Rob Gronkowski: Patriots Tight End Has ‘No Doubt’ About 2017 Return

New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski is feeling good and expects to be ready for the 2017 NFL season.

Rob Gronkowski had to stand and watch his team overcome a 25-point deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. A couple of days later, the New England Patriots tight end promised fans that he will be a part of the team’s next Super Bowl victory and it appears he is motivated as ever to get back on the football field.

Gronkowski reiterated that motivation in an interview with ESPN’s Cari Champion. Following a season in which he set the team’s franchise record for touchdown receptions and just weeks later was lost for the season due to a season-ending back injury, the All-Pro tight end said he has “no doubt” that he’ll be ready for the start of the 2017 season.

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He also talked about how tough it was to watch his team’s road to a fifth Super Bowl victory from the sidelines.

"“It’s definitely tough at some points,” Gronkowski said via Masslive.com. “You want to be out there with your boys. You see them grinding every time. Every single day, they’re going out to practice and you’re seeing them walk out of the locker room walking, you just want to be with them. You just want to be out on the field with them, play in games, doing all the hard work with them.”"

Although the 27-year-old tight end is focused on returning, there is no guarantee as to how long he will even be able to play the game. With the injuries he has already suffered and the amount of abuse his body takes on the field, Gronk said he still “love playing the game,” but couldn’t guarantee how long he would play.

Gronkowski on Roger Goodell

While both Tom Brady and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft have been kind to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell post Super Bowl victory, Rob Gronkowski isn’t sharing the same kindness.

As expected, Gronkowski was asked in the interview with Champion whether Goodell would be welcomed back to Gillette Stadium or any part of the region of New England anytime soon. The Patriots tight end didn’t hold back in offering his opinion.

"“To tell you the truth, I really don’t think so,” he said via NESN. “The fans are nuts, they’re wild, and they have the Patriots’ back no matter what. They have Tom (Brady)’s back. I’m telling you, (Goodell) wouldn’t get through the highway if our fans saw him. So I don’t think he can even land in the airport in Boston, because Patriots fans are the best fans. They’re the most loyal fans. I’m telling you, they might just carry out Roger themselves. He couldn’t even get to the stadium in Foxboro if he landed in Boston.”"

Doesn’t sound like Gronkowski is willing to forgive the NFL commissioner for suspending his quarterback for the first four games of the season.

Next: Boston Celtics: The Status Quo Can Be A Good Thing

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