Will Rob Gronkowski Really Retire?
June 22nd, 2022
Color Adam Schein highly suspicious.
So as we all know, Bucs foot-rubbing tight end Rob Gronkowski put out an Instagram post that he’s done (again) with the NFL. OK, fine, someday that will happen with Tom Brady too. No, really.
But minutes after Gronk announced his retirement, Gronk’s agent, oily Drew Rosenhaus basically told Mike Florio and Adam Schefter, “Whoa, whoa! Hold up! Gronk could easily play again,” in so many words.
This is just part of the reason Schein, the popular radio and sports television personality and star of “Schein on Sports” heard on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio and “Time to Schein” on CBS Sports Network, is suspicious of the alleged retirement.
Schein has a very strong hint that Gronk will return this year. Why? Mainly because Gronk put up strong numbers last year and Gronk still has football left in him.
Joe has long maintained Gronk doesn’t want to get beaten up in training camp. This retirement-maybe announcement yesterday just tells Joe that Gronk has no burning desire to abuse his body in July and August.
And if that is the case, of course Joe would still welcome him back. Even if a mid-season unretirement happens, Gronk some of the time is a whole lot better than Gronk none of the time.
You can see Schein’s full take in the CBS Sports Network video below.
Is Gronk really retiring? @AdamSchein weighs in ⬇️pic.twitter.com/OT2HbKVcwS
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 21, 2022
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:07 am
40 days, then un-retire?
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:07 am
Maybe after the BYE week he comes back for a 10 game sprint. That would be a cute reinforcement in late November.
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:08 am
Would be nice if he changes his mind. But, meanwhile the Bucs must add a TE. With just a cursory (casual) look at the possibilities, Kyle Rudolph (age 32) seems to be the best candidate. If so, let’s lock him in.
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:16 am
Maybe he is being goofy and trying to 1-up Brady? And will unretire 41 days after the announcement
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:18 am
I agree with Casual Observer. I wouldn’t count on Gronk coming back, and in fact, it would be stupid to plan for something like that to happen. Licht will hopefully call around and see if any productive, vet TEs are available for a draft pick. For years the TE position was somewhat denigrated, guys like Gronk have helped change that view. That means a good TE won’t come cheap.
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:24 am
I would rather stay home with her versus Training camp as well.
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:42 am
That looks like Annie Agar, not Camille. Either way – if that’s what retirement looks like, who can blame the Gronk?!
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:47 am
He is just gonna stay in football shape just because and if he did it’s different staying in shape and not playing yeah I don’t see that happening sounds like wishful dreaming he is gone we move on can’t wait till the season starts still going to be a great season go bucs
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:58 am
I called this weeks ago. He’s enjoying his time off and doesn’t want to get beaten up in a long 17 game season. I bet he spoke with Licht and Bowles about it already and they signed off on him coming back during the Week 11 bye week. Healthy and in mid-season form for playoffs!
June 22nd, 2022 at 10:58 am
While I get it he does not want to get beat up…. I would not want him coming back after the season has started. We all saw how slow he was for 1/2 his 1st season back. he was like a OL running. No thanks. Train the new guys. he can be a LAST resort.
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:03 am
OK I’m ready for the harassment. I may be the only guy here who hopes Gronk stays retired.
He literally has NOTHING left to prove. He clearly has tons of money.
Bottom line he is playing for fun now. And I get the strong pull of “fun”. But he still a young man who already has a beat up body. In an interview when he was still with the Pats Gronk estimated he already had received 20 concussions with 5 of them total knockouts.
He’s a first year eligible certain HOFer. If fun is that important to him far be it from me to tell him no. He’s a grown man. But I believe he has made the right decision. Gronk has that lovable goofball personality. I hate to see him end up like Jim McMahon and others who literally do not know what day it is or even the time. CTE is real and the odds start stacking heavily against you with each additional concussion. We don’t really know how many times he played through getting his bell rung as a Buc…but the 20 Concussions…five of them total knockouts with the Pats are more than enough.
So everybody hate on me because this morning I say to Gronk…Thanks dude…you helped bring a SB here and you entertained us off the field. You’ve made the right decision!
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:11 am
This is obviously a fake retirement. He pulled the Instagram post retirement and already told everyone at the barber shop it was revenge on brady and he’s going to make him wait. Working out for with Derek Henry, etc. total setup.
He’ll be back by the bye week.
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:21 am
BA has said Gronk has worked out at the Bucs facility this off season. BA and Licht knew before the public Brady was coming back, so it’s not inconceivable that there is already a plan in place for him to stay in shape, and start practicing with Brady once they get back from Germany. That gives them 2 full weeks to get ready before they play Cleveland.
If not, congrats on a great career Gronk, but until it doesn’t happen, I expect him back after the bye week.
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:24 am
Rosenhaus is a dirtbag and has a financial interest in Gronk playing. Drew knows he won’t be getting hit in the head.
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:29 am
I agree with the Joe(s): Gronk just wants to avoid training camp. I also wonder if this has to do with a new contract. I predict that he will return to the team right after training camp rather than the bye week. The Bucs are clearly better with him than without.
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:33 am
I hope Gronk isnt retire, because he is the best TE in football.
We cant replace him.
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:39 am
Annie > Camille.
