Who says there's a lack of sports news during the coronavirus pandemic? Leagues are paused, but Rob Gronkowski is giving sports fans something to talk about, and sports journalists something to write about. On Tuesday, the news broke that not only was Gronk looking to return to football, but he also wanted a reunion out of it.
#Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has, in fact, begin putting on weight for a return to football, sources say. He’s ready. He wants to return. And Tom Brady wants him back for the #Bucs, too.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
The reunion which was reportedly requested was not with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and the team he spent his entire career with, but with his friend and his former quarterback Tom Brady.
REPORT: Gronk has told the Pats that he's interested in playing football again. However, he wants to do it with the Bucs and Tom Brady.
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) April 21, 2020
via @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/KUKwvbSV6O
Brady moved on in this offseason, saying his goodbyes to Pats Nation and taking his talents to Tampa Bay to try to give the Buccaneers a championship run. Most Bucs fans are thrilled and the current team's offensive players are looking forward to competing alongside the six-time Super Bowl champion.
Brady has a new city, will have a new offense to learn and changed conferences, but he might have the familiar goofy face of Gronk to make him feel more at home.
The tight end has been vocal in the past about never wanting to play with another quarterback, so once Brady left New England the chances of him returning to the team slimmed drastically.
No deal is done yet, but rumors of the potential trade are swirling. The Patriots own Gronkowski's contract, which has one year, $10 million left, and apparently the parties involved have been discussing possible trades.
The Pats have agreed to trade Gronk and a 7th round pick to the Bucs for a 4th round pick.
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) April 21, 2020
via @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/kD485j31Ay
As a reminder, this is the state of the Bucs offense currently:
As things currently stand, the Buccaneers offense:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 21, 2020
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Ronald Jones
WR: Mike Evans
WR: Chris Godwin
TE1: Rob Gronkowski
TE2: O.J. Howard/Cameron Brate
That offense might be adding a three-time Super Bowl champion pretty soon.
Naturally, Twitter went wild when the news dropped. Here are some of the best reactions:
Watching the Gronk situation escalate... pic.twitter.com/Rr3uWUS1c7
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 21, 2020
Brady is obviously excited about the Gronk reunion, and tweeted an old video of the two with the caption, "Time to run it back @RobGronkowski!
Time to run it back @RobGronkowski! pic.twitter.com/d4wmZLUV9n
— @tombrady (@TomBrady) April 22, 2020
Bucs cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting tweeted out the iconic video of Brady and Gronk that now has new meaning.
— Sean Murphy-Bunting (@MrSeanyB1) April 21, 2020
Patriots fans are not loving this news.
When Gronk wants to go play for Brady in Tampa pic.twitter.com/8PyQiTU1BY
— Patriots Dynasty (@Pats_Dynasty_) April 21, 2020
Don’t love that https://t.co/LhIQ7Xs2J1
— M.J. Baird (@MJ_Baird17) April 21, 2020
The possible deal has been announced, but some are thinking Belichick could pull a Belichick and do something sneaky.
if this happens the rest of the league should file a protest https://t.co/eYjmMqEo9A
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) April 21, 2020
Belichick gonna trade a washed Gronk for a 1st, tank next season and get Trevor Lawrence pic.twitter.com/WKXC1s83Mo
— Fitz (@FitzGSN_) April 21, 2020
Tell us how you really feel.
“The Pats will receive a 4th round pick in return for Gronk” pic.twitter.com/sjwvd8e6T7
— Going Deep Podcast (@goingdeep) April 21, 2020
The defending champ is out.
Gronk: *Wins his WWE belt*
— Stephen A. Smith Burner (@SASBurnerAcct) April 21, 2020
Less than a month later: pic.twitter.com/ZuHS5dJE1D
Poor Jules.
Julian Edelman seeing gronk and Brady on the Bucs pic.twitter.com/UOTGAyAgv4
— Elton Jawn (@PiIIsburyJoeBoy) April 21, 2020
Julian Edelman pic.twitter.com/iQYf0P5Mon
— Nick Parco (@nick_parco) April 21, 2020
Julian Edelman outside the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ facility pic.twitter.com/aDwkEAPnwT
— Blake 🧸 (@HoodieRamey) April 21, 2020
You knew Lane Johnson was going to comment. I hope the Bucs are a fun team!
🤔
— Lane Johnson (@LaneJohnson65) April 21, 2020
We all know Gronk loves the beach.
Gronk pulling up to Tampa like pic.twitter.com/h0u72JG3bD
— Stephen A. Smith Burner (@SASBurnerAcct) April 21, 2020
Reminder that No. 87 said he would rather retire than play with someone other than Brady.
I mean it's hard to be mad at Gronk considering the Patriots tried to trade him to the Lions a couple years ago. He owes no loyalty to this team https://t.co/dpPolgAvjd
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 21, 2020
Credit where credit is due. Leroy had the scoop.
CREDIT ME WOOF BARK BARK https://t.co/MLTH2CGrRI
— NFL Insider Leroy (@LeroyInsider) April 21, 2020
I'm sure Belichick's wheels are turning.
When you own the rights to Gronk and you know you can get the Bucs to give you several small countries in a trade for him pic.twitter.com/myqUna0KIR
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) April 21, 2020
Gronk has quite the resume.
List of tight ends in NFL History with 3 Super Bowl rings, 4 All-Pro selections and 75 TD:
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 21, 2020
Gronk
That's the list pic.twitter.com/aQjXy7avhp
I just summed the whole thing up with one word.
— Shanna (@shanna_mcc) April 21, 2020
No word yet on if the NFL season will begin on time, or if fans will be present, but whenever it happens it is sure to be interesting.
