Robert Kraft hasn’t buried hope for Rob Gronkowski’s return from retirement.
The New England Patriots owner joined NFL Network ahead of the team’s matchup against the New York Giants on Thursday night in Week 6. Kraft was asked whether he believes there’s a chance Gronk could return despite the fact that the tight end walked away this offseason.
“We all love Gronk, and I think the bottom line is he hasn’t put his retirement papers in,” Kraft said. “So we can always pray and hope. That’s a little fact. … When he puts his retirement papers in — although, I think our kicker (Mike) Nugent has his retirement papers in. So even if (Gronk) puts them in (there’s hope for a return). But I think that’s a good academic argument that there is hope still with Gronk.”
Coincidentally, Gronkowski made a return to football on Thursday night — though not as a player. He joined Fox’s broadcast team as an NFL studio analyst. In his broadcasting debut, he’ll get a chance to break down his former team. But of course, it’s not the return that Patriots fans wanted.
New England’s situation at tight end isn’t particularly strong. The Patriots have Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse, who have combined for seven receptions and 138 yards with a touchdown through five weeks. Quarterback Tom Brady noted that they are “competing hard.” It wasn’t a resounding approval of the position, particularly when, in the same press conference, he admitted it was “pretty tough” to see the Patriots part ways with veteran tight end Ben Watson after Watson’s suspension ended.
While the Patriots look thin at tight end, Gronkowski has joked about returning to New England. But he seems content with life off the field.
“I love all my fans. I love Patriots fans. I feel that love, but I want to be clear to my fans: I needed to recover. Football was bringing me down, and I didn’t like it,” an emotional Gronkowski told reporters in New York in August. “I was losing the joy in life.”
If he intends to return, Gronkowski has until Week 13 to report, per NFL rules.
