Jay Williams Shares Gronk Chat About Tom Brady’s Return
February 15th, 2022
For those unaware, Jay Williams, aka JWill, the former Duke basketball superstar, is a primetime morning co-host on ESPN Radio.
He shares the air weekdays with Max Kellerman and former Bucs receiver Keyshawn Johnson on the network’s signature show.
This week, Williams shared a private chat he had over the weekend with Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately, nothing was discussed about Gronk himself continuing his career (as his girlfriend desires), but they did talk about Tom Brady.
Williams said Gronk told him multiple times that he could see Brady returning in 2023, yes, 2023. Apparently, the conversation continued with Williams asking Gronk whether he was withholding some key information, and Gronk said he wasn’t and said, ‘I’m just saying I could see him taking a year off and coming back.’
Yes, Gronk told the same thing to USA Today, but it’s noteworthy to Joe that Gronk was taking the same firm line with an ex-jock media guy off the microphone.
Brady could end all the speculation, but he isn’t. And his close confidants aren’t killing it, either.
February 15th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Joe, you think all this chatter about Brady taking the year off and returning in 2023 is his nice way of saying he doesn’t want to play with Bucs anymore?
February 15th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
JWill doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
Thank you, I’ll be here all week, and please remember to tip your server.
February 15th, 2022 at 12:59 pm
Yes, Brady could end any and all speculation, but he will not.
Any publicity is good publicity, and good for his business ventures.
And yes, remember to Tip your server.
February 15th, 2022 at 1:11 pm
Brady needs to use this time to buy himself a motorcycle. He hasn’t been allowed to own one for 22 years because of his NFL contracts, and he’s got a ton of goodwill with his wife because he’s finally quit football. You gotta strike while the iron is hot
February 15th, 2022 at 1:14 pm
87:
Yes.
February 15th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
I really think TB12 wants out of Tampa. Sometimes to get what you want, you can’t really say what you want.
February 15th, 2022 at 1:39 pm
More of him not happy with things in Tampa or probably just trying to finish out career with 49ers?
February 15th, 2022 at 1:41 pm
How did Brady put it? He’s not dedicating to competitive football? That sounds like a dude that needs a year off. Could it be that he doesn’t want to give his all, if people around him aren’t giving theirs? Put it however you like, Tommy didn’t look like a guy having fun. It became more of a Job, and it wore him out.
February 15th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
Does anyone really believe a 44yr old QB us going to take a year off and come back at almost 46? That has Brett Favre, Dan Marino endings written all over it. I keep reading people saying Brady could put an end to all the conversation right now. I thought he did when he RETIRED! All he said was never say never. All that means is if he is going stir crazy he may consider it. Christ, give the guy a break. Licht go make a QB decision sooner than later so all these fans can stop whining like little b@#ches. BA and Bowles chased him out of Tampa.
February 15th, 2022 at 1:50 pm
Option 1 for Tampa is they use Bradys rights trade to a team for a QB like Carr-Tannehill-Wentz- Carr- Jimmy G etc. But it will be Brady’s choice on team and the only teams I really see it is Oakland (Josh Mc), Colts (was option 3 in 2020), and Titans (stacked team) or 49ers (Jimmy). So it would be a guy like Carr, or a Wentz or a Tannehill or Jimmy G calibre QB, no one is dumping Wilson or AR or Murray for a Brady (1 year run). And Brady would go to Houston they are horrible.
Option 2: Just allow Brady to redo deal to drop cap to nothing or as low as possible and let him leave. It best for NFL and gave you a SB and second run for nothing as you didn’t trade for him and he played for cheap not those 40m/y cap hits.
February 15th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
If he wants out of Tampa they should just let him go as long as they can do it so he doesn’t count anything against the cap this year. We need all the money we can get to resign are own players plus the draft and free agency.
February 15th, 2022 at 2:58 pm
I hope we retain his rights… If he chooses to come back and not play for us we could get compensation…
February 15th, 2022 at 3:13 pm
Listnfrmafar…go away…you don’t belong on thjs site…along with Ben Green.
February 15th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
If Tom is still cool with the Bucs its even more of a reason to play Trask/Gabbert next year. Leave the door open and concentrate on the o-line, d-line and d-backfield. Then add more next year as the cap increases. Gronk sign a one year contract to play in Buffalo then back to Tampa for a 2023 superbowl run.
February 15th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
I hate to see him take a year off from the speed of the game plus lose his edge and look like a shell of his former self. Don’t do it Brady if you want out of Tampa we are the ones who will look bad to the media not you because of our history. Just comeback this year or retire don’t take a year off and embarrass yourself
February 15th, 2022 at 3:33 pm
Is it because he has another injury he’s hidden from everyone that’s going to require big rehab time at his age? Maybe that knee needs an Odell done to it.
