Former GM On Rob Gronkowski: “One-Hundred Percent He Comes Back”
June 30th, 2022
Former NFL GM has a bold call.
If you believe the forceful belief of a former NFL general manager, then you can forget about putting your Gronk jerseys in mothballs (even though Joe is confident moths don’t eat polyester).
Former Jets and Dolphins shot-caller Mike Tannenbaum, who now is a talking head for BSPN, said flat out this week on “Stay in Bed,” seen weekday mornings on BSPN, that Gronk will come back and play for the Bucs this fall.
Tannenbaum gave no qualifiers. He said take it to the sportsbook of your choice with a fistful of cash. Gronk will return, that’s all there is to it.
“One-Hundred percent he comes back,” Tannenbaum said. And Tannenbaum didn’t mean Gronk would just return to the NFL with another team. He will suit up for the Bucs this season; mark the tape.
And why is Tannenbaum so confident? Simple, he said. Tom Brady is why.
“When [Brady] says ‘Go,’ [Gronk] says ‘Yes,'” Tannenbaum said.
Tannenbaum thinks the Bucs may make a deal with Gronk: that he only plays in games of significance. So when the Bucs play the Dixie Chicks or the Stinking Panthers, Gronk can go hang out on Pass-A-Grille with Camille instead of getting pounded on by linebackers.
“They don’t need Gronk in 17 games,” Tannenbaum said. “They need him in consequential games. Maybe it’s games down the stretch?”
On paper Joe can understand what Tannenbaum is saying. But Joe doesn’t know how that will go over with Todd Bowles or the Bucs locker room if Gronk gets to pick and choose his games. Joe has never heard a player with that kind of power.
Look, Joe has maintained that Gronk simply doesn’t want to get beat up in August. Once it starts getting close to Labor Day, that’s when Joe’s antennae will stand straight up expecting an announcement of Gronk coming back.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:19 am
It’s like the mob Joe, you’re either in, or out.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:27 am
I wouldn’t be surprised if he waited 40 days and signed
June 30th, 2022 at 4:53 am
IF he is that critical to the teams success, and IF he stays out for a month or two, it could be too late for the Bucs anyway.
Starting AT Dallas..AT New Orleans and then two home games against the Packers and Chiefs. It’s a long season but do we think the Bucs could bounce back from an 0-4 start? 1-3? Yes then some easier games pop up but there are plenty of tough opponents the rest of the way.
If the Bucs blow it at the start and let the Saints slip by to win the Division there go the playoffs. The Saints are not THAT good. If they win it probably means the Bucs record will not be good enough for the Wild Card.
I don’t expect that to happen because the Bucs do NOT NEED Gronk. Yes he’s the icing on the cake and a bit of an insurance card but the Bucs offense is loaded with targets for Brady.
The Bucs may resemble some of the old NE offenses with “Lombardi Lenny” and the rookie White getting lots of targets to fill any void left by less attempts to TEs. Brate is not great but he is a competent TE, especially if he’s not the straw that stirs the drink.
If this team is DEPENDENT at this late date on signing a TE they are in trouble.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:58 am
BTW Yesterday a post on White’s effectiveness catching the ball. Many feel that “Lombardi Lenny” will get the bulk of the targets out of the backfield and that White will have difficulty getting on the field.
RB is a position that frequently sees rookies make a big impact. If BL and Brady are as creative as I believe they are who knows how they’ll use White?
Perhaps 2 back sets with one of them going in motion. Sets up all kinds of different plays from straightforward running, pitches..passes..all kinds of misdirection.
I believe BL and TB12 have the ability to create the 2022 offense which may look different than 2021 or 2020.
June 30th, 2022 at 6:50 am
@Hodad
Hodad says: “Just like the mob Joe ,Your either in, or your out” But also remember Al Pacino’s line in Godfather lll….”Just when I thought I got out, they pull me back in”
June 30th, 2022 at 6:53 am
@CleanHouse
Yup.
June 30th, 2022 at 7:08 am
If I had a really good friend who retired because of lots of injuries and lingering physical issues, I wouldn’t try to talk him into returning to work, because I’m not that self absorbed. I would want what what is best for my friend, not what is best for me. I’m pretty confident Brady is the same way.
