Why it doesn't matter that Rob Gronkowski is taking his time to return to the Buccaneers
Rob Gronkowski is taking his sweet time when it comes to deciding the future of his football career. While we do know he won't play for anyone else other than the Buccaneers, we don't know if he's going to actually play or if he's going to retire. Gronkowski's timing makes sense. He retired from football […]
Rob Gronkowski is taking his sweet time when it comes to deciding the future of his football career. While we do know he won't play for anyone else other than the Buccaneers, we don't know if he's going to actually play or if he's going to retire.
Gronkowski's timing makes sense. He retired from football after the 2018 season for a variety of reasons, but the catalysts were the multiple injuries he suffered through the years and the offseason grind. As we all know, Gronk likes to have a good time and that's exactly what he's doing right now.
At the same time, however, it's understandable if there is frustration on the fans' side of things. Football is the ultimate team sport, so you want your guys together and around each other as much as possible. This helps develop chemistry and there are plenty of other benefits that come along with it, as well.
But when it comes to Gronkowski, it's a different story. And it's why there doesn't need to be any stress involved with his decision to take his time.
Gronkowski's situation is different from most
Sure, it would be great if Gronk made an official decision in regard to whether or not he wants to play in 2022. That would allow the Buccaneers to build their roster, accordingly.
But, the Buccaneers are likely to draft a tight end no matter what Gronk decides. Right now, Cameron Brate and practice squad player Codey McElroy are the only tight ends under contract with the Bucs. Brate is solid depth player, but that's about all he is at this point in his career. And he'll be 31 in July. Tampa Bay needs to get younger and deeper at the position and the 2022 draft has some solid options in Rounds 2-4.
Gronkowski also knows the Buccaneers offense after playing in it for the last two years and it's not like he needs to develop chemistry with Tom Brady. Those two are on another level when it comes to chemistry and we saw that multiple times in 2021.
The only thing to really worry about is his conditioning. However, it's highly unlikely that Gronkowski isn't working out an a regular basis (Bruce Arians said a few weeks ago that he's always at the facility) and, the Buccaneers' mandatory minicamp is June 7-9. If he chooses to come back, he'll likely make the decision before June 7. He'll then have nearly two full months to maximize his football shape, which is plenty of time. If he doesn't decide by that point then that will be a conversation worth having, then. But for now, it's rather moot.
And, the time off will allow Gronk to come back mentally refreshed, which is huge in its own right. We all know how it feels to get burned out about something and how that can affect our overall performance. A fully healthy, refreshed Gronk can only be a good thing for the Buccaneers.
Featured image via John A. Babiak/@Photog_JohnB
