Gronk Got “Thicker”
November 30th, 2021
Some veteran players come back from a year off or a season lost to injury and aren’t the same physically and never reach their previous form.
It’s understandable for any athlete not named Tom Brady.
In the case of future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski, he showed up to training with teammates in the summer of 2020 and impressed them with his size and hands. However, it was not the Gronk of old.
Bucs cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting reflected on his realization of that yesterday on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“Gronk has always been a beast. You know, just now he’s comfortable, I guess,” Murphy-Bunting said.
“You know, just seeing it up close and personal, I think that everything that he says that he is, he definitely is. When I first got on the field with Gronk, I didn’t really realize how big Gronk really was. I think Gronk actually got bigger, I mean like thicker. He got more like in football shape.”
Murphy-Bunting added that Gronk is the same hard-working and fun guy every day, and he’s transformed from a more lean version to a harder dude without losing how well he moves.
The result is 32-year-old Gronk dragging tacklers and running over people while playing on fresh legs the last two games. The ribs are healed. The back is fine. And now Gronk looks like he’s punched Father Time in the gut.
Joe’s hoping Gronk can hold on to his youth for at least 10 more weeks.
November 30th, 2021 at 2:46 pm
Tuuuudddddies !
November 30th, 2021 at 2:52 pm
I thought Gronk was thinner when he came back, from when he last played with Pats.
November 30th, 2021 at 2:52 pm
THICC
November 30th, 2021 at 2:52 pm
I remember a Gronk PC before he came back talking how he put in a lot of other work while rehabbing as well. Sure as hell looks like it!! AB is a work out freak as well. This could be where it all possibly falls together…
…Stop getting injured.
November 30th, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Dude has always been a beast out there! He’s a big, big guy.
November 30th, 2021 at 2:54 pm
he more swole than me….and thats sayin sumthin!
November 30th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
I gotta tell you, I am 58 and in the last two years I broke two ribs and a shoulder on a dirtbike and two more ribs on a snowmobile!
Broken ribs SUCK!!!!!
It took me almost a month to get back from each injury and I am a G.C. not a TE!
The fact that he is back out there at a high level is Flippin Incredible.
Also, maybe I should dial it back a bit on the toys nowadays. 😊
November 30th, 2021 at 3:11 pm
Look up images of Gronk standing next to other football players in normal clothing. He’s so much bigger than most NFL players.
November 30th, 2021 at 3:11 pm
Everybody will get better when AB gets back…….Gronk is the definition of a beast…..
November 30th, 2021 at 3:14 pm
Gronk’s weight has fluctuated a bit, even during his Patriots days. He slimmed down a bit while working with Guerrero, but I never saw him as skinny as he was last season. Now he looks bigger, more like the 2018 Patriots-version of Gronk.
November 30th, 2021 at 3:19 pm
I commented back in training camp after an interview that his neck and forearms were noticeably bigger than 2020.
November 30th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
I work-out every day, 16 ounce curls. (I only buy the 16 ounce beers)
November 30th, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Your wise men don’t know how it feels
To be thick as a brick.
November 30th, 2021 at 3:43 pm
Gronk gives me the warms.
November 30th, 2021 at 3:52 pm
The man is real, nothing fake about Gronk
November 30th, 2021 at 3:54 pm
Bucs need to sign him for two more years after this one.
November 30th, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Big man playing big boy football. Wouldn’t want to be responsible for covering or tackling him. Plus he seems like a genuinely nice guy. Love how he gave props to Winfield for the big interception in one of his pressers.
November 30th, 2021 at 3:57 pm
Relying on gronk this much, is a bad sign. I love me some gronk, and am happy that he’s rejuvenated his career. But, he’s now more valuable than ever for Brady. Ben is reminded of seasons past, when the Patriots offense was too reliant on his pass catching, and sometimes more importantly, his run blocking. It’s a sign that Brady really doesn’t fully trust the other recievers. Godwin excluded of course. I hope he stays healthy, but Ben thinks your superbowl chances depend on his health, and that’s a scary place to live in
November 30th, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Its hard to tell if Gronk is playing smarter or if he’s mentally dinged from the slew of injuries he’s had over the years, but he seems to be less enthusiastic about taking hits as a receiver. His blocking is as aggressive as ever and he’s still a top tier TE, but I do wonder if the aches are lingering longer and longer in his 30s. He’s still fun to watch and I really believe his presence allows Brady to be the ultimate chess player vs defenses.
November 30th, 2021 at 4:14 pm
Gronk is an amazing athlete. Perfect TE. So lucky TB enticed him to Tampa.
November 30th, 2021 at 4:21 pm
*Gronk is tolerable; great player; great talent; accept mistakes; forgives.
*Tom is intolerable; great player(GOTA);great talent(GOAT);great leader(GOAT); hates mistakes; hard time to forgive; super SMART.
**In this stage Gronk+Tom is a duo that can work when both are present.
IMO TB12 needs Gronk more then other way around.
Is hard to find today two players connecting/bounding like they do.
That connection is because of Gronk; and yes, TB12 is the only GOAT.
November 30th, 2021 at 4:27 pm
Hope gets at least 4 more tds to end the season
November 30th, 2021 at 4:32 pm
Gronk threatened to retire earlier than he did because Belichick tried to trade him to Detriot. He told Belichick to go pund sand Brady is the only QB he will play with and has held to his word. Brady goes Gronk goes.
November 30th, 2021 at 5:06 pm
DavidBBF99…Four? He had four in the first two weeks and two in the Super Bowl. Give the guy some credit.
November 30th, 2021 at 6:01 pm
GRONK GOT THICKER! That’s what she said.
November 30th, 2021 at 6:39 pm
Can we bubble wrap Gronk until the playoffs…. 😉 He is too important to be getting hit so much. I’m scared !! ….. Please, Brate and OJ step-up at least 50% of what Gronk is doing.
November 30th, 2021 at 7:59 pm
@Ben Green – they are not relying on Grind that much. At least not as much as the pats did in his prime. Evans and Godwin are allays the first reads. When they are double covered it goes to Gronk. In fact, Gronk has it easy as he does not have to carry the team.
@Bobby M: I think Gronk has been better coached lately and he knows not to overdo it after the catch where most injuries happen. TE are unique in that they are very big guys and unlike linemen are exposed to high speed collisions. Your bones and ligaments are not designed to withstand that when you are that big. Good TE learn to be smart with their bodies.
December 1st, 2021 at 6:06 am
gronkie’s yac is one of the most fun to watch…
it’s like awkward and great at the same time…
gotta love it
December 1st, 2021 at 6:32 am
which part of Gronk got thicker?