Bucs QB Brady Discusses Gronkowski’s Potential Return

There’s been a working listing of great headlines surrounding the Bucs all offseason, and loads of them need to do with the “will he/gained’t he” relating to future Corridor of Fame tight finish Rob Gronkowski. Is he coming again to Tampa Bay for one more experience with longtime teammate Tom Brady? Or is he, in contrast to Brady, prepared to hold up the cleats for good?

Gronkowski, who retired as soon as earlier than, continues to be mulling his future. At 33 years outdated, he has been enjoying his offseason. There stays hope that he’ll return to Tampa Bay for a 3rd season, however up thus far, there’s been little in the way in which of updates on when that call will come. It appears probably that, if he does return, he’ll signal shortly earlier than coaching camp will get getting into late July. However for now, it’s “established order,” as head coach Todd Bowles mentioned Thursday.

If anybody would have an replace about which approach Gronkowski is leaning, it will be Brady. The 2 have been teammates – and shut pals – for greater than a decade. The 2 just lately performed some baseball collectively on the New York Yankees’ facility subsequent door to Raymond James Stadium. But when Brady did have any indication from Gronkowski about his future, he didn’t expose something following Thursday’s mini camp observe.

“I feel it’s clearly completely as much as him. We’d all like to play with him, however he’s received to make the perfect determination for himself. And he is aware of that,” Brady mentioned. “Anybody who cares about him is aware of that he’s doing what’s proper for him, which is making an attempt to determine it out. We don’t have coaching camp for about six weeks, so no matter he’s received to do to determine it out … I feel we’ll be hopeful if he does [return], and if he doesn’t, then we’ve nonetheless received to go on the market and determine what to do.”

What Will The Bucs Do If Gronkowski Doesn’t Return In 2022?

Tampa Bay has been considerably handcuffed by Gronkowski’s looming determination this offseason. Normal supervisor Jason Licht didn’t re-sign O.J. Howard, then he waited till the fourth spherical of the 2022 Draft to handle the place, deciding on Washington’s Cade Otton. In a approach, Licht and his workers are doing the identical factor they did for Brady when he retired earlier this spring. They’re leaving the sunshine on for Gronkowski. And whereas the likeliest final result does nonetheless appear to be yet another 12 months of the Brady-Gronk duo, the Bucs are quick on skilled choices if issues don’t work out of their favor.

With out Gronkowski, Cameron Brate is the one veteran tight finish on the roster. Tampa Bay’s different tight ends are all inexperienced. Codey McElroy has seen very restricted motion, whereas Otton, sixth-round choose Ko Kieft and undrafted free brokers Ben Beise and JJ Howland haven’t put the pads on on the NFL stage. If Gronkowski doesn’t return for one last 12 months, can Tampa Bay afford to roll with Brate and that a lot youth on the place?

It’s been a profitable two years in Tampa for Gronkowski. In 28 video games, he’s posted 100 catches for 1,425 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s additionally totaled 17 catches for 226 yards and three touchdowns in six playoff video games. He caught two touchdowns within the Bucs’ Tremendous Bowl LV win over the Chiefs two seasons in the past. With Brady again, it’s been an assumption that the massive tight finish will run it again yet another time along with his buddy. The ready sport continues, a minimum of for now.