Status Of Bucs Tight End Rob Gronkowski
June 9th, 2022
Waiting.
Earlier today, Day 3 and the final day of minicamp, was held in the Glazer Shed.
Joe saw a promising sight.
There along the left sideline was Bucs rookie tight end Cade Otton. He’s still shelved rehabbing an ankle. But there he was, catching passes from Tom Brady during regular quarterback drills. Brady was throwing medium-range passes to get his arm warmed up.
As each day ticks by before training camp with Rob Gronkowski still unsigned, Otton is going to need every morsel of practice he can get.
Today, with players and coaches set to escape One Buc Palace until training camp resumes (tentatively July 26 for reporting day), it is still “Status quo” on Gronk, per Todd Bowles. That’s the head coach’s standard answer when it comes to Gronk.
Brady predictably gave a non-answer answer when asked if he had any insight into Gronk’s version of “The Decision.”
“I think it’s just, obviously, totally up to him,” Brady said of his close friend. “We’d all love to play with him, but he’s got to make the best decision for himself, and he knows that. Anybody that cares about him knows that he is doing what’s right for him, which is trying to figure it out.
“We don’t have training camp for about six weeks, so whatever he has to do to figure it out. I think we will be hopeful if he does. And if he doesn’t, we’ve still got to go out there and figure out what to do.”
Let’s cross our fingers that Otton heals up quickly. If Gronk throws in the towel and Otton is still on the sidelines, backing up Cam Brate will be rookie sixth-round pick Ko Kieft.
To be fair, Kieft seems like a better catcher of the football than several draftniks gave him credit for when he was coming out of Minnesota.
June 9th, 2022 at 3:08 pm
With your reports of Ko’s apparent catching skills, you’re making me excited ‘fo’ ‘mo Ko, Joe… Would love to see Gronk in a Bucs jersey once more though.
June 9th, 2022 at 3:16 pm
Is it weird to get a little happy thinking about football without all of this Gronk and Brady drama? Anyways, I’d be shocked if Gronk didn’t show up for the last week of training camp or even before. From all that I’ve read here on the best football site ever and elsewhere, Otton was a steal in the 4th.
June 9th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Gronk-a-day…..still coming our way…….Brady to Miami…..c’est fini
June 9th, 2022 at 3:43 pm
I got 50 bucks he comes back, but tight end will be a rotation. I bet our rookies knock it out of the park.
June 9th, 2022 at 3:59 pm
So from what I’m reading Bucs have the money to pay him?
June 9th, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Lil Ko Kieft
June 9th, 2022 at 7:45 pm
Gotta get Gronk. Brady needs his security blanket.
Gronk is still the best TE in football
June 9th, 2022 at 10:29 pm
He’s coming back ! He’s not going to let Brady go into what might be his last year and not play with him and he loves the Bucs !! He’ll be at training camp
June 9th, 2022 at 11:13 pm
I’ve been optimistic all offseason long about Gronk returning, but I had the impression that Brady wasn’t as confident today:
“We’d all love to play with him, but he’s got to make the best decision for himself, and he knows that. Anyone who cares about him knows that he’s doing what’s right for him, which is trying to figure it out.”
Now maybe that remark was calculated to boost Gronk’s personal brand by keeping his name in the spotlight, but I don’t think so. I really don’t think Brady is all that certain either, which might explain his frustration at Gage not being ready to practice.
Maybe this is much ado about nothing, but together those two signs were troubling today.
June 10th, 2022 at 8:07 am
If anyone on this site truly believes Brady doesn’t know Gronks intentions, I have a well know bridge in San Fran to sell you. It’s like believing Arians didn’t purposely provoke AB. Brady knows!
June 10th, 2022 at 11:16 am
Gronk will and better be back!!! Hey we still need to sign big name people LA are throwing big big money around LFGO!!! UNFINISHED BUISSNESS
June 11th, 2022 at 7:16 pm
gronk is back by training camp, there is no other possibility given his ongoing connections