New England Patriots: Greg Olsen sparks more Rob Gronkowski rumors
The New England Patriots need tight end help and veteran tight end Greg Olsen appears third in line behind one Rob Gronkowski.
The New England Patriots have some big questions to answer this offseason and one of them is how they will fill the tight end position, an area of obvious need coming off the 2019 NFL season.
While Bill Belihcick is flexing his rings at Super Bowl LIV and Tom Brady is playing with the hearts of Patriots fans with Hulu commercials, why not refuel the Rob Gronkowski rumors once again?
Well, this is coming from an actual player who the team could have some interest in. According to a tweet by The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, soon-to-be veteran free agent Greg Olsen was asked about the Patriots need for a tight end and he seemed to hint there is some interest, but only if the team could persuade Gronkowski.
Greg Olsen, when told the Patriots need a tight end on the FOX pregame show: “They’re trying to get Gronk back. If they don’t get him, I’m like third in line.”
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) February 2, 2020
I know, here we go again. But, a year away from the game may have made Rob Gronkowski hungry for some more football, especially if his return can help the team re-sign Tom Brady at a team-friendly deal.
With a recent report surfacing that Brady would want some playmakers around him if he is to return to the New England Patriots, luring the All-Pro tight end out of retirement would certainly help and at just 30 years old, Gronk still isn’t shutting down the idea that he will play football again.
"“As of right now, I’m all set where I’m at, but I already know that I’m a young guy, and I still love to shape and shape and compete,” Gronkowski said during FOX Sports Media Day last week, as transcribed by NESN. “So, if that passion, that fire ever comes back, then that’s when I would come back to football.”"
Sounds more like a when rather than if.
Given his age and what shape he is in, the Patriots getting Rob Gronkowski to play football again, especially if Tom Brady is nudging him, is not out of the realm of possibility.
New England Patriots fans have certainly grown to not depend on that possibility, but the hope is still there.
Overall, the encouraging news is the team appears to be in conversation about upgrading the tight end position. If not Gronkowski, Greg Olsen is not a bad backup plan. Coming off a season in which he caught 52 passes for 597 yards, he would instantly be an upgrade over Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo.
Next. New England Patriots Rumors: Greg Olsen has Patriots written all over him. dark
The only question is if Olsen is third in line, then who is second?
Keep in mind that Greg Olsen and Rob Gronkowski share the same agent in Drew Rosenhaus, so he obviously knows something.