Health A Factor In Rob Gronkowski’s Return
March 22nd, 2021
Feeling good.
In his seven seasons before coming to the Bucs and helping the team win a Super Bowl, foot-rubbing, car-littering tight end Rob Gronkowski didn’t play a full season of football.
Gronk, a future Hall of Fame tight end, was beat up. It’s a big reason why he retired. Joe fully remembers Gronk’s brother Chris explaining that after the Belicheats beat the Rams in the Super Bowl, Gronk was in such pain that he needed help to get to the bathroom just so he could do his business.
After a year off and reforming his body and changing his workout regime, Gronk is a model of fitness. At 31, he took on more of a role as a blocking tight end rather than a receiving threat, and didn’t miss a game playing 20 games through the regular season and the postseason.
And health is a big reason why Gronk returned to the Bucs, signing a one-year pact.
“It was great overall,” Gronk said today. “I did take a shot to my quad [in the Super Bowl win over Los Angeles and it was difficult to walk for a couple of weeks after for sure. This year, playing all 20 games, not missing a practice and not missing a game, not missing anything in the postseason was just a great feeling.
“[Playing another full season] was just something I wanted to prove to myself I could do. Prove to myself that the things I have learned and taken in and changed that I can play a full season and a full postseason and play at a high level too.”
Gronk also added that now he knows Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians’ offense, so he should have a better season than last year. Gronk caught nine touchdowns through 20 games, ending with two in the Super Bowl.
“It was just great overall that I could complete that mission and I feel I can do it again too,” Gronk said. “I feel like I can do it now with a year under my belt doing it a different way than I was doing it. I feel like I can just pick it up and keep improving.”
An improved Gronk at 32 (his birthday is in May)? That’s really bad news for NFC defenses.
March 22nd, 2021 at 1:44 pm
Forever, BA’s offense didn’t include TEs in the passing game. The offense evolved a ton last year. By the playoffs, Gronk and Brate were featured pass catchers.
It’s easy to envision Gronk having a banner year in 2021.
March 22nd, 2021 at 1:49 pm
If oj healthy and gronk in football shape
Look out opposing teams
The rams will be tough matchup.
That division is pretty tough.
March 22nd, 2021 at 1:59 pm
I think the Bucs giving Gronk “Maintenance” Day or Days off during the week similar to JPP helped him out quite a bit.
March 22nd, 2021 at 2:05 pm
What Gronk didn’t mention was he took the shot in the Rams SB but it was later in that game after he got hot he made a phenomenal catch on inside the 5 yard line that led to the game winning TD. Play through the pain baby. Gronk is a true baller.
March 22nd, 2021 at 2:20 pm
Gronk and Brate make for a pretty damn solid tight end corps. OJ who? And I love the way Gronk fits in with the blocking scheme. I have a feeling the run game is going to be turned up a notch in 21, with or without Playoff Lenny. And when that running game is in 4th gear, Arians’ ‘no risk it, no biscuit’ passing game will be lethal.
March 22nd, 2021 at 2:25 pm
Teams pretty much have to double-team a healthy Gronk. During his NE days, they triple-teamed him, as they didn’t have the offense that TB has, today. A single/double-teamed Gronk makes that big play. And what do you think that does for other (open) fielders? Then, there’s the improved running game with Gronk blocking. Yeah, adding a healthy Gronk and an in-shape-to-play AB is unfair- too much offense! Deal with it!
March 22nd, 2021 at 2:27 pm
Nfl network has piece on patriots
They spent 290 mil this year. Blowing away every other team in nfl. They never spend money like that in new england
Brady super bowl in tampa likely trigger some wild spending
March 22nd, 2021 at 2:57 pm
But wait 🤡s said we not running Bruce offense. Even though we still lead the league in deep passes.
March 22nd, 2021 at 4:08 pm
Bye OJ.
March 22nd, 2021 at 4:14 pm
Having Brate and Tanner Hudsen take alot of the recieving chores of Gronk.
Auclair can block also.
And our WRs take all the double teams.
Gronk has been the most dominant TE in the last 10 years.
He is just too big to stop in the Red Zone.
Sooooo glad he came back! He is fun to watch!
March 22nd, 2021 at 6:47 pm
Bye OJ??? A young Gronk type hybrid TE. Nothing but knowledge to learn from 32 year old GOAT TE, one year deal who is still most definitely injury prone. We got very lucky and hopefully 2021 he will be healthy as well. OJ and Gronk is a sick ass rotation.
March 22nd, 2021 at 7:24 pm
Oj has shown nothing but potential, and lack of passion.
Seems like a great young man. But you gotta fight to win, in the NFL.
Not any fight in him.
So many people still going off his draft review, and not his disappointing career.
March 23rd, 2021 at 1:11 am
OJ played in four games and started one in 2020. 11 rec, 146 yards, 13.3 avg, 2 TD. His short highlight reel is quite amazing with Brady. This ain’t Jameis anymore. I’m actually very excited to see if he can come back healthy.