‘I was shocked!’: Rob Gronkowski reveals surprise at Tom Brady return rumors, as he said his friend and former teammate is ‘totally tired of playing’
Tom Brady was apparently caught off guard by rumors that he might retire a second time, as was his good friend and former teammate Rob Gronkowsi.
Speculation about Brady’s future ran rampant earlier this week when NFL Network host Rich Eisen suggested the legendary quarterback “might not end up after all” after he resigned in February.
The former Patriots and Bucs quarterback poured cold water on that idea Tuesday, and Gronkowski also revealed that he didn’t expect to read that Brady could return.
“It was a surprise when I saw that news,” Gronkowski said. boston.com ‘It actually put me on my toes. I was very surprised when I saw that.
“I feel like Tom is definitely done playing. I haven’t talked to him or anything about it. I’m not speaking for Tom.
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady celebrate after winning Super Bowl LV in 2021
“Just from everything I saw of his retirement video and everything I feel like he just got done playing football,” the former tight end added. “However, it was very shocking when I heard that news the other day.”
Brady spoke about the rumors in a light-hearted way earlier this week, saying, “Anyone who thinks I have time to go back to the NFL has never adopted a 2-month-old kitten for their daughter.”
The seven-time Super Bowl winner felt the need to set the record straight after Eisen relayed the rumor he had heard at the NFL Combine, specifically noting the Dolphins as a possible landing spot.
“A couple of people were like, ‘Wait, just wait.’ And I was like, ‘she’s uploading photos of her cat to Instagram.’ But it doesn’t look like he’s getting big and fat, does it? Let it unfold. Let’s see who wants what,” Eisen said.
‘The only place people say you have to watch is Miami.
‘If the Dolphins, in any way or manner, obtain a medical report or information from a medical evaluation of Tua [Tagovailoa] that he may not be ready to go, and suddenly there’s Tom Brady sitting in Florida, where his family is and where he can easily locate himself. Watch for that, a couple of birds at the Combine told me.
However, since Eisen’s comments, the Dolphins would have gone with Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option.
Gronkowski and Brady played together for nine seasons in New England and two in Tampa.
Brady announced his retirement – for the second time – on February 1 in an emotional video
Both general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel had publicly committed to Tagovailoa starting for the Dolphins since the season ended, despite suggestions that he should stop playing due to the number of injuries in the game. head that has suffered
“I think it’s important to recognize that we have a congruence of interest in the Dolphins and the player, Tua, that both parties really want him to play at a very high level for a long time for the Miami Dolphins,” McDaniel said in February. .
Tagovailoa missed the Pro Bowl in early February because he was still in concussion protocol, which he entered for the second time last season on Dec. 26 after sustaining a concussion during the Dolphins’ loss to the Green Bay Packers. Christmas Day.
He missed the last three games of the regular season, as well as Miami’s wild card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.