Rob Gronkowski retires (for the second time)

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
47,090
Hope it's true. Good for Rob. You've done it all. No need to take any more hits. Let TB12 play until he's 100.
 

djbayko

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Jul 18, 2005
25,894
Los Angeles, CA
Didn't mention the Patriots. Travesty!

I guess it makes sense, but it's weird to see that he's only 33. Probably the greatest TE of all time and he's retired twice in that short amount of time.
 

cornwalls@6

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Apr 23, 2010
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Yeah, I'd be pretty surprised if he doesn't return for the stretch run/playoffs. If this is Brady's last dance, and the Bucs look like a serious Super Bowl contender, I think he'll want to join in at some point.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
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Jul 15, 2005
37,055
Hingham, MA
Ha even his agent thinks so

However, his agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter that he wouldn't be surprised if Gronkowski could be coaxed out of retirement for a second time by Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.

"It would not surprise me if Tom Brady calls him during the season to come back and Rob answers the call," Drew Rosenhaus told Schefter. "This is just my opinion but I wouldn't be surprised if Rob comes back during the season or next season."
 

DJnVa

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Dec 16, 2010
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Love the dude, but the Gronk/Brady back and forth is a lot less interesting when they're on other teams.
 

nattysez

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Sep 30, 2010
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The retirement/unretirement is such a weird thing. Is there some sort of financial benefit for this?
It helps the team in terms of salary cap room, I imagine. For the player, I'm not sure there's any benefit other than letting companies know that you've got free time to promote their products.
 

54thMA

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Aug 15, 2012
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Love em both, but they’re the worst examples of childish, sick burn/throwing shade social media idiocy.
Good to know he always wanted to play in Tampa because it's sunny there.

He managed in his statement to throw sun at Tampa and shade at the Patriots.

That's some skill set on display there.
 

cornwalls@6

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Apr 23, 2010
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Good to know he always wanted to play in Tampa because it's sunny there.

He managed in his statement to throw sun at Tampa and shade at the Patriots.

That's some skill set on display there.
It’s just so tiresome and silly. We get it, you both were sick of playing for Belichick at the end. Does that just completely preclude acting like an adult, and not putting out click bait statements like that?
 

54thMA

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It’s just so tiresome and silly. We get it, you both were sick of playing for Belichick at the end. Does that just completely preclude acting like an adult, and not putting out click bait statements like that?
Right; they were both sick of playing for Belichick, Gronkowski "retired" and Brady decided to take his talent somewhere else.

They both ended up in Tampa when Gronkowski, who was afraid of ending up crippled, decided to "unretire" and join Brady.

They won a Super Bowl together.

Good for them.

But apparently it's not good enough for either of them and this nonsense just goes on and on and on.

No doubt Brady will talk his good buddy Gronk out of retirement if he needs him in order to win yet another Super Bowl.

Wonderful.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
72,432
Can't wait to visit Canton to see Gronk's enshrinement. The earlier the better! And saves him the hits.

For a Buffalo boy like him, I understand the love for Tucson and Tampa.

He's more genuine than Tom.

And good for Camille, too.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

posts way less than 18% useful shit
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Nov 17, 2010
14,425
"Gronk didn't mention the Pats!!!1!"

Don't care. Don't even care if he fucking hated every second of being here. It doesn't change a single memory I have of watching him.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
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Dec 16, 2010
53,840
"Gronk didn't mention the Pats!!!1!"

Don't care. Don't even care if he fucking hated every second of being here. It doesn't change a single memory I have of watching him.
Yeah--let me clarify. I don't care about that part of it. I'm sure he'll be back here and have a day.
 

Leather

given himself a skunk spot
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Jul 18, 2005
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Right; they were both sick of playing for Belichick, Gronkowski "retired" and Brady decided to take his talent somewhere else.

They both ended up in Tampa when Gronkowski, who was afraid of ending up crippled, decided to "unretire" and join Brady.

They won a Super Bowl together.

Good for them.

But apparently it's not good enough for either of them and this nonsense just goes on and on and on.

No doubt Brady will talk his good buddy Gronk out of retirement if he needs him in order to win yet another Super Bowl.

Wonderful.
It was so awful two of his brothers came to play for Belichick.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
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Jan 10, 2004
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It helps the team in terms of salary cap room, I imagine. For the player, I'm not sure there's any benefit other than letting companies know that you've got free time to promote their products.
It saves wear and tear on an older body and on a head that's been hit a lot.

If you could offer players the opportunity to stay out until Week 12, join the squad, and play in the playoffs, a lot of established veterans would take it.
 

54thMA

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Aug 15, 2012
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It was so awful two of his brothers came to play for Belichick.
Trent Brown likes playing for Belichick;

“Bill cool as (expletive) honestly,” Brown said in an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show last week. “I think a lot of people have his personality misconstrued, just because — and that’s another thing I love about him — with the Patriots we keep (expletive) in house.

“Whatever people speculate on the outside is just what they speculate, but they’ll never really get some truth’s from inside the building… He’s a cool guy. Super cool. Lot of personality.”

