One of the Patriots most beloved figures isn’t sold on the team’s outlook for this season.
Rob Gronkowski, whose impact in New England was far greater than his franchise record 79 receiving TDs, recently spoke with USA TODAY Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon about topics including how he thinks his former team will fare this year.
“Do I feel like I think the Patriots are going to do great this year? No, I feel like they are going to struggle a little bit,” said the affable former tight end.
He did offer a bit of optimism though, saying: “But I feel they are in the right direction.”
One of the reasons for a positive outlook – in the long run – is coach and former teammate Jerod Mayo who Gronk calls “a great football coach.”
“He has the knowledge, he loves the game of football,” said Gronkowski. “I feel like Coach Jerod Mayo has done a great job so far. But do I feel like the Patriots are going to do great this year? No.”
Gronk points to the decision of starting QB Jacoby Brissett over Drake Maye as Mayo’s best decision so far.
The main reason, according to Gronk, is Brissett’s experience and “the game of football is slower to him than (to) Drake Maye.”
Click on the video above to hear more from Gronk, including his thoughts on which QB he would have loved to have played with and another iconic tight end.