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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rob Gronkowski: Contacts Bucs, but staying retired
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles disclosed Friday that Rob Gronkowski contacted the team last month about a possible return to the team, but the tight end ultimately elected to remain retired for the time being, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "It was more of a conversation than anything else," Bowles said. "Usually, when you have to think about playing, you probably don't want to play. When it's just a discussion, I didn't think much of it at the time."In June, Gronkowski announced that he had retired from professional football for a second time, but six months later, the five-time Pro Bowler doesn't sound like he's completely closed the door on playing again. According to the report, Gronkowski told Bowles that he's been working out in preparation for a possible return, and though the two sides didn't come to terms on a contract, it wouldn't be surprising if the 33-year-old and the Buccaneers revisited those discussions heading into the 2023 season. Any motivation Gronkowski may have in resuming his career may hinge on the plans of longtime battery mate Tom Brady, the only full-time starting quarterback that the tight end has ever played with.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rob Gronkowski: Not expected to play in 2022
The Buccaneers aren't counting on Rob Gronkowski resuming his playing career in 2022 after the tight end previously announced his second retirement in June, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.Shortly after signing Tom Brady following the 2019 season, the Buccaneers were able to talk Gronkowski into ending his first retirement, but the organization doesn't believe that its front office or Brady will be able to convince the 33-year-old tight end to explore a late-season return to the team. At this point, the Buccaneers are proceeding as though Gronkowski has moved on from football, so any potential return in 2022 might need to be initiated by the five-time Pro Bowler. With Gronkowski out of the mix and O.J. Howard now in Houston, the Buccaneers will carry veterans Cameron Brate and Kyle Rudolph and rookies Cade Otton and Ko Kieft as their options at tight end heading into Sunday's season opener versus the Cowboys.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rob Gronkowski: No plans to play this year
Rob Gronkowski reiterated Tuesday that he has no plans to resume his playing career, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.The star tight end -- who played the last two seasons with Tampa Bay -- announced his retirement as an NFL player last month, and at this time the 33-year-old isn't inclined to reconsider that decision, noting Tuesday, "I'm done with football." When asked if he might change his stance if long-time teammate and QB Tom Brady called and asked him to return to the Buccaneers in the coming months, Gronkowski replied, "I would answer, obviously, the greatest quarterback of all time. Ask him how he's doing. Tell him I'm doing good. But I wouldn't go back to football -- no." With Gronkowski no longer in the team's pass-catching mix, as training camp approaches the Bucs' tight end corps is led by veteran Cameron Brate, with a pair of rookie draft picks (fourth-rounder Cade Otton and sixth-rounder Ko Kieft) as well as returnee Codey McElroy also on hand.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rob Gronkowski: Retires from NFL
Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement Tuesday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.After missing the 2019 season, Gronkowski reunited with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay and totaled 100 receptions for 1,425 yards and 13 touchdowns during his final two campaigns. He contemplated returning for another year, but he's opted to hang up the cleats. The superstar tight end won four Super Bowls during his 11-year career and will likely be a future first ballot Hall of Famer.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rob Gronkowski: Bucs reportedly remain optimistic
Though Rob Gronkowski remains a free agent, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times suggests that the Buccaneers are optimistic the tight end will re-sign with the team sometime before training camp.In any case, while Gronkowski's NFL future is on hold, he won't be a part of Tampa Bay's full squad workouts June 7-9. For now, the team's tight end corps remains headed by Cameron Brate, and while the Bucs doubled down in April's draft by taking Cade Otton (106th overall) and Ko Kieft (218th overall), if Gronkowski does return to the mix, he'd reclaim his role as the team's top pass catcher at the position and remain on the fantasy radar, given his well established rapport with QB Tom Brady. In 12 games last season, the 33-year-old caught 55 of his 89 targets for 802 yards and six TDs.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rob Gronkowski: Playing status TBD
At this stage, Rob Gronkowski isn't ready to commit to playing this coming season, ESPN.com and NFL.com relay.There's been plenty of speculation regarding Gronkowski's playing status since QB Tom Brady unretired, but for now the 32-year-old continues to mull his options ahead of the 2022 season. As the NFL Draft approaches, Tampa Bay's top tight end option is Cameron Brate, with Codey McElroy also under contract with the team. In any case, the Buccaneers will no doubt add depth at the position, but GM Jason Licht has made it clear that Gronkowski, an unrestricted free agent, would be welcomed back "with open arms" should he elect to continue his playing career. This past season, Gronkowski caught 55 of his 89 targets for 802 yards and six TDs in 12 games.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rob Gronkowski: Could re-join Bucs
Rob Gronkowski remains a candidate to return to the Buccaneers, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.In the wake of QB Tom Brady's retirement, which turned out to be temporary, there was speculation that Gronkowski -- a Western New York native -- might consider signing with the Bills. Since then, however, Brady unretired, and Buffalo signed O.J. Howard, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Tampa Bay. For now, the Bucs' top tight end option is Cameron Brate, but Greg Auman of The Athletic relays that Gronkowski has suggested that there's "a very good chance" he'll be back with the team in 2022. In 12 games last season, Gronkowski hauled in 55 of his 89 targets for 802 yards and six TDs, and if the 32-year-old does end up re-signing, he'll remain on the fantasy radar given his well established rapport with Brady.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Buccaneers' Rob Gronkowski: Could be on Bills' radar
The Bills are open to the possibility of signing Rob Gronkowski this offseason, Tim Graham of The Athletic reports.The report notes that Gronkowski and the Bills spoke last spring, but the tight end ultimately stayed with Tampa Bay on a one-year deal to continue playing with quarterback Tom Brady. Now that Brady has retired, Graham suggests that the Western New York native may be willing to finish his career with his hometown team. If the interest is mutual and Gronkowski joins the Bills ahead of his age-33 season, he could be part of a timeshare at tight end with Dawson Knox, who produced a 49-587-9 receiving line in 15 games last season.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Buccaneers' Rob Gronkowski: Could return to Tampa sans Brady?
Rob Gronkowski said he'd consider returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers even if QB Tom Brady were to retire, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.While he's more likely to stick around if Brady does the same, Gronkowski wasn't ready to rule out any offseason possibilities when he met with the media Monday morning, less than 24 hours after a 30-27 loss to the Rams. The veteran QB and TE figure to take at least a few weeks before making any decisions, and it's a safe bet they'll talk with each other even if they end up making different plans for the future. Brady is signed with Tampa through 2022, while Gronkowski will become a free agent in mid-March unless he retires or signs a new contract with the Bucs first.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Buccaneers' Rob Gronkowski: Good use of four catches
Rob Gronkowski secured four of 11 targets for 85 yards during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 30-27 loss to the Rams in their NFC divisional-round matchup Sunday.Tom Brady had trouble connecting downfield consistently against an aggressive Rams defense, which was reflected in Gronkowski's sub-par catch rate. Brady's one interception even came on a pass intended for his long-time teammate, but Gronkowski also delivered an impressive 42-yard reception with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter to set up a Ryan Succop field goal. Gronkowski's yardage total checked in second on the afternoon for the Buccaneers and was his third of greater than 80 in the last four games. The 32-year-old has been effective for the Buccaneers over the last two seasons following his return from a one-year sabbatical from the NFL, but his decision on whether to return in 2022 may very well hinge on Brady's plans regarding his future.
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