June 30th, 2022 at 7:11 am
So have we signed a guy to replace him? Not yet. As I was one of the early guys to speculate that he would return the first day he announced he was retiring, I guess I was way ahead of the game. How did I do it? It I was channeling Ira the Sage. Oh well…Hmmm… six O’Clock in the morning. I’m breakfast time hungry. Now where did I put my leftover Ruben sandwich with the extra sauerkraut?
June 30th, 2022 at 7:13 am
cacillator… I think you are missing one thing. Gronk still loves the game, and loves playing with Brady.
June 30th, 2022 at 7:30 am
Gtonk-a-day…….coffee….cereal…….instead of “Cup of Joe”…..”Cup of Gronk”
June 30th, 2022 at 7:41 am
I understand missing training camp and preseason.
But we need an “all in” approach to win another Championship.
LFG
June 30th, 2022 at 7:51 am
If he comes back it will be with Miami 2023!
June 30th, 2022 at 8:15 am
Thank you for the picture, Joe. She is truly a natural beauty. And Gronks ok too. Haha
June 30th, 2022 at 8:17 am
Im not certain he comes back though. The bigger they are the harder they fall….
June 30th, 2022 at 8:37 am
the other thing Joe is this could be a salary cap thing… Maybe Gronk wants $12M and we want to pay him $8M… so you let him start week 10 and pay him $6M.
June 30th, 2022 at 8:54 am
What we are all dismissing is this IS going to be Brady’s last season and we wants to go out with a SB! Gronk is a huge missing piece to that plan. These guys are BFF’s, Gronk probably knows more about Brady than Giselle does. They probably communicate every day. I’ll say it AGAIN! If Gronk wasn’t coming back Brady would have made sure Bucs signed a veteran TE. He tried the play with rookie TE’s in New England and that didn’t work out so well. As far as NO player has that power, you’re you’re talking about a guy Bill Belichick at his peak couldn’t reign in, he’s always beat to his own drum. A health Gronk is a dangerous Gronk and Brady knows it. FYI, contrary to Joe’s belief, Bowles has NO say!
June 30th, 2022 at 9:14 am
Suh.
June 30th, 2022 at 9:36 am
I’d put money down on Gronk coming back.
June 30th, 2022 at 9:46 am
Gronk is a FA. He could come back and play for any team after the season starts.
June 30th, 2022 at 10:10 am
I agree 100%. I only wish I knew the basics on how to safely gamble on Gronk coming back as I could really use such a quick and sizable return on a significant wager.
Plus, Gronk would be a critical factor when the Bucs debut their new, heavy play-action running attack.
June 30th, 2022 at 10:12 am
Dang List, you do it pretty much everytime. You make some pretty good points a lot of the time and then you deficate on it with nonsense like the coach has no say. You do realize that, that puts you on the short bus. I believe you’re bright enough to get that.
And let me ask you, why the Buc hate? You are clearly a Brady fan more than a Pat’s fan. We (at least 98% of us) embrace Brady like you do. So why the hate?
Let me ask you this. Does it make sense to say that Bellecheat has no say?
Now doesn’t that sound a little short bus ish? Of Course it does. So why would you deficate on yourself. This self loathing thing is what?
Hey, what you said about Gronk not only makes sense, it was a touch more inside on the subject and we’ll said. The other comment…. Short Bus!
GO BUCS!
June 30th, 2022 at 10:19 am
Man, “we’ll said” That puts men on the short bus to. Ehh, that’s OK, I find myself on the short bus more than I’d like to admit. 🙃🤣
June 30th, 2022 at 10:34 am
Ditto Listnfrmafar. Tom Brady and Bucs’ last season together going for it all to cap off the GOAT’s amazing career and to solidify the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a yearly contender will be the stuff of sports legends. There is NO WAY that Valerie’s “Gronky” would miss leaving the NFL together….and to be inducted into the Hall of Fame together.
I renember Gronk’s barbershop comment a couple of months ago that he was going to “payback” Brady for the retirement scare that he gave everyone. And everyone now knows the rest of that Lenny Fournette story when Brady called Fournette WHILE he was sniffing around in New England: “#$&&#:& you doing up THERE?! Get your @$$ back here!” lol. Well, it turns out that there was more to that conversation and it had to do with money. According to Fournette, Brady ended the call with “Let me get back to you” or words to that effect. Shortly thereafter Lenny was on his way back.
I’m sure that Gronk is trying to squeeze what he can out of the Bucs for this last season and Tom is very likely in the middle of it. Gronk will be back even if it means the GOAT shaving a little more off his deal.
