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Rob Gronkowski had epic pre-draft visit with Patriots

By Sam Minton

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 06: Former New England Patriots player Rob Gronkowski looks on during the game between the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets at TD Garden on December 06, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Nuggets 108-95. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 06: Former New England Patriots player Rob Gronkowski looks on during the game between the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets at TD Garden on December 06, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Nuggets 108-95. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Rob Gronkowski is known for his hijinks but his pre-draft visit with the New England Patriots is quite the tale.

It was clear that Rob Gronkowski was beloved in New England. The Patriots let him play by a different set of rules.

Patriots players are supposed to be quiet and almost robot-like. Gronk was the complete opposite. He had a personality and his interviews quickly became must-watch material.

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Seeing how great of a career Gronkowski had it would seem like a no-brainer to draft him, but at the time there was a lot of risk.

Gronkowski dealt with back problems during his college career. As we know now those injuries wouldn’t stop in the NFL. With all the surgeries he had, Gronkowski is basically a robot. He sure looked like one with that gigantic arm brace.

But Gronk also did something that surely would have taken any other prospect of the Patriots draft board. Imagine being a fly on the wall when this happened?

"“Rob was kind of a shot in the dark. He came up on his pre-draft visit, had a bad visit,” Belichick said. “We put him in a room, came back and he was asleep on the floor.”“Didn’t make a very good impression,” Belichick added."

Now this story might have been hard to believe if it was a different player, but the fact that it is Gronkowski makes perfect sense.

Let us not forget that Gronk went to Arizona which is not far away from notorious party school Arizona State. Gronkowski was probably tuckered out from a long night.

I’m honestly surprised Bill Belichick didn’t erupt on him. That must show how much he valued Gronkowski.

I think it’s fair to say that the risk paid off. Gronkowski is regarded as one of the best tight ends to ever play the game. He completely changed how tight ends played the game.

The Patriots also won 3 Super Bowl’s during Gronkowski’s career. I would say that they were happy they took a chance on Gronk.

dark. Next. New England Patriots rank No. 7 amongst NFL fanbases on FanSided 250

There will never be another player like Rob Gronkowski and this story only proves that.

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