Rob Gronkowski casts doubt on return to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Not many athletes who have played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the past two years have had as large an impact on success as tight-end Rob Gronkowski, but while many believed he would immediately re-sign with the team this off-season, if not with some other team, the future Hall of Famer still has yet to make any public decision.

Even after the re-emergence of Tom Brady from retirement, an event many thought would be quickly followed by the re-signing of Gronkowski, there has been no word from Gronk.

It’s been reported that Gronkowski and the Bucs still haven’t even sat down to begin contract negotiations which is not a great sign.

To make matters worse, Gronk seemingly doing everything but signing with the Bucs shows that this is legitimately not a top priority. Gronkowski casts more doubt on his future as a Buccaneer every time he hosts an event, takes to social media, or even comments on Tom Brady posts without being on the roster.

This has become a pressing issue with the Bucs front office more and more each day with the impending arrival of the draft. Without a contract with Gronkowski secured, the Bucs will be forced to at least consider drafting a tight end that could replace him or give the team an option in the future.

While there are no transcendent talents at the tight-end position in this year’s draft such as Kyle Pitts, who was drafted last year by the Atlanta Falcons, there are still a few talented options that the Bucs could probably acquire in a middle or late round.

Still, the Buccaneers would probably hate to use that pick to acquire a tight end if Gronkowski is going to return this year, so one would hope he recognizes this and makes his decision soon.

While no one would blame Gronkowski if he really did retire from the game this time, especially Bucs fans, it does admittedly feel wrong.

Hopefully Rob Gronkowski will make his decision soon, if not for the sake of Bucs fans’ sanity, then at the very least for the sake of the front office and their prospects in the draft.

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