More Gronk Shade
March 12th, 2021
TE Rob Gronkowski.
Joe finds it awfully fishy Bucs foot-rubbing, car-littering future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski drops all sorts of hints on social media and in a national interview that he’s coming back to the NFL.
Yet Gronk hasn’t said he’s coming back to the Bucs. Or even said “Tampa.”
Look, Joe likes Gronk a lot (how could you not?) but with so many wacky adventures he’s involved in, Joe gets the sense Gronk could be soon to pull a fast one and say he’s coming back — with the Dolphins or somebody else — and then Gronk will use the “gotcha” moment for one of his video or TV ventures or something.
Yes, Joe knows Gronk has said if he came back it would only be with the Bucs. Still, Joe just wants to hear him say that now.
Enter NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. While appearing on “The Rich Eisen Show” seen on Peacock, Rapoport said he “know(s)” Gronk is coming back and the Bucs want him back.
Huh?
“I know [Gronk] is coming back,” Rapoport said. “The Bucs “would like him back. I will [have to] see what the actual salary ends up being.
“I don’t think he is going to come back for like a dollar. But is he willing to come back and take a pay cut from last year? That seems hard to believe.”
You see a disconnect there? Joe sure does.
And Joe is pretty confident Rapoport isn’t trying to give us the double-talk here, either.
There’s just something fishy about this to Joe.
March 12th, 2021 at 7:11 am
Booo. I hope he comes back. I would even go for cutting OJ and bring back Gronk.
March 12th, 2021 at 7:13 am
agreed, OJ is gone…. Brate, Gronk, Hudson and Auclaire, as good a TE group as any
March 12th, 2021 at 7:15 am
Why would he get more money after last year? We still have Cam Brate and OJ Howard under contract. Gronk is a stud but part of why he was great in the playoffs was because he’s like Tom’s 3rd/4th target and isn’t getting beat up every play. He’s a stud blocker, and that’s worth some money, but if he’s staying it’s to chase rings with Tommy
March 12th, 2021 at 7:16 am
“Yeah he’s already said that he only ever wants to play with Tom, but I wanna hear him say it again!”
Makes a ton of sense…
March 12th, 2021 at 7:17 am
My guess is Gronk is getting pissed because they haven’t signed him yet or they offered him lik $6 mil and his agent is telling him to pound sand. Brady spreads the ball around so his stats aren’t going to be as high as Kelce, Waller, Kittle but as an overall TE, I would put him as #3 Kittle, Waller then Gronk. Kelce is nothing without Mahomes.
March 12th, 2021 at 7:32 am
Why would he say he’s coming back to the Bucs if the contract isn’t done yet…..I just think he’s being positive without being too presumptuous.
March 12th, 2021 at 7:33 am
^^^^
Gronk aint pissed at bucs
They paid him 10 mil last year after sitting out a year
And he won another super bowl in the process
Stop
March 12th, 2021 at 7:49 am
Cut Howard to keep Gronk. Just my opinion.
If someone wants to give us a 6th for him even better.
March 12th, 2021 at 7:50 am
Ugh c’mon. Gronk isnt chasing money. He still hasnt spent any of his salary from any season. Endorsements. And Joe some guys understand no state tax and consistent national exposure equal lots more money down the line. Not sure why you dont. Gronk isn’t playing without Tommy. Not exactly breaking news
March 12th, 2021 at 7:55 am
Cutting OJ who is still on a rookie deal makes ZERO sense, and doesnt/would not facilitate a deal with Gronk. It is Brate who would either have to dramatically restructure deal, or get cut altogether if other personel moves are necessary to accommodate Gronk after Brady/Jensen restructure their current deals.
March 12th, 2021 at 8:04 am
Joe, would you please relax?
March 12th, 2021 at 8:07 am
He’s just trying to come up with a little bargaining chip.
March 12th, 2021 at 8:12 am
My guess is he has always been planning to come back to the Bucs but he knows how to create chatter. Lots of it, apparently.
March 12th, 2021 at 8:23 am
Love OJ. he’s a great guy and he’s one hell of a athlete but he just can’t seem to stay healthy which is really sad because I do believe this guy could be better than little and kelcie. He’s faster and stronger than both but if you can’t suit up then it’s all here say.
March 12th, 2021 at 8:34 am
Take a nap Lee
March 12th, 2021 at 8:34 am
gofortheface30 … OJ stands to make $6.0 mil this year because Bucs picked up his 5th year option (1st Rnd pick?). Cam Brate is also under contract & makes $6.5 mil this year. Gronk made $9.3 mil last year. So if Gronk got paid the same amount AND we keep both OJ & Cam, we’d have 3 TEs costing us very close to $22 mil. Just 2 of our WRs (ME13 & CG) cost us $32.6 mil this year. So together those 5 will cost us over $54 mil, a pretty good chunk of change when the salary CAP is only $182.5 mil.
