Gronk 'not ready to commit to the game of football right now'

It still remains unclear whether Rob Gronkowski will return for another grueling NFL season. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Rob Gronkowski 'not ready to commit to the game of football right now'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/5/22

Future Hall of Fame tight end and current free agent Rob Gronkowski raised eyebrows in mid-March when he was caught on camera saying there was "a very good chance" he would re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for at least one more season after "best friend" and quarterback Tom Brady ended his retirement to return to the Bucs. Agent Drew Rosenhaus then added uncertainty to the situation when he later explained that the four-time Super Bowl champion was "undecided" about his future.

A report surfaced last week claiming Gronkowski will "eventually" be back with the Buccaneers, and he indicated over the weekend he'll either play for Tampa Bay later this year or retire.

Just took a photo and talked with @RobGronkowski..

He says he is 50/50 on coming back.. but if he comes back it will ONLY be for the Buccaneers. pic.twitter.com/ugeXz64sL2
— JC Cornell (@CornellNFL) April 3, 2022

However, Gronkowski told TMZ Sports for a piece published early Tuesday morning he still hasn't made a decision and also even avoided catching footballs at a recent charity event so he wouldn't rush a call he may want to take back at some point this summer.

"I knew if I started catching some passes that my head would have started turning, like, 'Oh, crap, I got to get back out on the field,'" Gronk said during the discussion. "And, right now, I'm not ready to get back out on that field. I'm not ready to commit to the game of football right now."

Gronkowski first walked away from the NFL after the 2018 season when Brady was still playing with the New England Patriots before he followed the G.O.A.T. to the Buccaneers in the spring of 2020, so the 44-year-old signal-caller's return doesn't necessarily guarantee anything as it pertains to his buddy.

As CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora said last week, though, Gronkowski doesn't need "to be there for the first day of lifting" or the start of Tampa Bay's offseason program next week. He knows the offense, has chemistry with Brady, and, theoretically, could wait until at least July before he re-joins the Bucs.

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