Tag: Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski name drops player to get Patriots back to playoffs

Rob Gronkowski has a player in mind to help take the Patriots over the top.

New England Patriots general manager Rob Gronkowski? Yes, that has a nice ring to it.

The legendary tight end put on his pretend GM hat recently and tried his hand at figuring out the necessary roster move to fix the ongoing problems in New England.

As expected, he kept things on the offensive side of the ball and went with a dream upgrade fans have been clamoring for since the Patriots’ Week 14 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals.

“In order for them to make the playoffs, I think the Patriots need to go out and get a wide receiver,” Gronkowski said, during an appearance on NESN’s Ultimate Betting Show, per Sam Panayotovich. “They need a guy like DeAndre Hopkins.

“The defense is very, very solid. And that offense can improve from whatever it was last season with Bill O’Brien having full control of the offense. They need that No. 1 wide receiver and should probably add a playmaker in the draft.”

Hopkins would give the team the No. 1 wideout they’ve desperately needed to take their offense to the next level. It would also strike fear into the hearts of opposing teams and garner a certain level of respect they haven’t had since Tom Brady was under center.

A move for Hopkins would be a complete game-changer across the board. The timing couldn’t be more perfect with Bill O’Brien stepping in as the new offensive coordinator. Hopkins could be the missing piece to unlock the offense and help get the Patriots back to the postseason Promised Land.

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Rob Gronkowski admits showing up hungover at Patriots pre-draft visit

Rob Gronkowski thinks he probably had the worst pre-draft visit in Patriots’ history.

Who would have ever thought Rob Gronkowski probably had the “worst visit of all time” in his pre-draft meeting with the New England Patriots back in 2010?

In fact, it was a meeting that went so off the rails that there was a possibility the Patriots could have passed on the legendary tight end altogether.

It all started with a party at the University of Arizona and ended with Gronkowski passed out on a floor after completely blanking on the playbook in a meeting with Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

“I partied super hard one night. This was one of my mistakes. I partied at University of Arizona one night, got absolutely hammered, had to jump on a flight the next day and start this little tour,” said Gronkowski, during an appearance on Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast. “So I already put myself in the bag. So I’m going on this tour—no sleep, I’m hungover already.

“I’m visiting all of these teams, and I got to New England and I’m cashed. I’m like, ‘I don’t even care anymore. Whatever team takes me, whatever round I go in—whippy doo.'”

Gronkowski admitted he wasn’t taking things seriously in the beginning because it was during a time when other players were getting into trouble and still getting big contracts.

So he thought he’d just let it fly and do the same exact thing.

However, everything came to a head when he came face-to-face with O’Brien. The Patriots’ offensive coordinator drew up a play, and Gronkowski completely whiffed on recalling it.

Imagine showing up for the biggest test of your life and suddenly forgetting everything you’d ever learned. That was Gronkowski in a meeting with a team that had won three Super Bowls in the last 10 years at that time.

“[Bill O’Brien] drew up a play, he came back and I didn’t know one single thing. My mind was shut off, and I basically said something like, ‘It doesn’t matter. Just throw me the football,'” said Gronkowski. “Just like that. And they were just mind-blown.

“They were like, ‘This guy is out of hand.’ Then I go upstairs, pass right out—right on the floor. I’m so tired and pass right out on the floor, while waiting for the next coach to talk to. Passed right out. So my visit was probably the worst visit of all time.”

After leaving the meeting, Gronkowski knew the Patriots were either going to draft him or mark him off the list on that very day. It was an all-in or all-out sort of scenario.

Fortunately for both sides, the Patriots were all-in, Gronkowski got his act together and the team went on to win three more Super Bowls with him on the roster. But this still makes for a great “what-if” story.

What if Gronkowski never went to the Patriots and joined another team instead? How greatly would that have impacted the team’s success over the years?

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Sean Payton recruited Rob Gronkowski to Broncos during Fox’s Super Bowl coverage

In a skit during Fox’s Super Bowl pregame show, Sean Payton offered Rob Gronkowski the chance to skip training camp and join the Broncos.

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton posted a photo on Twitter on Saturday showing a Broncos shirt with the “B” crossed out and replaced with a “G” to spell “Groncos.” The coach also tagged Rob Gronkowski in his tweet.

Payton captioned the post “Let the recruitment begin!” We figured it was a mostly unserious post, and Fox’s Super Bowl coverage on Sunday seemingly confirmed it was a setup for a skit.

During the NFL on Fox pregame show before Super Bowl LVII, the studio crew sent the camera out to Payton and Gronkowski in the tunnel. Payton then admitted that he swapped Gronk’s gray suit out for a blue suit and orange tie.

