New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft breathed more life into the rumors of Rob Gronkowski returning to the field when he said last week that the star tight end has yet to turn in his retirement papers, but Gronk insists he still is not thinking about that.
In an appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Morning Show” on Tuesday, Gronkowski was asked what it would take for him to want to return to the field. He said he would need to get the “itch,” and he still doesn’t have it.
Rob Gronkowski on @TheGregHillShow asked again about what it would take to return: "I would have to be feeling it — mentally, physically. … Like a couple of weeks of me feeling it, like I need to play football again."
You're not feeling that now?
"No, I don't have that itch"
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) October 15, 2019
Gronkowski was then asked if he misses playing, and he said he does not at the moment.
.@GregHillWEEI to Rob Gronkowski: Do you miss football?
Gronk: "No, I am very satisfied where I am at."
Added he started thinking about retirement over the last year or two.
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) October 15, 2019
Kraft’s comments may have been more about wishful thinking, as the Patriots could use another playmaker on offense and have been thin at tight end all season. One line of thinking is that Tom Brady could convince Gronk to return, but Brady said this week that he would never try to influence his former teammate one way or the other.
Gronkowski recently took a job working as an analyst for FOX and seems very content in retirement, though even he has not entirely ruled out a comeback. The Patriots appear poised to get back to the Super Bowl, so perhaps Gronk will want to be part of the action when the playoffs draw nearer.
