Anniversary of Rob Gronkowski's Retirement Falling on Same Day as Tom Brady's Bucs Press Conference is Just Cruel

Tom Brady officially joins the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday, as he will conduct his introductory conference call around noon.

March 24 has quickly become a date that all New England Patriots fans dread, as one year ago to the day, Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski announced that he was going to retire at just 29 years old.

In his nine years as a Patriot, Gronkowski piled up 7,861 receiving yards and 79 touchdowns, making five Pro Bowls and four First Team All-Pros while winning three championships. While he was one of the strongest and most athletic players at his position in the league from the time he was drafted in the second round out of Arizona to the day he retired, injuries eventually took their toll on him.

After Brady put up his worst statistical season in over a decade without his tight end companion, he departed for the aqua water, vertical passing game, and lower taxation that the Buccaneers could offer him. For the first time in two decades, New England is an underdog.

We knew that, at some point, the Brady dynasty would end, and the Patriots would turn the page on that magical era. The fact that it happened so quickly and so suddenly thanks to the retirement of Gronkowski and the abrupt departure of Brady has still left Patriots fans in a state of shock.

The same day?!