Don’t read too far into Rob Gronkowski’s retirement talk (Video)
By Josh Hill
Rob Gronkowski was noncommittal when asked about whether he’ll play in 2018.
When a player loses the biggest game of his career, it’s something that takes a while to settle in. It’s almost a moment of ‘gotcha journalism’ to ask a player questions when they’re in shock following a loss in the Super Bowl. Everyone got on Cam Newton for storming out of his press conference after the Carolina Panthers lost Super Bowl 50, but emotions run high.
Rob Gronkowski didn’t storm out of his post-Super Bowl press conference but he did give an answer that people are already dissecting to determine it’s scientific value. After the game, Gronk was asked about his future in football and said that he’ll have to sit down and think about what is next for him.
That’s not a definitive answer either way, but people are already assuming it means he’s going to retire.
The danger is in reading too far into these comments. Gronk lives in a constant state of confusion, and that’s probably heightened by the fact that he is gobsmacked about losing his first Super Bowl. Not being the party Gronk we’ve seen him be after the other two Super Bowls he’s played in is a change of pace for him, but it’s also a reality of football. You can’t win every big game you play in and that’s something that Gronk is dealing with now.
It wouldn’t be insane to see him walk away from the game, either. He suffered a serious head injury in the AFC Championship Game, one that knocked him out of action. He’s also suffered various injuries over the years that have ravaged his body, so the idea that he’s thinking about preserving himself for his future is actually the smartest thing he’s thought publically in a while.
Right now isn’t the time to make that decision. Gronk will almost certainly return in 2018 for the Patriots, but at least this will give Patriots fans something to distract themselves with.