Rob Gronkowskisays seeingTom Brady’s decision toun-retirewas not shocking at all.
The 32-year-old tight end, who is currently a free agent, appeared onJimmy Kimmel LiveWednesday evening, where he opened up about Brady’s move to un-retire in March after the famous quarterback previouslyretired from the NFLonly a month earlier.
Sharing that Brady shot him “a quick text” about his un-retirement a day prior to the free agency period — where NFL teams are allowed to negotiate with the agents of free agents — Gronkowski told hostJimmy Kimmel, “I’m like, there he goes again with his tricks. The day before free agency hits, he’s un-retiring so everybody stays in Tampa.”
Gronkowski also noted that he believes Brady, 44, could continue to play well past another season. “I believe he’ll have it until he’s at least 50 years old,” he said. “I see his work ethic day in and day out, and it’s second to none.”
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Jimmy Kimmel Live
Gronkowski’s appearance onJKLcomes after he spoke about his own future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers withTMZ Sportsearlier this week.
Gronkowski told the outlet that he isn’t ready to answer whether or not he’ll be playing professional football this season and be on the field with Brady.
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Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty
“I knew if I started catching some passes that my head would have started turning, like, ‘Oh, crap, I got to get back out on the field,’ " Gronkowski told the outlet. “And, right now, I’m not ready to get back out on that field. I’m not ready to commit to the game of football right now.”
Gronkowski has spent his entire 11-year career playing with Brady. He evenretiredfrom the NFL once before: back in March 2019 before ultimately returning in April 2020 to join Brady on the Buccaneers.
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In the months following the Buccaneers' loss to the Los Angeles Rams during last season’s playoffs, Gronkowski has been open about his indecision to continue his football career.
In January, he toldTMZthat he would likely decline to play if asked at that time. “If they’re like, ‘Rob, you’ve got to decide right now, right this second if you’re playing next year,’ I would say no right now. It’s two days after the season. I’d be like, ‘No, I’m not playing,’ " Gronkowski said.
“If I had to answer right now, it would be no,” he later added. “But you never know. In three weeks, it might be yes!”
Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht recently told NFL.com that the team was giving the former Super Bowl champion “space” to decide what he wants to do. “He was a big factor in us having the success that we had,” Licht said. “We would welcome Rob back with open arms, but we’re giving him his space right now to decide on what he wants to do.”
According toJC Cornellof the Draft Network, Gronkowski recently said if he did return, he would only play for Tampa Bay.
source: people.com
