ESPN's Darlington: Gronk "frustrated" with BB; likely to play for NE if Brady is there

[QuantumMechanic]

It was posted by Mike Florio shortly BEFORE the game.

"This is 99% a wild guess, but I won't be surprised if Gronk retires after the game."

While that by itself didn't mean anything. when Gronk was asked after the game if he was considering retirement he (as you know) said "I don’t know how you heard that but I'm definitely going to look at my future for sure," thus inadvertently (?) confirming that Florio wasn't just making stuff up.

(If you google that Gronk quote you'll find plenty of links to it.)

 

[bigballas]

of course he's likely to play if Brady's here...people tend to forget no matter how dominant Gronk is at his role, playing with Brady has elevated him to mega-star status. And playing with Brady will keep him in the headlines, make him an even bigger household name and help build his brand for when the time to step away is here.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

We have no access to what happens behind the scenes. I find it a little hard to believe that all of a sudden guys like Gronk and Brady just became babies.

I don't find it at all hard to believe that perhaps they never liked BB's raking-you-over-the-coals-for-every-little-thing style but gritted their teeth and lived with it, but as the years have gone on and they have fewer f**ks to give (especially Brady) they've eventually reached the point where they are done with it.

I'm sure you've all either had something like that happen to yourself or to someone you know.

 

[catent]

It was posted by Mike Florio shortly BEFORE the game.

"This is 99% a wild guess, but I won't be surprised if Gronk retires after the game."


ESPN's Darlington: Gronk "frustrated" with BB; likely to play for NE if Brady is there

I should have been more specific: no mention or inkling *by a poster here*. I lumped Florio's report in my post-Super Bowl category, which is when this all first cropped up (and was then corroborated by Gronk himself).

 

[catent]

Must have missed the "actual quote" from Gronk. Could you post a link? A link that actually has a quote that is.

"I don’t know how you heard that, but I mean I’m definitely going to look at my future for sure,” he said “I’m going to sit down the next couple of weeks and see where I’m at.”

Rob Gronkowski declines committing to a return to the Patriots in 2018

 

[Patstopia]

"I don’t know how you heard that, but I mean I’m definitely going to look at my future for sure,” he said “I’m going to sit down the next couple of weeks and see where I’m at.”

Rob Gronkowski declines committing to a return to the Patriots in 2018

And what does that have to do with him being frustrated by BB???

You read whatever you want between the lines, but nothing is actually stated, and also this was a Feb 5th quote, right after losing the super bowl. I guess he should be bubbly.

 

[MassPats38]

I never believe what athletes or coaches say in press conferences for a long time as they are trained like politicians: they tell you what you want to hear.

Your points are fair and I should've specified in my original post that I didn't exactly believe this rumor but if so, Brady is hypocritical.

I would agree the same, if the rumor were true. With that said, I will believe the statements of the parties involved over press chatter from unidentified sources or worse, unsubstantiated speculation, catering to the 90+% of the NFL that does not favor the Pats. I get the concept of PR spin in press conferences, but I would put far more stock in player and coach statements than unverified third party reports. That is like choosing to rely on articles in The National Enquirer over articles in Time.

And in this case, as JAG has literally zero incentive to speak well of Brady or the Pats if that is not the truth, why would he be lying in his public statements? He doesn't need to throw any compliments to his former team. His team is the Niners, and that is all he really needs to answer at this point. Rodgers and Favre didn't exhibit that type of restraint,so why would Brady or JAG when both have contracts in hand?

 

[catent]

And what does that have to do with him being frustrated by BB???

You read whatever you want between the lines, but nothing is actually stated, and also this was a Feb 5th quote, right after losing the super bowl. I guess he should be bubbly.

I never claimed he was frustrated with Belichick, I simply said that the rumors surrounding his potential retirement are entirely legitimate.

 

[RayClay]

The media knows the same thing we do, and are simply repackaging it? I beg to differ.

Again, as I said in my previous post, *no one* had any inkling that Gronk was pondering retirement (or pondering whether he'd return) prior to his comments and the subsequent reporting on the matter post-Super Bowl.

It seems this is indeed legitimate news, and claiming that this was already known seems absurd. I'd be surprised if you could find one post or mention of Gronk and retirement prior to the events that followed the Super Bowl.

It was known after he got his bell rung. Coincidentally, he has multiple years ahead being underpaid.

The Super Bowl was almost two months ago. I assumed the article posted was current, am I wrong?

 

[MainePatsFan26]

If I could of made the decision I would of made the unpopular one and traded TB to the Niners.
Now we are trying to find a future QB who may need to be ready as early as 2019.

In recent seasons, the greatness of Tom Brady has masked increasingly greater deficiencies in the roster and coaching staff. While our Super Bowl winning rosters would have been good teams without Brady, it was him alone that put us over the top.

With that in mind, I just can't see Jimmy G. leading any of these rosters to a championship if we had traded Brady. I'd rather dump Jimmy to an out of conference team, get a few more quality years of Brady (with perhaps another championship run or two), and then tank. Honestly, what is so bad about going full-blown Colts with a 1-15 or 2-14 team so we can dump contracts and get some great draft picks? Even if Belichick retires sooner than later, the infrastructure with the ownership is there to get quality people and spend the necessary money to win. And without Brady, it is not a question of if -- but rather of when -- we'll need to restock the roster.