June 30th, 2022 at 11:00 am
@CleanHouse: 41, to one-up The GOAT.
June 30th, 2022 at 11:01 am
I suspect a Gronk return based on how there is no freaking out at OBP…or Brady.
June 30th, 2022 at 11:03 am
From what I recall when Gronk came out of retirement the first time, he didn’t look razor sharp receiving. I know he was banged up, but he didn’t look too sharp in his last game vs Rams either. We drafted and have a big blocking TE; we need his hands and those hands are gonna need some practice. Even the Rolling Stones gotta rehearse before stepping out on a “farewell” tour. I’d rather eat that cap space up on FULL TIME fully committed edge rusher with a hunger. The Gronk show is getting old and I’m tired of this prima Donna narrative, it’s a rerun.
June 30th, 2022 at 11:27 am
@stpete:
I like your vision of our RB’s and agree that using them as you propose certainly would change our offense and cover up the Gronk loss (some).
Brady certainly has experience with 2 back sets over the last 22 years. Maybe R White could resemble James White for Brady…
June 30th, 2022 at 11:55 am
#8, what he said.. I think Gronk comes back a week before training camp ends. TB12 has to be talking to him about playing just one more season….
June 30th, 2022 at 12:04 pm
If he retired for 69 days, that would have him coming back the on August 28th, the day after the Bucs last preseason game. This man’s a genius.
June 30th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
white could provide relief at slot and that puts lenny ad white on the field at the same time. but please limit empty sets.
June 30th, 2022 at 12:18 pm
If we could just get her to cut him off until he signs with us, I’d bet on the situation.
June 30th, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Kinda a loaded question if he comes back or not. If he does, then the Bucs already know this and they’re just setting up a huge media ploy like with Brady’s return.
June 30th, 2022 at 12:25 pm
SOE. I think the Bucs organization knows. Or they would be looking for a replacement like yesterday. The longer we do nothing, the more I think he is coming back.
June 30th, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Part time players… Hmmmm, let’s not make a habit of this.
June 30th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
Think it’s wishful thinking he didn’t have to retire he wasn’t under contract if he simply didn’t want to go to training came he could have signed after seems like he is done and people are in denial bucs will be fine they have a very good shot let’s see if the luck holds out go bucs.
June 30th, 2022 at 1:03 pm
@Cavellator
Amen!!!
June 30th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
No way Gronk unretires, comes back and plays this season. That exact same “play” is not happening with BOTH Brady and Gronk.
Ground seems to just want to chill, have fun and hang out with his gorgeous girlfriend. And who can blame him? He made his name, his fame and his millis. He’s got nothing left to prove.
June 30th, 2022 at 4:16 pm
If he’s coming back, he need not have retired. Make no mistake though, Gronk loves the attention. If he has put his paperwork in, and does come back, the NFL needs seriously reconsider the process. What the hell is the point of retirement?
Gronk is finished anyway. The only reason the bucs got anything out of him, was because of the year off. We all saw what was left in the divisional round loss. 4 catches on 10 targets. Please Gronk, stay away.
June 30th, 2022 at 5:49 pm
Mike Tanenbaum, like the rest of headline-puffing, gossip-mongering, blowhard sports media, is full of it. I’m tired of this idiotic speculation volleyball that nobody stops batting around.
He’s out. Period. Ignore him. He’s out until or unless he isn’t. Until then, he is persona non grata, and this team must prepare for this coming brutal season without foolishly waiting for a guy who is not signed and 100% committed.
Get a veteran starting TE right now. One season. Don’t overpay. Or swing a trade for a long-term answer. See how it goes in camp. Target TE again next offseason if it isn’t good enough.
Gronk can stay the couch with his gorgeous girlfriend. If he wants to sashay in at the end of the season, he can beg for a roster spot then.
July 1st, 2022 at 3:08 pm
I agree, he comes back after training camp. He has 1 more run in him. He would rather spend the time with his girlfriend than a bunch of sweaty guys in training camp, lol. Everyone loves Gronk.
July 1st, 2022 at 5:30 pm
GOB, you’re a moron, back your stupid shat with facts please. Check out last seasons stats compared to whom you feel is not washed up, you’ll be foolishly surprised.
July 1st, 2022 at 5:32 pm
Agree. He wants his cake and eat it too. Avoid training camp, lessen wear and tear on his big banged up body. And if are somehow under water midseason he simply stays retired. We have a chance he rides to the rescue. Right after Germany I predict.