When Rob Gronkowski was suspended for per week halfway via the 2017 season because of a late hit, the then-Patriots tight finish was extra elated than dissatisfied to be away from the sphere.
“I simply received suspended per week. I used to be pleased, I used to be lastly pleased,” Gronkowski stated on Tuesday’s episode of “Man within the Area. “I used to be like, ‘Sure, I’m away from soccer for per week. I get to get well my physique.'”
Gronkowski, who was drafted by New England in 2010, detailed an “eerie” environment with the Patriots in 2017, revealing that he and a few of his teammates “weren’t actually having time” and that the grind “was taking a toll” on him.
Additional, teammate Tom Brady additionally detailed how Gronkowski, one of many quarterback’s favourite targets, was getting referred to as for lots of penalties in video games.
“Each time Gronk would contact somebody, they'd throw a flag on Gronk,” Brady stated on Tuesday’s episode. “However on the identical time, they may drape their arms throughout him and never get referred to as for any penalties.
“Our personal staff began getting on Gronk for that and Gronk was like, ‘I’m simply attempting to play ball,'” Brady added.
When the Patriots confronted the Payments in a Week 13 division showdown that 12 months, Gronkowski’s frustrations received the higher of him.
“I used to be simply getting held once more. Entering into on the in route, I received held. Coming again out, held me. And growth, there was no flag,” Gronkowski recalled.
The play in query was when Payments cornerback Tre’Davious White wasn’t referred to as for holding however received the interception as a substitute. In the intervening time, Gronkowski “simply misplaced it” and dropped an elbow on White, who ended up in concussion protocol.
Gronkowski, 32, publicly apologized to White and advised the press he “was simply actually pissed off at that second.” When the tight finish was hit with a one-game suspension, he was all however doing cartwheels.
“I imply, once you’re working full-speed into individuals, undoubtedly was taking a toll on me. Soccer, such a grind week in, week out. It's bodily, it’s violent, and also you’re simply working full pace at individuals and it's worthwhile to get well from soccer and that’s what lots of people don’t perceive,” Gronkowski stated.
“I misplaced a recreation examine and it was about $300,000 that recreation examine, and I didn’t even care one bit,” he continued. “I used to be simply glad I had per week off from soccer as a result of I wanted it.”
When Gronkowski returned for a Week 15 recreation in opposition to the Steelers, he had 9 receptions for 168 yards. Regardless of the success, New England’s 2017 season got here to a disappointing finish in Tremendous Bowl 52, when the Patriots misplaced to the Eagles.
As for Gronkowski, he returned to the Patriots for one more season earlier than saying his retirement in March 2019. When Brady left the Patriots for the Buccaneers a 12 months later, nevertheless, Gronkowski got here out of retirement in April 2020 to reunite along with his favourite quarterback.
Gronkowski and Brady are at the moment chasing their second Tremendous Bowl title with Tampa Bay after profitable their first final February.
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