 

[Gronk]

And what does that have to do with him being frustrated by BB???

You read whatever you want between the lines, but nothing is actually stated, and also this was a Feb 5th quote, right after losing the super bowl. I guess he should be bubbly.

He tried that when he was seen enjoying himself after SB 46 loss...that was wrong too!

I wish he’d not said anything because it seems like an unnecessary hoopla regardless of his motivation (and I don’t think you can necessarily assume there was some agenda attached, it might’ve just been a thought). but he’s a human being with thoughts and opinions, so whatever, he can say what he wants.

 

[luuked]

I saw on Comcast that the guys there thought that bb busted trust in the locker room when he signed Gilmore and let the butler drama drag on all off season.

Apparently bb preaches that if you are all in on the team, then he is all in on you. And the guys in the locker room all know butler was all in, yet bb hung him out to dry and signed Gilmore for a ton of money instead. It left players feeling bb was not exactly trustworthy.

Add in gilmore’s Inability to play zone and you have a defensive meeting room full of people that don’t understand why bb went off script.

Which is a ton of ********. None of the Rutgers players would question authority especially the one that kept them in the AFCCG for 7 years straight and took them to the SB 4 times in the same time. Same with Chung.

Anybody else just trade or cut if they really have an issue with BB making the team better.

 

[Flash]

I really believe there isn't any significant drama outside of the Alex Guerrero stuff. Gronk is finally healthy after such a long time by following Guerrero's guidance (according to the media at least), and when Belichick kicked Guerrero out of the team it made him (and others who had relationships with Guerrero) annoyed. That's where the drama comes from, and that's also what I believed caused the supposed friction between Brady and Belichick.

Everything else is a load of nonsense I believe. Some players may be burnt out from going to consecutive Super Bowls but there really isn't anything else there. Guerrero is the #1 divisive issue on the team, everything else is minor. We will see if Belichick kicking out Guerrero will cause any negative effects on the team.

 

[Tunescribe]

I don't find it at all hard to believe that perhaps they never liked BB's raking-you-over-the-coals-for-every-little-thing style but gritted their teeth and lived with it, but as the years have gone on and they have fewer f**ks to give (especially Brady) they've eventually reached the point where they are done with it.

The problem with this is that playing professional football, if approached with the intent to win consistently, takes those involved out of their comfort zone. It's SUPPOSED to be an agitating grind and tremendously hard work. The "fun" part comes three hours a week with playing the games and winning -- everything else is a demanding pain-in-the-ass chore. It's a big price to pay being a winner, so if/when they reach the point of having fewer f*cks to give working under BB, it's time to leave. They shouldn't expect BB to change his style or philosophy to accommodate their comfort level or soothe their ego individually. With the Patriots it's about TEAM and WINNING.

 

[XLIX]

Am I the only one who thinks Gronk’s “BE FREE” remark, which people seem to be making a big deal about, to Amendola is kind of silly? The reason why I think it’s silly is because I honestly believe that Amendola wanted to stay, and definitely would have stayed had the money in NE been comparable.

 

[Tunescribe]

Am I the only one who thinks Gronk’s “BE FREE” remark, which people seem to be making a big deal about, to Amendola is kind of silly? The reason why I think it’s silly is because I honestly believe that Amendola wanted to stay, and definitely would have stayed had the money in NE been comparable.

Agreed. But moving to Miami also caused him to split with Ms. Culpo, so maybe that was part of it. If "be free" refers to no longer being under BB's thumb, then he certainly is free to play less regimented (losing) football.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I just read Ian’s wrap up. We only see glimpses, and how much to make of them is always the question. Gronk’s tweet to Dola, with the all caps on FREE and HAPPY, looked like one guy saying “I get it and I appreciate you” (with “it” meaning unspecified NE dissatisfaction.)

Brady’s “well said” concerned me a little more.

Ah, the off season drama.

16 years (for Brady) is a long time. Any of you guys still lovong your first job out of college?

Dunno what’s going on inside the Pats. A couple of little signs are leaking out, which would be a tsunami in another era.

I’d speculate, but (1) it’s worthless and (2) I’m on the phone here - PITA!

Is it September yet?

 

[Deus Irae]

Gronk has said almost nothing about this, and has reportedly been working out at the facility. Naturally, that hasn't stopped posters from saying all manner of stupid things impugning the big guy.

 

[Triumph]

Who believes they were the reason for the patriots success

You sound like a bitter homer

I have no qualms what gronk has given of himself to the game....he will always be top shelf in my book

Good luck finding someone else to do that....he already has all the money he will ever need

Evidently Gonk thinks he is the driving force and wants more money. What else is there to complain about?

A homer is all about hero worship. That might be you, but its definitely not me. Gronk can pack up his drama and go. The act has worn thin. A public feud of playing hardball about money with BB never turns out well.

 

[borg]

Am I the only one who thinks Gronk’s “BE FREE” remark, which people seem to be making a big deal about, to Amendola is kind of silly? The reason why I think it’s silly is because I honestly believe that Amendola wanted to stay, and definitely would have stayed had the money in NE been comparable.

New England exercised it's leverage advantage over Amendola three times while he was under contract leading to three reductions in pay. Sure, DA could have called NE's bluff each summer, when most jobs have already been filled....but he didn't.
As a 2018 FREE agent....he is finally FREE to self determine.
IMO......"FREE" ....means no more leverage games....for the time being at least.