- Rob Gronkowski is retiring from the NFL at 29 years old after nine seasons.
- However, there is already talk of a Gronkowski comeback, with his agent saying it wouldn't shock him if Gronkowski suited up for a few games late in the year should the New England Patriots need him.
- The Patriots may look to the trade market to find more weapons for Tom Brady — but if they need reinforcements in December or January, the seeds for a Gronkowski comeback have already been planted.
Rob Gronkowski on Sunday announced his retirement from the NFL after an incredible nine-year career.
Though Gronkowski is just 29, he has battled numerous injuries and owns off-the-field interests that most likely swayed his decision.
Read more:Rob Gronkowski is retiring from the NFL at 29 years old after 9 seasons
But people are already talking about Gronkowski making a comeback — a fairly odd move so early in his retirement.
Drew Rosenhaus, Gronkowski's agent, said on ESPN's "Get Up" on Monday that if the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady called Gronkowski midway through the 2019 season asking for help, Gronkowski could be persuaded to come back.
Drew Rosenhaus on @GetUpESPN on Rob Gronkowski’s future: “If the team was struggling or they needed him at some point next year, and let’s just say hypothetically Tom Brady gave him a call and said ‘Rob, I need you.’ I wouldn’t be shocked if he came back to play a few games.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 25, 2019
And NBC Sports' Peter King said Rosenhaus told him that he wouldn't be shocked if Gronkowski came back.
King said Rosenhaus told him on Sunday: "You try as an agent to do everything you can for your clients, and I asked Rob if there was anything I could do for him, if there was anything I could ask the Patriots to make his job better. He said no, there's really not anything. Then I asked his dad, 'You sure he wants to give up $10 million this year?' He told me, 'Drew, he's got all the money he needs.'"
King wrote: "So that's it ... or is it? Rosenhaus said it wouldn't shock him if Gronkowski decided to come back sometime in 2019. We'll see."
The Patriots' offensive skill group is perhaps the weakest of the Brady era at the moment. Without Gronkowski, Brady's top receiving weapons are Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan. The Patriots have two talented running backs in James White and Sony Michel, but none of those four players is best as a No. 1 option.
With the best players off the board in free agency, there will be rumors of the Patriots looking to trade draft assets for better skill players. King mentioned the Cincinnati Bengals' A. J. Green or the New York Giants' Sterling Shepard as possible targets.
The Patriots are also the best team in the NFL at finding productive players late in the draft, so it wouldn't surprise anyone if they find a gem in the sixth or seventh round.
If they're in need of help late in the year, however, perhaps Brady will call his former top weapon to see if he'd be interested in returning. The seeds have already been planted.
- Read more:
- Rob Gronkowski is retiring from the NFL with $54 million after saving all of his career earnings
- Cam Newton says he's giving up sex for a month to make his mind 'stronger'
- Packers player says he cried after signing a $66 million contract, then went to his mom's job and asked if she was ready to retire
- The biggest winners and losers of NFL free agency
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