Deadline Looms Over New England Patriots With Potential Gronkowski Comeback

Rob Gronkowski announced his decision to retire on Instagram, and Patriots fans have started talking about his potential comeback. Gronk’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus added fuel to the fire with his comments. He said that it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Gronk decides to come back to the midseason. Quarterback Tom Brady may help him change his mind.

“Rob is 29 years old. He’s still a very young man. It wouldn’t shock me if he has a change of heart, if he feels great and he decides that he wants to play football,” Drew Rosenhaus said. “But this is just me talking. This isn’t Rob. And I don’t want to create any unnecessary expectations. Rob is a very unique personality. 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.”

There’s a deadline for Gronk and the Patriots in case the team wants him on the field next season. ESPN’s Mike Reiss says that New England has to move Gronk off the reserve/retired list by Week 13. If not, he will be out for the rest of the season. That’s what the NFL says, and applies to those who plan to sit out all season and come back for the playoffs.

There will be a lot of speculation about Gronk’s comeback. Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston met Gronk in South Boston over the weekend, and talked about his midseason comeback.

“Lemme ask just one question,” Curran said to Gronkowski. “Do you think there’s any chance that, around Thanksgiving, you might be back playing?”

“I’m into new opportunities,” Gronk said. “I was at CVS today with Jim. Bagged all his stuff. I might do that, be a bagger. I might open a dog-walking business, be a dog-walker, I don’t know.”

So yes, Gronk is into something new, and his words can’t be viewed as a promise. He didn’t talk like someone who wants to come back, right? Let’s see what happens next.