Odell Beckham Jr. isn’t the only NFL superstar rumored to be on the trading block.
Following an offseason filled with more questions than answers about his status for 2018, the chances of Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski being shipped out of New England are gradually increasing, according to the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard.
“A Bill Belichick-friendly source agreed with my thinking that once a player makes Belichick start to contemplate life without him, Belichick starts to warm to being without that player,” Bedard described, per The Big Lead, with the insider adding, “He imagines you gone.
“The longer Gronkowski goes without saying he’s all in, the chances of him being traded increases, the source said.”
Following the Patriots’ 41-33 loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LII last month, Gronkowski, 28, did not commit to playing another year in New England.
“I’ll sit down in the next couple of weeks and see where I’m at,” the five-time Pro Bowler said.
Rumors later surfaced that Gronkowski considered hanging up his cleats permanently following a tense mini camp over the summer.
“He didn’t enjoy himself in 2017,” NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran said in late February. “[Gronkowski] did not have a good time despite the fact his body was in a better situation than it’s been in a long time — ever maybe. Despite the fact that he’s one of the most dominant players at any skill position, it’s starting to wear on him physically, mentally, the atmosphere in New England.”
Though Gronkowski has other endeavors he can concentrate on, whether with the WWE or his budding acting career, should football remain on the radar, a reunion with Jimmy Garoppolo in San Francisco is said to be one of the most probable scenarios, according to Bedard. The Rams are also reportedly in the mix.
As for Belichick, he’s predictably keeping all talk regarding Gronkowski under wraps.
“I’m not going to speak for anybody else,” Belichick said during the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, via ESPN. “So, conversations I’ve had with the players — and I’ve had a lot of them — I will keep those private between myself and the player. I respect those coach-to-player conversations. I don’t want to speak for anybody else.”
