Rob Gronkowski is retired. In fact, he’s got a few new jobs. He worked as the host (and 24/7 champion) at Wrestlemania 36 last weekend. He’s also working as a frontman for a medical CBD company. But perhaps there’s an outside chance that he might land back in football in 2020.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht fielded a question about the former New England Patriots tight end. Would Gronk be an option for Tampa?
“Well, he’s doing a pretty good job in Wrestlemania right now,” he said to reporters. “I have no idea if he’d want to play.”
There should be some skepticism about whether Gronk would unretire. He has waffled back and forth on how content he is with retirement.
“I wouldn’t say ‘never coming back,’” Gronkowski told ESPN in November 2019 “I’m 30 years old. I’m young. I still stay fit, still watch the game whenever I can, still enjoy it. I’m feeling good, but you know, one year off could possibly be the case. Or maybe two years off, man.
“It’s always an option in the back of my head. It’s not like I’m not staying in shape and not doing anything. I’m never stressed over it.”
Could Tom Brady make a convincing pitch to join him in Tampa? Perhaps he already has. But that’s not all it would take to get Gronk on the Buccaneers.
The Patriots own Gronk’s rights for one season, if he were to return. When a player returns from retirement, he resumes whatever contract he previously held. So if he were to return — especially to play for another team — the tight end would need to see if Bill Belichick would be open to releasing Gronk or trading him. Considering Belichick probably wouldn’t release Gronk, the Patriots coach would need to get on the phone with Licht to see what he would offer.
The Buccaneers already have two solid tight ends, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard. So the conversation could go one of two ways — the Buccaneers could offer one of those tight ends in return for Gronk. Or they could tell Belichick they don’t need to trade for Gronk and that they won’t be making an offer. (And perhaps they would say that in hopes they could sign Gronk if he’s released to free agency.) It’s impossible to predict how those trade talks would go.
For now, it’s hard to see Gronk unretiring and landing with the Buccaneers. Still, it’s something the Buccaneers should at least explore.
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