Patriots: Rob Gronkowski's infamous NFL Draft story keeps getting better
New England Patriots fans likely know this story well because it was told by Bill Belichick himself during the league's 100th season celebrations: The day NFL Draft prospect Rob Gronkowski had his pre-draft visit with the team… And fell asleep on the floor. "Rob was kind of a shot in the dark, he had a […]
New England Patriots fans likely know this story well because it was told by Bill Belichick himself during the league's 100th season celebrations: The day NFL Draft prospect Rob Gronkowski had his pre-draft visit with the team…
And fell asleep on the floor.
"Rob was kind of a shot in the dark, he had a bad visit," said Belichick during a recorded segment presenting the league's All-Time Team. "We put him in a room, came back and he was asleep on the floor. Didn't make a very good impression."
"We just kind of you know, bet that he would come through, and he certainly did big time," added the coach who groomed Gronk into a three-time Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots and saw him earn four First-Team All-Pro honors in New England.
That story is as Gronkowski as Gronkowski can get. It's one of those things that you hear and you just know it has to be made up. Yet deep down you understand it's not because it's Gronk we're talking about.
Falling asleep on the floor and still having a team trade up for you in the NFL Draft? And then going on to become one of the greatest tight ends of all time? That's the stuff of legends and in a way poetically perfect for a guy like him.
But it gets even better.
Earlier this year, the former Patriots tight end talked about his point of view on Jason Tartick's Trading Secrets podcast. What he had to say is almost as ridiculous as his many spectacular touchdown catches.
"This was one of my mistakes," revealed Gronkowski. "I party at the University of Arizona one night and got absolutely hammered. Had to jump on the flight the next day and started this little tour. So I already put myself in the bag. So I'm going on this tour. I'm falling, I'm no sleep, I'm hungover already. I'm visiting all these teams and then I got to New England and I'm (gassed)."
At that point, the guy did what any reasonable NFL Draft prospect would do (not really) and decided to "let it be and let it fly."
"So I had the most craziest visit man, my comments I was saying to their questions, I just let it fly," said Gronk.
"And then they went through the playbook. They drew up some play. It was Billy O'Brien, the offensive coordinator (who's now back) with the New England Patriots. He drew up a play. He came back and I didn't know one single thing. My mind was shut off. And I was just like I basically said something like 'It doesn't matter. Just throw me to football."
At the time it was probably a wild response to offer the Patriots. And yet in hindsight, it probably was Tom Brady's strategy in a lot of situations. It doesn't matter, just throw Gronk the football.
And apparently, that particular story doesn't even paint the full picture of how crazy that pre-draft visit was for all parties involved.
"I mean, there was a lot more detail to like how outrageous it was, but we just need a glimpse of it," added Gronkowski. "And I walked out. And I said to myself, that team is either going to draft me or that team is either crossing me off the list right now. And so I said it's either or. And then look what happened."
What happened was one of the most dominant pairings in NFL history and an absolute playoff menace who will go down in history as one of the greatest to ever do it. That's a bet that paid off for the Patriots.
Heck, this story alone might end the debate and make Gronk the unquestionable GOAT.
