piccolo, who died at age 26.
ABC
Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) comforts Brian Piccolo (James Caan) in 1971's "Brian's Song." Buzz Kulic directed the true-life story about the friendship between Sayers and Piccolo, who died at age 26.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
Getty Images
Al Pacino is Miami Sharks coach Tony D'Amato and Cameron Diaz is the team owner in 1999's "Any Given Sunday." The Oliver Stone drama included Dennis Quaid and Jamie Foxx.
Getty Images
Al Pacino is Miami Sharks coach Tony D'Amato and Cameron Diaz is the team owner in 1999's "Any Given Sunday." The Oliver Stone drama included Dennis Quaid and Jamie Foxx.
The risk of concussion lurks at the Super Bowl — and in all other sports
Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Actor Will Smith attends a special screening of "Concussion" in New York in this Dec. 16, 2015, file photo. In the film Smith portrays Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who fights against the National Football League over his research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) brain degeneration suffered by professional football players.
Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Actor Will Smith attends a special screening of "Concussion" in New York in this Dec. 16, 2015, file photo. In the film Smith portrays Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who fights against the National Football League over his research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) brain degeneration suffered by professional football players.
Rob Gronkowski: I’m not ready to commit to the game of football right now’
Michael Reaves/Getty Images North America/TNS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC wild-card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 16, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images/TNS)
Michael Reaves/Getty Images North America/TNS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC wild-card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 16, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images/TNS)