“I got a job at the Broncos for ya,” Payton said. “No training camp. You’re eight touchdowns shy of 100 touchdowns. I think I can get you that. And I might be able to talk to the Walton-Penner family about calling us the Denver Groncos.”

Check it out:

Gronkowski, 33, hasn’t played since the 2021 season. Sunday’s clearly rehearsed skit was a funny bit, but Gronk seems unlikely to sign with Denver this offseason.

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Rob Gronkowski’s ‘Kick of Destiny’ was a giant miss

After a massive buildup, Gronk’s big Super Bowl showcase was a colossal whiff

After a massive buildup, complete with live-TV promo appearances and pre-Super Bowl commercial spots, Rob Gronkowski’s “Kick of Destiny” was far more whimper than bang.

The event, a giant ad for FanDuel, fell flatter than an undersized defender trying to tackle prime Gronk in the open field, with Gronk missing the big kick, but the betting website still giving its users a share of $10 million in free bets.

This was almost as big of a letdown as Gronk deciding not to return to the Bucs to finish out the 2022 season.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton teases potential recruitment of Rob Gronkowski

Sean Payton posted a photo of a Broncos shirt with the “B” crossed out and replace with a “G” to spell “Groncos,” and he tagged Gronk.

Story update: Sean Payton’s tweet on Saturday was clearly a setup for a skit with Rob Gronkowski during Fox’s Super Bowl pregame show on Sunday. In the skit, Payton recruits Gronk to Denver. Watch it here. 

It seems that new Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton likes to stir things up.

At the Super Bowl’s Radio Row last week, Payton created a buzz when he suggested the Broncos might pursue Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs during free agency. It was just a passing comment that didn’t seem to carry much weight — unless it did?

That’s the thing with Payton, it can be hard to tell sometimes when he’s fully joking and when he’s half-serious. The coach seems to like it that way.

The latest example arrived on Saturday afternoon when Payton posted a photo of a Broncos shirt with the “B” crossed out and replaced with a “G,” spelling “Groncos.” Payton even tagged Rob Gronkowski in his tweet.

“Let the recruitment begin!” Payton captioned the post, also tagging Tom Brady, the Broncos and the NFL on Fox. Payton is wrapping up his work with Fox this weekend. Gronkowski already works for the network and Brady will begin calling games for Fox in 2024.

Gronkowski is retired and out of contract, so Payton would be allowed to recruit him as a free agent. Brady is technically not officially a free agent until March 15, and he’s also retired. If Payton was serious about his recruitment, reaching out to Brady without permission could be penalized (just ask the Miami Dolphins).

It seems that Payton wasn’t serious — he was simply posting a fun tweet and tagging his colleagues at work. Gronk could return if he wants to, though, so the tweet, even if posted in jest, will cause some commotion.

That’s just the way Payton likes it.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
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Rob Gronkowski excited to see what Bill O’Brien does with Patriots

Former Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is excited to see Bill O’Brien get to work.

Former Alabama offensive coordinator spent two seasons with the Crimson Tide but left the program to return to the NFL ranks. Returning to a role he held a decade ago, O’Brien is the New England Patriots‘ offensive coordinator.

The Patriots haven’t necessarily taken a dive since Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay a few years ago, but the team certainly hasn’t appeared to be the same dominant force it was for the last two decades.

O’Brien’s return to New England doesn’t just have fans excited, but Patriots stars, as well. Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is excited to see the difference in the offense, he said during radio availability ahead of the Super Bowl.

“I think Billy O when I was there, he ran the (same) system. So hopefully he brings it back. Because I think that’s the best scenario for Patriots football — to have that offense that they were depending on throughout the last 20 years. I think they need to bring that back and I think Billy O will.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover O’Brien and other former Alabama players and assistants that are now coaches in the NFL.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.

Rob Gronkowski bullish on Patriots’ new offensive direction

Rob Gronkowski believes a blast from the past would be a good thing for the Patriots offense.

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is pleased with the changes the team has made on the offensive side of the football.

New England struggled offensively last season, as they were at the bottom of the league in many categories. They got decent production from the running game, as Rhamondre Stevenson carried the ball 210 times for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns. Stevenson was also efficient with his caries, averaging five yards per carry.

However, the passing game needed work, as it ranked 20th in passing yards per game and 20th in touchdown passes. Mac Jones had an up-and-down season, recording 2,997 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

With all of that in mind, Gronkowski believes the addition of Bill O’Brien will rejuvenate the Patriots offense, as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston’s Nick Goss.

“I was surprised when (Belichick) changed up the offense this year from what I heard and saw as well,” Gronkowski said Tuesday at FOX Sports’ media availability for Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix. “I mean, that offense that I was under throughout my whole career that I was there and I’m pretty sure the whole time he was there from like 2003 — I think that’s one of the best offenses out there. It’s a wonderful system. Just to see them change it this year I think was a little off.