Butler came back.
Van Noy came back.
Collins came back.
Branch came back.
 

Leather

given himself a skunk spot
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Jul 18, 2005
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Trent Brown likes playing for Belichick;

“Bill cool as (expletive) honestly,” Brown said in an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show last week. “I think a lot of people have his personality misconstrued, just because — and that’s another thing I love about him — with the Patriots we keep (expletive) in house.

“Whatever people speculate on the outside is just what they speculate, but they’ll never really get some truth’s from inside the building… He’s a cool guy. Super cool. Lot of personality.”

Butler came back.
Van Noy came back.
Collins came back.
Branch came back.
I think the issue is that Gronk (and Brady) want[ed] to be treated like STARS and get that comes along with that. And that wasn't happening in New England, and they relatedly resent the perception that they were just cogs in some Belichick machine. And, you know, I can see that; careers are short, have fun.

But what has always made me scratch my head is that BB himself doesn't really do anything to promote himself, either. If the issue is a lack of credit, or disrespect (or whatever), it seems silly and childish to blame BB as opposed to just...the press or whatever. Bruce Arians talks more about himself in one season than BB does in 5. And, of course, nobody at all really thinks Brady or Gronk were interchangeable parts, or that they weren't highly relevant to (or in Brady's case, up to 60% responsible for) the success the team has had. The chip on the shoulder just seems so stupid and says more about Gronk than it does about anyone in New England.
 
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Scott Cooper's Grand Slam

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Jul 12, 2008
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TB12 and Gronk are two of the greatest I've ever seen play. The retirements and unretirements are tiresome, but we got to root for them during the primes of their career. They don't owe me anything. May they continue to enjoy their success in good health. May the Patriots enjoy success without them.
 

lexrageorge

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Jul 31, 2007
18,096
TB12 and Gronk are two of the greatest I've ever seen play. The retirements and unretirements are tiresome, but we got to root for them during the primes of their career. They don't owe me anything. May they continue to enjoy their success in good health. May the Patriots enjoy success without them.
+1

I don't harbor any resentment for their desires to play elsewhere after 9 combined Lombardi trophies in Foxboro, and am looking forward to their enshrinements in both the Patriots HoF and Canton. They moved on from the Pats went they felt it was in their best interests, much as like Belichick moves on from players when he feels it's in the best interest of the team to do so. Such is life, and I fail to see the value in over-parsing their "retirement" statements for any hidden meaning that may not exist.
 

azsoxpatsfan

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May 23, 2014
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Gronk thanked the Pats a ton when he announced his retirement the first time, and again when he announced he was coming out of retirement to join Tampa. There’s nothing to be even slightly annoyed at here
 

cornwalls@6

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Apr 23, 2010
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Putting aside the social media kerfuffle(which I contributed to), if he really is retired, time to take stock. I think I can objectively say he’s the best I’ve ever seen play the position. The best combination of blocking and pass catching, athleticism and physicality. I’m of an age where I’ve seen the vast majority of the all time great tight ends in their prime. From Casper, Francis, and Winslow in the late 70’s, to Christianson and Bavarro in the 80’s, to Gonzales, Sharpe, Coates, in the 90’s, right through to Gates, Kittle, etc. in the 21st century. When he was healthy and right, in terms of dominating at all the responsibilities of the position, I think Gronk was a notch above them all.
 
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dcdrew10

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Dec 8, 2005
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I obviously wanted Gronk to be a Patriot for life, but his personality didn't jive with BB the way Edelman's did (look up the stories of Edelman's dad coaching him through childhood and you can understand why Julian and BB worked well together) and it was a bummer to see him in a TB uni, but in the end I remember that players get the short end of the stick from the league, teams, GM and owners 90% of the time and I can't really be mad that a player picked their own path or went for what they thought was in their own self interest.
 

JFK35

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Jun 12, 2022
110
North Shore
Despite all the shenanigans - Gronk is easily one of my favorite athletes of all-time

He’s the third “GOAT” of the Dynasty. There’s no question he’s the tight right end to ever play. He should be a sure fire first ballot HOF’er. His injuries got in the way of his greatness at times but when he played he unstoppable at times. Totally dominate. And with all the numbers - He’s a winner as well.

6 Super Bowl appearances (XLVI, XLIV, LI, LII, LIII, LV)
5
Super Bowls played in (XLVI, XLIV, LII, LIII, LV)
4
- Time World Champion (XLIV, LI, LIII, LV)

10 of 11 seasons was a Division Champion (91%)

11 of 11 seasons team made divisional round (100%)
9 of 11 seasons team played in Conference Championship game (82%)

6 of 11 seasons was a Conference Champion (55%)
4 of 11 seasons was a World Champion (36%)



And without question Gronks number should be retired. The Pats have too many of those who are undeserving but Gronk is definetly deserving.

On that note, I like the way the Pats created a dedicated space for the championship banners a few years ago - It’d be nice if they did the same for retired numbers on the new end zone structure they’re building.