February 15th, 2022 at 3:35 pm
He is tired of playing football. He left the Pats to see if changing teams would be good for him and it certainly was. I feel, however, that he wasn’t even certain that he really felt the desire to play, anymore. He is on to a “new” life where he doesn’t have all the pressure. It has, imo, nothing to do with the Bucs coaches, players, nor organization. He is just over giving football his “all”.
February 15th, 2022 at 3:44 pm
Brady could take two years off, and still be one of the best QBs in the game. For Christ sake, half of Brady is still better than many starters.. he’d never embarrass himself. Aside from his now fifteen year ago ACL, he’s never had a season ending injury. Marino’s legs were shot years before he stopped playing. Montana’s elbow was gone. Farve never took care of his body, and it showed his final year. If y’all think Brady is going to start drinking beer and eating wings, y’all are crazy. No comp exists for the man. Telling him he can’t do it, is exactly what motivates him. It’d just be another challenge. Some folks in NE bet against him. They look awful stupid. Ben will place an open wager. If he does take a year off, and come back, he’ll be top ten in passer rating. Ben will send out C-notes to anyone willing to bet against him. Believe Ben
February 15th, 2022 at 4:47 pm
Brady already ended the speculation when he said he was retired. It’s the media who is making up this fake narrative that he didn’t actually mean what he said…
February 15th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Gronk knows. One year with Geezella and Tom will either go stark raving mad or simply get broken down from having her hooves down his throat for that long. Best thing for Tom is to announce he’s coming back as Bucs QB – honoring his contract — and bring Gronk with him.
February 15th, 2022 at 7:11 pm
Listnfrmafar Says:
February 15th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
Still no evidence that there’s anything to this claim.
February 15th, 2022 at 7:40 pm
Joe needs a vacation. Slowest two weeks post super bowl and I guess you gotta put something on the site. Love it!!!
February 15th, 2022 at 7:52 pm
I hear a bunch of talking from Joe and others about Brady possibly being annoyed with the Bucs but not one shred of evidence. Not one example. No sign from Tom. Glowing words about the organization when he retired. Some of you will take that as Brady not really retiring from the game of football but instead really saying goodbye to the Bucs organization. That’s pure speculation and hearsay until Tom is playing for another team or says that he wants to. I’m simply not believing that Tom saw dysfunction or was dissatisfied when not one player from the team had one bad word to say. If there are issues, there would be some spillage. Does Tom want to play in SF or somewhere else? Maybe he does. Who knows? Certainly not Joe or us. While it’s the hot topic, the real fans are ready to move on and see who the next QB will be. Unless Tom says he’s coming back to QB the Bucs, it’s not relevant to me. I was a Bucs fan long before Tom and I’ll be a Bucs fan long after this BS saga is over.
February 15th, 2022 at 8:14 pm
cmurda no evidence except the fact he said he was playing until 45, that was his goal and he retired two weeks after the Rams loss where he and the team busted their balls to tie the game only to get their throats ripped out by their coach? I agree no evidence.
February 15th, 2022 at 8:21 pm
Doesn’t Brady turn 45 in August, before the season starts? Sounds like he did what he said he would do.
February 15th, 2022 at 9:51 pm
I “could see” a lot of things, too.
February 15th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
@List. Umm. Yeah. Are we agreeing here or not? That was oddly worded by you. He did play until 45 as SS76 said. TB12 spoke glowingly of the Bucs in his retirement letter and crickets about N.E. It’s the Patsy fans that are butthurt and should be wondering WTF happened. Not even a whimper about the better part of his 2 decades there. I’m pumped that in 2 years Brady won a SB and was possibly a rough defensive call/series away from repeating. I absolutely adored having him here and I must have 10 Brady Bucs jerseys. I’m disappointed but not angry about the man retiring and I’m certainly not going to play the speculation game unless the man himself or those in the locker room confirm it. Does anybody remember the Brett Favre hype about Brett potentially coming here. It was all but done said many media sources. It didn’t happen. Brett went to the hapless Jets. Bad decision #4. Anyway, here’s the bottom line. If Brady was put off by this organization, he must have really been put off badly. No man that savors winning as much as TB12 would want to leave the Bucs situation. NOT BUYING THE DRAMA.
February 16th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
I think ppl are taking this way out of hand. We know that Brady’s family wants him to retire. Brady said himself that Giselle has her career as well. Maybe he retires for now but I don’t think he retires to get away from.the Bucs. Tied for the top record in the league, fighting injuries all year. This team is still loaded. Are they the same coaches that NE has….no. I don’t think they are that good but I still think this team is capable of winning. A healthier team would have gotten further.