Rob Gronkowski Demanding Trade to Buccaneers Marks Official End to the Patriots' Dynasty

In case you needed more convincing that the glory days of the New England Patriots have come to an abrupt close, Rob Gronkowski drove home the fact that the Pats of yesteryear are indeed a thing of the past.

Gronk came out of retirement, but he refused to play for Bill Belichick and the Patriots, insisting on a trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play alongside Tom Brady. And that was that.

The "dynasty" was considered over by many when Derrick Henry steamrolled Belichick's defense in the playoffs and Tom Brady left frigid New England for sunny Tampa Bay in free agency, but today's trade is surely the final nail in the coffin, as Gronkowski valuing his partnership with Brady over his relationship with Belichick and the Patriots organization officially shoveled the last bit of dirt on the ol' dynasty's grave.

You said it, Dick.

Belichick might still be around, as are stars like Julian Edelman and Devin McCourty, but the aura and gravitas the Patriots had when Brady and Gronk were at their best is gone, as Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham throwing to Matt LaCosse doesn't exactly strike the same fear in opposing defenses.

The Patriots dynasty is officially dead and buried. It went out not with a bang, but a whimper.

How unfitting.