TAMPA– Rob Gronkowski wished to play football again. It appears he selected the Bucs over the Patriots and Tom Brady over Bill Belichick.
Gronkowski, 31, ended his 1 year retirement in April and helped require a trade to Tampa Bay from New England, where he played for 9 seasons.
The Pro Bowl tight end told WEEI radio in Boston that hes always been curious what it is like to play somewhere other than New England.
Related: Rob Gronkowski hams it up during very first Bucs consistent shoot
It just made the choice simpler when Brady signed with the Bucs. He insists it wasnt a grand plan formulated between him and Brady to reunite in Tampa Bay.
” No, no, that really was never ever the case,” Gronkowski told WEEI. “As a gamer, you always want to see what it is like somewhere else. (I) idea of that before, certainly after playing nine years in the NFL and I likewise believed about it when I came out of retirement.
” This is an opportunity to go see what its like somewhere else, to go see what its like in the NFL on another team.
Related: Growing up fearless, growing up Gronkowski.
By all accounts, Brady was very influential in Gronkowski ending his retirement, where he was growing with many off-field ventures, including a television show on CBS, Game On!
Gronkowskis daddy, Gordy, stated the household was surprised he went back to the NFL and put a great deal of that decision on Brady.
” The bottom line, Rob is back in my opinion because of Tom Brady,” Gordy Gronkowski informed the Tampa Bay Times. “I mean, Tom called him, and Tom got in his ear, and Im sure Rob most likely didnt go out the method he wished to.”.
” No, no, that in fact was never the case,” Gronkowski told WEEI. “As a player, you constantly wish to see what it is like elsewhere. (I) thought of that prior to, certainly after playing nine years in the NFL and I also thought of it when I came out of retirement.
” This is a chance to go see what its like somewhere else, to go see what its like in the NFL on another squad. Theres so lots of gamers that bounce around on so lots of different teams.
” But no, we never truly spoke about that before,” he continued. “It type of just occurred. (With) my retirement and him hitting complimentary agency, it just sort of lined up like that.”.