Speculation over Rob Gronkowski’s future continues as his contract talks yield no progress.
Rumors surfaced earlier this year that the New England Patriots actively sounded out a trade before the 2018 NFL Draft. While team owner Robert Kraft called them “hogwash”, they returned at the team camp in June.
Some AFC executives privately wonder if these make a trade unavoidable. Will the Patriots seize the moment to begin their inevitable rebuilding?
Defeat at Super Bowl LII saw emotional claims about retirement from the record-breaking tight end. It was a genuine option, he claimed, and it wasn’t until April that he announced he would return to play this season.
Is this reluctance to commit to the cause fuelling the Patriots stance over a new deal? It’s understandable they won’t rush to invest in a player whose commitment is in doubt. Will they face the same issue next year? It’s an issue the team needs to be answered before investing in the player, no matter how outstanding his contributions have been.
While a tweak in terms is expected, one option is that Patriots will not improve his current contract. Gronkowski’s refused to attend voluntary workouts and put him on a collision course with head coach Bill Belichick.
It’s a fight Gronkowski won’t win unless Belichick flinches first. Can the coach afford to do so in this increasingly tense game of chicken?
