FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Let the countdown begin.
While the New England Patriots are back at practice after their bye week, the days are dwindling for Rob Gronkowski to decide on a potential comeback. The former tight end has to announce by 4 p.m Nov. 30 if he will return to the Patriots. The former All-Pro was placed on the reserve/retired list last spring, after he announced he was stepping away.
If that deadline passes and Gronkowski isn’t back with the Patriots, he’ll remain on the retired/reserve list for the remainder of the 2019 season. So if the Patriots were to get a nice boost to their tight end corps, it would happen in Week 13 before their game with the Houston Texans.
According to an NFL Network report over the weekend, Patriots owner Robert Kraft approached Gronkowski as he was cleaning out his locker at Gillette Stadium following his March 24 retirement announcement. Kraft told Gronkowski “that he wants him to return for November, December, and a playoff run. If that happened, the team not only would welcome him back but would remain hopeful that it happens.”
During his weekly radio interview, Tom Brady was asked about the report.
“I am really good friends with Gronk. We have had a great relationship for 10 years,” Brady said. “Just because things are reported doesn’t necessarily mean they are always true, just for the record. … I don’t know. Those are conversations I am not privy to.”
Gronkowski has said in multiple interviews that he’s happy in retirement and hasn’t thought about returning. He’s also found work outside of football – as a spokesman for CBCMedic and as a Fox Sports analyst. However, the tight end also has refused to rule out a comeback.
Kraft added to the comeback rumors. Prior to the Patriots’ Thursday night matchup with the New York Giants on Oct. 10, Kraft told the NFL Network that Gronkowski still hadn’t filed his retirement paperwork with the NFL.
In the event Gronkowski did return, he would be welcomed with open arms.
“I don’t know. If he does, I would love it,” Patriots receiver Mohamed Sanu said. “Believe that. If he does, I would love it. … Come, man, come.”
The Patriots certainly could use Gronkowski. Through nine games, Patriots tight ends have caught just 18 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown. Looking at the last 19 years, those 18 receptions are the lowest tight end totals since 2001 (10). The 242 combined yards are the lowest total since 2008 (184).
The return of Gronkowski also would help in the blocking department.
However, it seems increasingly unlikely it’ll happen. That means the Patriots will roll with Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo at tight end.
Right now, Izzo leads Patriots tight ends with 114 yards. Through nine games, Gronk bettered that mark in all nine NFL seasons. Through nine games, the Patriots also had better production from tight ends such as Martellus Bennett, Scott Chandler, Tim Wright, Aaron Hernandez, Watson, Daniel Graham and Christian Fauria.
“It really doesn’t matter. Our team is what it is,” Brady said. “The trade deadline is gone. Training camp has passed. Free agency is gone. The draft is gone. I mean, our team is what it is, and I am excited about who we have and the opportunity that we have. I said last week, to be 8-1 and have the opportunity in the second half of the year that we do, I think anyone would take that. It hasn’t all been perfect, but it’s been good enough in some areas.
“We’re really going to have to really ramp it up and play our best as we go forward. Hopefully, it will be a great second half of the season.”
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