Patriots fans have identity crisis rooting for Brady, Gronk and the Buccaneers
By John Buhler
New England Patriots fans are really confused about pulling for Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski.
Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are playing the Washington Football Team in the NFL playoffs as members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New England Patriots fans are not sure how they feel about it.
Brady had been the Patriots’ quarterback the last 19 seasons, helping New England become the Evil Empire. They went to nine Super Bowls during that span, winning six Lombardri Trophies in the process. Gronkowski was their for the second half of the dynasty, winning three Super Bowls and going to five in total. Patriots fans cannot process their two former stars playing elsewhere.
Are these Patriots fans or are they Brady and Gronk fans?
For the first time since 2008, the Patriots did not qualify for the AFC playoffs.
Tom Brady: *posts playoff hype video*
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) January 9, 2021
Patriots fans: pic.twitter.com/vHCVDoi2J1
You know who I'm rooting for!Brady and Gronk!
— Pj Patrick Castro (@ThePatriots1287) January 10, 2021
We’ve been spoiled for 20 years with the Kraft-Belichick-Brady trio.
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) January 9, 2021
I miss waking up on a day like today and getting ready to watch them play on a Saturday night or watching these #NFL games to see which team the #Patriots would be facing.
Gronkowski was still at the University of Arizona and Brady tore his ACL in Week 1 of that fateful season.
I'm all about the Patriots and love the Pats and Belichick more than any single player, but I will be also rooting for Brady and Gronk during the post-season.
— Joe Henkel (@theJoeHenkel) January 10, 2021
This is weird watching Brady and Gronk in another uniform for a playoff game. With that said #GoBucs
— Greg Morreo (@Greg722) January 10, 2021
The Patriots finished in third place in the same AFC East division they used to dominate, behind the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins, only ahead of the laughable New York Jets.
January. Playoffs. Watching Brady and Gronk.
— David Wade (@davidwade) January 10, 2021
But something feels different this time.
Tom Brady and Gronk playing in the playoffs but with their new team. #NFLPlayoffs #SuperWildCard
— bong (@sirbongalot) January 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/keith_abbey/status/1348076127278002177
Next. Seahawks choke vs. Rams: Who is to blame?. dark
So no, we really cannot blame Patriots fans for rooting for two of their favorite players of all time. However, only time will tell if they are indeed Patriots fans, or if they are addicted to winning and will hop on some other bandwagon after Brady retires in a few years and Gronkowski hangs up the spikes for a second time. Whatever. You all won so many games over 20 years. Deal with it.
Patriots fans are slowly becoming Buccaneers fans before our very eyes; it is a beautiful thing.