“I think Billy O when I was there, he ran the (same) system. So hopefully he brings it back. Because I think that’s the best scenario for Patriots football — to have that offense that they were depending on throughout the last 20 years. I think they need to bring that back and I think Billy O will.”

New England has a chance to remake the entire offense with some cap space and O’Brien’s style.  Patriots tight ends had success under O’Brien in 2011. The tight end position is something that needs rejuvenation for the current team, and there is a chance O’Brien may be able to provide that.

It will be intriguing to see what moves the organization makes, as DeAndre Hopkins rumors continue to swirl, among other things.

Nevertheless, the effort to improve on the offensive side of the football should be encouraging for Patriots fans, and it certainly is a selling point for Gronkowski.

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Rob Gronkowski on Bears QB Justin Fields: ‘That dude is an absolute beast’

Rob Gronkowski gushed about Bears star Justin Fields: “I definitely think he’s a franchise quarterback.”

Bears quarterback Justin Fields emerged as one of the league’s most electrifying players last season — and that was in less-than-ideal circumstances. He became a weekly highlight reel that left fans, analysts and players alike impressed.

“I mean … that dude is an absolute beast,” former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski told NBC Sports Chicago.

Fields made waves with his elite speed and athleticism and established himself as one of the NFL’s best running quarterbacks. Fields rushed for 1,143 yards, falling just 64 yards shy of Lamar Jackson’s single-season rushing record.

Fields also broke several records along the way, including rushing for 178 yards against the Dolphins, the most by a quarterback, ever, in a regular season game. His cleats currently sit in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

While Fields has competition from Jackson in terms of the league’s best rushing quarterbacks, Gronkowski couldn’t help but gush about Fields as a runner.

“There is no doubt about that. When I see that guy run, I think he’s the best runner in the whole NFL,” Gronkowski said. “He just looks like a gazelle out there. Just the way he sprints and how he puts the burners on and he’s just flying by defenders, flying by corners. I definitely think he’s a franchise quarterback.”

Fields is entering his third season as the Bears quarterback, where there’s still work to be done. Fields showed what he brings to the offense with his mobility. Now, it’s about polishing the passing game, which was the league’s worst in 2022.

Fields needs to improve as a passer, but Chicago also needs to get Fields a better supporting cast — one that will give him time to throw and an elite No. 1 receiver that all the young quarterbacks possess.

Gronkowski believes Fields is on the path to having a successful career.

“I just think you need the right system around you when you are that type of talent and to utilize that talent in the right way,” Gronkowski said. “I feel like he’s still kind of feeling it out in the NFL. He broke a couple records, so you just have to figure out a way to use that the right way. I believe he can have a very successful career. And get the right weapons around him as well that can utilize his skill set.”

That’s the focus for general manager Ryan Poles this offseason: Building around Fields, whether that’s addressing holes along the offensive line and at wide receiver, as well as improving the roster as a whole.

The good news is Poles has the resources — roughly $99 million in salary cap space and the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft — to work with.

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Rob Gronkowski explains why partying made him a better football player

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski makes a strong case for why his partying days helped him on the gridiron

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, and might be the in NFL history to ever play his position.

But as incredible as Gronk has been on the gridiron throughout his legendary career, he’s been equally entertaining off the field. From interviews to commercials, and everything in between, you’re always in for a good time when Gronk’s around.

In fact, Gronk thinks his epic partying days actually made him a better football player.

Here’s the GOAT of tight ends explaining his reasoning to Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” earlier this week:

I mean, he makes a good point.

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Rob Gronkowski sent Tom Brady off into sunset the only way he knew how

Rob Gronkowski sent a heartfelt message with a “Gronk” twist to the retiring Tom Brady on Wednesday.

Messages have been pouring in all Wednesday after former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady announced his second retirement from football.

One of the best messages was obviously saved for last with Brady’s longtime teammate, Rob Gronkowski, chiming in on social media. Gronkowski knows a thing or two about multiple retirements, and he made sure to mention it in his message.

“Tommy, since I already wrote you a long retirement message last year, this time I shall say, welcome to the 2x retired club. You’re a legend and you always will be, my friend,” the legendary tight end posted on Twitter.

Gronkowski has been by Brady’s side for four of the seven Super Bowl victories, including the one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He was clearly Brady’s favorite target over the course of his career with 620 receptions for 9,275 yards and 92 touchdowns, when catching passes from the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

Brady is expected to follow in Gronkowski’s footsteps by working in broadcasting after football. However, if all else fails, he can always take Julian Edelman up on his pickleball offer.

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