Robert Kraft Won't Close Door on Rob Gronkowski Patriots Return Despite FOX Deal
By Mark Powell
And why would he?
A Rob Gronkowski Patriots return has long been rumored, but after the Super Bowl-winning tight end inked a deal with FOX sports as an NFL studio analyst, many around the league assumed this meant his playing career was officially behind him. Not so fast!
Robert Kraft thinks there's still a chance.
Robert Kraft is on NFL Network.
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) October 10, 2019
He was asked if he thinks Patriots can coax Gronk back.
"We all love Gronk and I think the bottom line is, he hasn't put his retirement papers in. We can pray and hope. ... I think that's a good academic argument that there is hope with Gronk."
The good news for Patriots and NFL fans is that this is fully Gronk's decision. There will be no pressure applied by the organization or even Tom Brady moving forward (or at least we hope). Gronkowski has expressed how much he misses the game and camaraderie of an NFL locker room, but also detailed the physical toll playing professional football can put on even the greatest of on-field warriors.
One would think that if Gronkowski were to re-open that part of his life, it would have to be much later in the year. Gronk knows the Patriots playbook by heart, and still looks, for the most part, like he could step on the field this Sunday and put up six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. There's no rush here.
Robert Kraft: There is hope Gronk could come back https://t.co/unu8ejnAor
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 10, 2019
Should Gronkowski come back for one last run to glory with this Patriots corps, it'd be a story to remember for years to come. But on that note, New England is still a solid favorite without him.