Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Joe Burrow becomes the 19th LSU quarterback to be selected in the NFL Draft.
He won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship. Now, Joe Burrow joins 18 fellow LSU quarterbacks who were selected by NFL teams. A sidenote: One, Y.A. Tittle, was actually a first-round pick twice. How that happened is explained along with background on the other Tigers quarterbacks who merited being picked by NFL teams.
The NFL Draft is here and the first round order is set, barring trades.
The first round of the NFL Draft is upon us. Coverage will be from 8-11:30 p.m. ET, Thursday. You can watch or listen via ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN Radio.
Zac Taylor went 2-14 as a rookie NFL coach and his reward is the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, which starts Thursday.
Bill Belichick, Bill O’Brien and Bruce Arians are among the NFL coaches under the heat lamp heading into 2020.
The NFL Draft will help shape rosters for the 2020 season. However, decisions made by some coaches already have put them squarely in the spotlight for the upcoming season. Some of these may not be on the proverbial hot seat — yet — but they definitely will have interested eyes feasted upon them.
Adam Gase didn’t win any popularity contests in his first year with the Jets. If the former Miami Dolphins coach checks in with another below .500 season, he could be checking out as head coach of Gang Green.
Tampa Bay tight end Jordan Leggett had some fun negotiating with Rob Gronkowski for No. 87.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Jordan Leggett wore No. 87 … until Tuesday.
The TE who played college ball at Clemson and has all of 14 catches in 2018 as a New York Jet to speak for his NFL career was quick to try and make a deal with Rob Gronkowski for No. 87.
Leggett tweeted, tongue firmly in cheek:
Hey @RobGronkowski I’ll give you #87 for 1 million. 🤣
— Jordan Leggett (@JordanLeggett16) April 21, 2020
Leggett was quick to greet his fellow tight end and also showed he has a grasp on reality.
Welcome to Tampa bro!@RobGronkowski
— Jordan Leggett (@JordanLeggett16) April 21, 2020
When it’s all said and done I’ll probably have to pay Gronk to take my number…
— Jordan Leggett (@JordanLeggett16) April 21, 2020
The Bucs took the mystery out of the numbers game … instantly. They assigned Leggett No. 81 while giving Gronkowski the No. 87 he wore while starring for the Patriots.
Tom Brady put out the call and Rob Gronkowski responded, ‘a little bit tardy.’
Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have a future as a variety act or a comedy team once their work is done with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Either that or a wrestling tag team.
The quarterback dug into his archives Wednesday to showcase a hilarious video of the tandem.
Check out the response of the birds and the tight end as Brady sounds the call to report for duty:
Time to run it back @RobGronkowski! pic.twitter.com/d4wmZLUV9n
— @tombrady (@TomBrady) April 22, 2020
It goes down with these gems for their sizzle reel:
17 notable NFL players to come out of retirement
Julian Edelman apparently is upset Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady are together again. The Pats’ WR unfollowed his former QB on Instagram.
Now that Rob Gronkowski is back together with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, it appears New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman feels jilted.
How else can you explain the Super Bowl MVP WR deciding to unfollow his former quarterback on Instagram hours after the great tight end was reunited with Brady on the Buccaneers.
And it isn’t like Edeleman didn’t go out of his way to unfollow Brady. He had to find him among the nearly 1,200 people he is following.
This feels more like a high school breakup than something at the NFL level of separation. Would anyone be shocked if Brady convinces Bruce Arians to help him make up with Edelman? Could be surprising since the Bucs are loaded at wideout with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
How to tell the breakup is real: Edelman unfollowed Brady on IG. pic.twitter.com/ZhGaBRLWoV
— Lauren Campbell (@lalalalaurrrren) April 21, 2020
And this won’t make Edelman any happier.
Sneak peek of the Bucs' 1st day of training camp 😂
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/nZ0Avt58Ys
— ESPN (@espn) April 21, 2020
Rob Gronkowski will return as a Tampa Bay Buc, becoming another player who returned after retiring.
Every so often, a retired NFL player announces his retirement before deciding to suit up again. Here’s a list of the top 17 players who have hung up their pads only to return to the gridiron.