Everybody wants MORE, but the NFL just said ‘Not so fast’ when they REDUCED the 2021 salary CAP by over $15 mil. I have a feeling that this is gonna get REALLY interesting REALLY fast.
March 12th, 2021 at 8:38 am
Gronk is chasing Super Bowls. He is used to winning. Going through the regular stuff somewhere else just to log in the time is not sufficient. #EyesOn8
March 12th, 2021 at 8:50 am
If Lavonte and Shak are going to make 20 million or more a year, if I was Gronk I’d aim that number too.
March 12th, 2021 at 8:55 am
Harry agrees with DR.
OJ is NOT worth the draft capital that was invested in him; he is and will always be nothing but “potential” (and in the ice tub). I think most would prefer the Bucs keep Brate; Brate might even take another haircut in ’21. Are the Bucs going to have 3 TEs that make a total of ($10+6.5+6=) $22.5MM?! No.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:02 am
According to this story, Gronk said he is coming back to Tampa….
https://www.tmz.com/2021/03/10/rob-gronkowski-return-tampa-bay-buccaneers-2021-season/
March 12th, 2021 at 9:08 am
They call it BSPN for a reason.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:18 am
🥱
No story here.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:26 am
Ahhh yes good point about the 5th yr option – forgot about that. That def changes the complexion. However, where we like it or not – someone is going to be the 3rd string TE. And we all know that won’t be Howard. If I had to bet, I’d feel a lot more confident that it is Brate that would restructure or outright cut. The Bucs love OJ and I believe it when I see it with him getting cut
March 12th, 2021 at 9:33 am
Howard is a waste. Can’t stay healthy & not as good as Brate or Gronk. I say let him go on a injury settlement or trade for anything.
March 12th, 2021 at 9:49 am
Jim:
Did you watch the video? Not once did Gronk sa “Bucs” or “Tampa.”
March 12th, 2021 at 9:57 am
Tim – I could not disagree more about Brate being “better.” More reliable – sure. You need to rewatch the go route Howard caught against the best young safety in the league (Justin Simmons) against Denver. Brate could not do that in a million years. He is also a far better blocker than Brate. I like Brate too (A LOT) but some of you are being extremely ridiculous with your opinion. He is not an objectively better football player than OJ Howard. HOWEVER, as the cliche goes: “best ability is availability.” Brate is a guy you can count on and yes that means a lot
March 12th, 2021 at 10:03 am
I think the Bucs and Gronk already have an understanding but it just ain’t made public yet or should I say hoping
March 12th, 2021 at 10:17 am
We wouldn’t have won a championship without Gronk. Sorry Brate, or O.J., your money is going to Gronk. Gronk blocked like a pro bowl tackle during our SB run. O.J. was on the couch with his foot up. Gronk caught two T.D. passes in the S.B.. He’s twice as good as Brate, and O.J., he’s going to the hall of fame. Gronk is a very important piece, don’t sell what he did for us short, and think O.J. can carry his jock, he can’t.
March 12th, 2021 at 11:07 am
Hodad, lay off the ‘shrooms guy, no one is saying OJ Howard is better than Gronk. I think we all already know the greatness of Gronk ok and the discussion is literally about who do we keep as TE2 Behind Gronk
March 12th, 2021 at 11:09 am
Gronk is a student of bradys longevity training. They are a great partnership. Hes a great team player. Hope he gets resigned.
One thing that I noticed was last 2 super bowls had the best TEs in football. Kelcey v. Kittle, then kelcey v. Gronk.
Dont underestimate the value of a great TE on your team.!
March 12th, 2021 at 11:20 am
Howard’s #1 issue is he can’t stay healthy.
What’s the cliche? The best ability is availability?
March 12th, 2021 at 11:20 am
Plus his girlfriend honey in the picture on “where is he going..?” thread is GORGEOUS..!!!
March 12th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
Just fish OJ Howard for a trade partner, and if someone doesn’t emerge, waive him. Gronk might sign for less than $8 million, at least that’s my hope.
March 12th, 2021 at 12:22 pm
If you think Gronk is going anywhere other than Tampa with Brady, you haven’t been paying attention at all the last 10 years.
March 12th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
Gronk is back because of Brady..if Brady is playing Gronk will be playing..he has no ego so if he can make millions blocking for Brady..he will
March 12th, 2021 at 1:52 pm
Trade O.J., sign Gronk, keep Brate and Auclair. Simple really.
March 12th, 2021 at 2:31 pm
You people have lost your minds.