New England Patriots: Dreams of a Rob Gronkowski return in 2019 dashed

Super Bowl LIII was the last game fans have to remember Rob Gronkowski in a New England Patriots uniform and that may remain the case.

When NFL players retire before their time, there is always talk of a return. Such is certainly the case with former New England Patriots All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Undoubtedly the greatest playmaker to sport the uniform (sorry Ben Coates), both injuries and success led the 29-year-old tight end to an early retirement. But, like Charles “Megatron” Johnson and Barry Sanders back in his day, there will be always talk about a dominant player like Gronkowski stepping on the field again, especially with a Patriots team now searching to solve that tight end hole he left.

Add to that the fact that Bill Belichick and company did not draft a tight end in the 2019 NFL Draft and hope was given to Patriots fans of a possible mid-season return by the great tight end. That could still happen, but the following report by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer throws water on that hot burning rumor.

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He writes:

"“One reason why Gronkowski scuffled through 2018 was a mid-season battle with a bulging disk in his back. By the end of the year, it was no longer a factor. But I’m told that knowing how close he might have been to a fourth back surgery, and the implications that could have down the line, was one factor in his decision to retire. So just logically, I’d be hard to imagine that concern would go away at 30 years old. Or, at the very least, would be one mental hurdle he’d have to clear if he were to come back.”"

In pointing this out, Breer is not completely ruling out a possibility of a return but is simply highlighting what led Rob Gronkowski to an early retirement to begin with.

That doesn’t mean a passion for football or even good pal Tom Brady begging for him to come out of retirement won’t lead Gronkowski back to field. What it does mean, however, is that the New England Patriots aren’t depended on that possibility which is why they brought back Ben Watson (ironically, out of retirement.)

Also, with their current depth at the position, it does appear the team is changing how they use tight ends and returning more to a power running game. Players who can block first and go out for the occasional pass is exactly what Rob Gronkowski was towards the end of his final season with the team.

As long as Tom Brady has other playmakers around him at other positions, this works. If other playmakers not named Julian Edelman or James White don’t make an impact, the Gronkowski rumors will fuel again.

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In other words, until the New England Patriots offense is looking pure awful through the first few games of the season, as fans we shouldn’t even contemplate the idea of Rob Gronkowski saving the day.

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