The Patriots are trading Gronk and a 7th Round pick to the Bucs for a 4th Round pick. Per Rapoport.

Wow!

Has Gronk said he’ll come out of retirement? Or is this just his rights in case he does want to?

Has Gronk said he’ll come out of retirement? Or is this just his rights in case he does want to?

 

Per his agent he has agreed to play.

Per his agent he has agreed to play.

 

Does he still get paid if the NFL never plays a game this season?

Does he still get paid if the NFL never plays a game this season?

 

Not sure how his contract is worded. NFL owners are much savvier than most owners so I have hard time thinking if you don't play you still get paid.

This was the final straw, the girlfriend (who is a long time Pats fan) and I are getting Bucs season tickets.

Interesting and I doubt Gronk makes it through the entire season.

@swamprat are you thinking about season tickets again?

Interesting and I doubt Gronk makes it through the entire season.

@swamprat are you thinking about season tickets again?

 

I see the Bucs using the Eifert playing time template for Gronk.

I see the Bucs using the Eifert playing time template for Gronk.

 

He is definitely going to need to put on some weight, no question he's not there primary TE in terms of downs played.

Guys Gronk is still the best TE in the history of the sport and is still in tremendous shape. I see the Bucs utilizing Gronk and OJ Howard the same way the Pats used Gronk and Aaron Hernandez. It was short lived but that duo of Gronk and Hernandez was absurd. I expect we’ll see a ton of 2 TE sets in Tampa this year.

I'm kinda shocked that the Pats had to give up a 7th round pick in this deal.

Interesting and I doubt Gronk makes it through the entire season.

@swamprat are you thinking about season tickets again?

For perspective, Gronk has appeared in 16 games only twice during his NFL career. That being his first two seasons in 2010 and 2011. Maybe he needed a rejuvenation year, but he was all but broken down the last we saw of him.

I'm kinda shocked that the Pats had to give up a 7th round pick in this deal.

The Pats had zero leverage in the deal.

For perspective, Gronk has appeared in 16 games only twice during his NFL career. That being his first two seasons in 2010 and 2011. Maybe he needed a rejuvenation year, but he was all but broken down the last we saw of him.

 

So much uncertainty around the NFL right now given the current climate. If everything were business as usual I'd say they limit his snap count for the first few weeks and see how his body is doing. Make sure Gronk knows there is no need to play through the pain... until the playoffs of course.