Marshawn Lynch makes a habit of retiring and returning. The running back left football after the 2015 season. He missed 2016 and returned in 2017 as a Raider. He also came back to Seattle at the end of last season.
Rob Gronkowski is going to reunite with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay if he passes a physical.
Rob Gronkowski is back with Tom Brady, as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday the New England Patriots have traded their all-world tight end to the Buccaneers. The return, a fourth- and seventh-round pick.
Trade, pending physical: Patriots are trading TE Rob Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick, source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
As only @RobGronkowski can do just got voice message from him with simply and Gronkly said, “I’m baaaaaackkkkkk!” He’s stoked. All moved very quickly @NFLonFOX
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 21, 2020
Gronk retired after the Patriots won Super Bowl LIII. He had a year left on his contract with New England. During the 2019 season he worked for FOX and eventually took on a role with the network and WWE, winning a title at WrestleMania.
From @RosenhausSports on @RobGronkowski: Pending the physical, Rob has agreed to play for Tampa this season. He will honor his current contract at this time."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 21, 2020
The trade came after a flurry of reports from NFL insiders, one chasing the next with more information.
Sources: Retired #Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has told New England that he’s interested in playing football again — and would want to do it with the #Bucs and QB Tom Brady. A trade would have to be worked out for this to happen.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
And as a follow-up, reported the teams were discussing a trade for the great tight end.
Patriots and Buccaneers have been discussing a trade for retired TE Rob Gronkowski, per league sources. Gronkowski has one year and $10 million left on his contract. But the two sides are, and have been talking, prior to Thursday’s draft.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
And the chase off the Rapoport report continued:
Just heard from Gronk, already took his physical for Bucs, trade not completed but he’s coming back for Bucs if all goes through.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 21, 2020
2020: The year we uncovered the REAL reason for Bucco Bruce's wink pic.twitter.com/BrjDtYjt9E
— Candice Hare (@CandiceHare_) April 21, 2020
This definitely has a "Hall and Nash leave WWE for WCW" feel. pic.twitter.com/VjIfW9BZHJ
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) April 21, 2020
Gronk was on with Andy Cohen this week and told the podcast a reunion was not impossible. “I’m feeling good right now,” he said. “I’m happy where I’m at. You just never know, man. You just never know. You never know. I’m not totally done.”
Gronk says the only thing that’s holding him back is a passion for the game … adding, “I like to stay in shape, but I’ve gotta get that feeling back.”
His most recent activity was winning the 24/7 title at WrestleMania.
A report indicated Rob Gronkowski wants to return to the NFL … with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As if the NFL wasn’t going to produce enough news this week with its draft. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport is reporting retired three-time Super Bowl champion tight end Rob Gronkowski has told the New England Patriots he wants to return to football … as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.
And as a follow-up, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the teams are discussing a trade for the great tight end.
Patriots and Buccaneers have been discussing a trade for retired TE Rob Gronkowski, per league sources. Gronkowski has one year and $10 million left on his contract. But the two sides are, and have been talking, prior to Thursday’s draft.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
And the chase off the Rapoport report continues:
Just heard from Gronk, already took his physical for Bucs, trade not completed but he’s coming back for Bucs if all goes through.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 21, 2020
Of course, Gronk would reunite with the G.O.A.T., Tom Brady, who has moved on to Tampa Bay via free agency.
The only way Gronk could become a Buccaneer would be if the teams were able to work out a trade. Gronk had one year left on his contract with the Patriots — for $10 million — before he retired prior to the 2019 season.
No word on what WWE would want in return for the rights to its current 24/7 champion.
Imagine, Brady to Gronkowski as Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Never say never.
Sources: Retired #Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has told New England that he’s interested in playing football again — and would want to do it with the #Bucs and QB Tom Brady. A trade would have to be worked out for this to happen.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
Gronk was on with Andy Cohen this week and told the podcast a reunion was not impossible. “I’m feeling good right now,” he said. “I’m happy where I’m at. You just never know, man. You just never know. You never know. I’m not totally done.”
Gronk says the only thing that’s holding him back is a passion for the game … adding, “I like to stay in shape, but I’ve gotta get that feeling back.”
His most recent activity was winning the 24/7 title at WrestleMania.
