Why would the Patriots trade Rob Gronkowski?

The New England Patriots and Rob Gronkowski are in the trade rumors mill. Is there any reason to believe the two are headed for a split?

On Friday afternoon, Twitter turned into an inferno of rumors and angst when Rob Gronkowski was reportedly going to be changing addresses. The future Hall of Fame tight end was the subject of trade rumors that would have had him going from the New England Patriots to an undisclosed location.

However, those rumors have seemed to subside, which is probably best for all parties involved (except the mystery team that would have acquired him).

So did the rumors make sense in the first place, and will they be revisited? Well, it’s complicated.

In one way, they make plenty of sense. The Patriots are not typically a team to hold a player above everyone else. Gronkowski has openly talked about retirement and wanting a new deal, which currently has two years remaining on it. New England has rarely paid big money to keep a player, especially on a third pact.

Additionally, there has been plenty of talk about how Bill Belichick and the relationships with his players — particularly those who won out with Tom Brady’s training team — have gone south. Gronkowski would be included in that group.

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On the other side of the proverbial coin, the Patriots are on their last legs. Belichick is the second-oldest coach in the league and Brady is 41 years old. If New England traded Gronkowski, it would be losing its best weapon while its next-best weapon, Julian Edelman, is suspended four games for violating the league’s PED policy.

In the end, it makes more sense for the Patriots to ride out one more year with this core together before making real decisions on Edelman and Gronkowski.