Rob Gronkowski isn’t concerned about reaching his old playing weight

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tight End Rob Gronkowski isn’t concerned about reaching his old playing weight

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a firm statement to the rest of the league earlier when they elected to make a trade for TE Rob Gronkowksi.

Gronkowski, who retired from football following the 2018 season, became intrigued with playing again once his former teammate and friend Tom Brady elected to leave the New England Patriots and signed a two-year deal with the Buccaneers.

The rest, as they say, is history.

As Gronkowski left football, he lost weight at a high clip. The tight end said he bottomed out at around 240 pounds, but has since begun putting that weight back on for the upcoming season.

"“I had never been under 260 since then [his senior year in high school]. So it felt good to drop that weight, ease up my joints, let my body free,” Gronkowski told CBS Sports."

Though the tight end still has some work to do to get back to his playing weight, he said that he’s right around 257 pounds currently and is “about four more protein shakes away” from being back at his playing weight.

Rob Gronkowski is focused and will be ready to go

It’s understandable for Bucs fans to have concerns about Rob Gronkowski coming into the season. He’s had a year off from football and did lose a lot of weight. If he’s going to play the tight end position effectively, he has to not only gain the weight back, but also the strength that comes with playing the position.

Listening to this interview, though, it’s clear that Gronk isn’t concerned about being back to his old self when he takes the field later this fall.

Gronkowski has had a year off to heal some of those joints and lingering injuries that had mounted over the course of many years in the NFL. Is he going to be in his prime when he takes the field? Of course not.

But there’s no reason to believe that he can’t be effective and an intricate piece of the Bucs’ offense during the season.