Gronk says he’d retire if forced to decide now

TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers tight finish Rob Gronkowski stated Wednesday that whereas he’ll want a while to weigh a return for subsequent season, if he needed to decided proper now, he wouldn’t return to play in 2022.

“In the event that they’re like, ‘Rob, you’ve received to determine proper now, proper this second for those who’re taking part in subsequent 12 months,’ I might say no proper now. ‘It’s two days after the season. I’d be like, ‘No I’m not taking part in,’” an animated Gronkowski stated to TMZ Sports activities. “You’ve gotta give it a while, you’ve gotta relaxation to see how all the things goes, to see how all the things performs out, how I really feel. I simply wanna heal utterly, see the place my ideas are from there then.”

Gronkowski, who performed on a pair of one-year offers during the last two seasons, stated Monday, throughout his last Bucs availability for the season, that he would want about three to 5 weeks to decompress and assess how he’s feeling earlier than making a call, and he echoed that within the interview, which had a playful tone all through, as he was in good spirits.

“If I needed to reply proper now, it will, ‘No,’” stated Gronkowski, who was very upbeat all through your entire dialog. “However you by no means know. In three weeks, it is likely to be ‘Sure!’”

When requested if he would have answered the identical means in earlier years the day after his season ended, Gronkowski laughed and stated, “Yeah, most likely.”

Well being-wise, Gronkowski stated Monday that he has no main accidents, however “minor bumps and bruises.” He did, nevertheless, miss 5 video games through the common season resulting from cracked ribs and a punctured lung. He additionally stated Monday he wouldn’t rule out a return even when quarterback Tom Brady doesn’t. However contemplating he’s by no means performed with one other quarterback in his 11-year profession, and it’s pure to imagine Gronkowski will wait and see what Brady does.

“It should issue into the state of affairs,” Gronkowski stated. “He’s gotta do what he’s gotta do for himself and his household, little doubt about that. However then for myself, I gotta do what I gotta do, ya know, what’s finest for myself, see the place I’m at, how I’m feeling — all that kind of stuff. So then as soon as I make that private resolution, then we’ll see what his resolution is, what goes on, after which from there, you are taking it from there. You’ll be able to’t actually learn it or something till it occurs, however each state of affairs might principally be on the plate for positive. However I gotta do what’s finest for myself first after which as soon as I make that call, that’s once I can go from there.”

When requested if Antonio Brown’s launch had something to do with the Bucs’ early exit from the postseason — they fell to the Rams 30-27 on a last-second area objective by Matt Homosexual in final Sunday’s divisional spherical – Gronkowski stated no.

“I might say within the locker room, it didn’t. There’s so many skilled execs in our locker room. It’s not like a younger locker room or something like that, the place it’s simply all younger guys and by no means been in an opposed state of affairs earlier than, so we’ve so much — we’ve received Tom, he’s seen many conditions in sports activities earlier than, we’ve many skilled coaches that been in a whole lot of issues earlier than,” he instructed TMZ.

The Bucs had gotten to a degree in that recreation the place they not solely had been with out Brown, and huge receiver Chris Godwin, who had gone to Injured Reserve after struggling a torn ACL in Week 15, but additionally Cyril Grayson (hamstring), Breshad Perriman (hip, stomach), Jaelon Darden (concussion) and Tyler Johnson performed only one snap within the fourth quarter resulting from a rib harm. Tight finish Cameron Brate needed to line up within the slot as a result of that they had no extra wholesome receivers.

“When issues like that occur, it’s a giant story, however you’ve simply gotta deal with what you’ve gotta deal with and that’s what a whole lot of guys did within the locker room,” Gronkowski stated. “Numerous professionals within the locker room simply stayed centered on what you’ve gotta do, and that’s principally what I did too. The skin noise — it might probably have an effect on you for those who let it get to you. However for those who simply block it out — that’s one factor I realized in New England huge time within the 9 years I used to be there — block out the skin noise, and I gotta agree with that.”