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:44 am
Annie agar
Aka felicity shagwell
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:47 am
Gronk-a-day…..what can I say?
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:59 am
So, did Gronk change women, is this an old pic, or is he doubling his pleasure, doubling his fun?!
Hey Joes, don’t get Gronk in trouble with his women!
June 22nd, 2022 at 12:05 pm
Can we not?
When someone says they’re retired, let ’em be retired. If they come back, they come back. The NFL speculation industrial complex is enough to drive people crazy.
June 22nd, 2022 at 12:38 pm
Maybe Gronky unretires in 41 days to one-up Tommy.
June 22nd, 2022 at 1:02 pm
Yeah… I mentioned the possiblity of this ploy yesterday. And Gronk does have that joker streak in him. I think what we need to watch is what we do with FA tight ends in the next few weeks. If Tommy and Jason are in on the joke, we won’t sign anyone else, because we will be of the mindset to wait a while. If it is for real and permanent, we will bring someone else in.
June 22nd, 2022 at 1:06 pm
Maybe he just wants a year off so he can join Brady in Miami next season? They can be the first passing duo to win Super Bowls with 3 different teams. I hate that thought, but TB loves doing the incredible………
June 22nd, 2022 at 1:21 pm
The #1 indicator of whether or not he comes back is if he maintains his playing weight. He dropped a bunch of weight the last time he retired and it took him quite a while to get back to physical form. If we see him slimming down in the next 3 months, I think he is really retired.
June 22nd, 2022 at 1:29 pm
I seriously doubt he comes back. I think the only way it happens, is if the bucs offense struggles. He looks awful thin. He’d need to start bulking up at least a month prior to any return. Then he’d need a few starts to get into game shape.
Like Passing said, it’s a stupid idea for the bucs to plan on his return. They need to act like he’s gone for good, and go get someone via trade, or cook/Rudolph.
June 22nd, 2022 at 1:42 pm
Kinda hard to build a Super Bowl team that way, no?
“Eh, a guy who accounted for 800 yards of offense in 10 games and is a crushing blocker helped to protect your meal ticket… if he comes back he comes back, whatevah… “
Com’ on.
June 22nd, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Looking at this picture I know how I would spend my days!!! He probably wants to see if the team has a legit run for another SB before he commits.
June 22nd, 2022 at 2:31 pm
Joe Says:
June 22nd, 2022 at 1:42 pm
My point is that media speculation has no bearing on whether Gronk decides to come back or not. All it does is drive people crazy and (to your benefit) increase clicks… but it’s dumb as shyte to play this game. Let him be retired. Continuing to pound on the issue doesn’t make him come back and play again.
But, of course, we’re a better team if he plays. No duh… but he said he’s retired. What’s the point of speculating he’ll change his mind. It 100% annoying. I’m not even saying he won’t decide to come back. I just think the speculation is a waste of time and doesn’t help us move on.
June 22nd, 2022 at 2:47 pm
I was saying to myself when I saw this pic he was retiring. He looked awfully light. More like a basketball player then a football player
June 22nd, 2022 at 3:17 pm
Because his agent was pretty open about how he may return.
June 22nd, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Not a lot of great options left at tight end. Rudolph is completely washed…Jared Cook likely still has PTSD every time he sees Winfield…mostly guys available because “nobody else wants them”. Brady has to be a bit miffed…used to getting his way…especially with Gronk.
June 22nd, 2022 at 4:30 pm
You bet your ass that Brady knows what he is really doing. Brady put out a nice message congratulating Gronk on his retirement but I don’t believe it. Gronk wants to miss all the grind of training camp and he will be back just before the first game.
June 22nd, 2022 at 5:50 pm
Listening to guy that wrote Playmakers talking $. With wr getting 30m . To play now 15m in November 10m. If its all about the Benjamins
June 22nd, 2022 at 5:51 pm
LakelandSteve, Gronk was a free agent. He already didn’t have to show up anywhere until he wanted to. The fact that he announced his retirement tells me he’s serious about not playing. I also think that Brady will be supportive of his decision because he knows what a beating Gronk took last season.
Having said that, I hope you’re right. I hope he changes his mind and comes back in time to get into shape and help win the first 4 games. It’d also be nice if he could be around long enough to teach the young tight ends.
June 22nd, 2022 at 7:01 pm
)dd ball nailed it, nice job.
June 22nd, 2022 at 9:01 pm
Hope that he returns, but plan like he does not. Need to sign a vet TE ASAP.
June 22nd, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Aug 30….~69 days..Gronk comes back
June 23rd, 2022 at 2:25 am
IT DOESN’T MATTER: Gronk is retired until he unretires. Same as it was with Brady. Stop speculating. Stop listening to speculation.
Reality is right now, and right now, he’s out. Period.
The team needs to train and get ready, right now. Just as it was before Brady announced he’s back, they need to find a new starter right now, however they do it. Scour the NFL for the best starting TE possible, right now. Look at the (meager) FA list and evaluate all of them—Ebron, Rudolph, Cook etc. Call around with trade options with future draft picks, and existing guys that are not needed.
Meanwhile, it doesn’t matter what Gronk thinks or feels, or what he likes or doesn’t like. Right now, he’s persona non grata.
It doesn’t matter if Gronk decides to get off the couch in September, or November. He isn’t a Buc unless and until he crawls back.
Move on.