Thread: Gronk calls it a career

One less weapon for the Pats. Great career for the guy.

Rob Gronkowski is walking away from football.


The New England Patriots tight end announced on Instagram on Sunday that he is retiring from the NFL after nine seasons.

More at the link: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...ces-retirement

Dude was a beast. I enjoyed watching him play, but I'm not sad that he's gone

Here's a link to his instagram post where he makes the announcement.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvaCbK6BCvd/

Part of it here.

It all started at 20 years old on stage at the NFL draft when my dream came true, and now here I am about to turn 30 in a few months with a decision I feel is the biggest of my life so far. I will be retiring from the game of football today. I am so grateful for the opportunity that Mr. Kraft and Coach Belichick gave to me when drafting my silliness in 2010. My life experiences over the last 9 years have been amazing both on and off the field. The people I have meet, the relationships I have built, the championships I have been apart of, I just want to thank the whole New England Patriots organization for every opportunity I have been giving and learning the great values of life that I can apply to mine.

Arguably the best TE in history. The Pats losing him doesn’t make me sad.

Originally Posted by tomjonesrocks

Arguably the best TE in history. The Pats losing him doesn’t make me sad.

Disagreed! Shannon Sharpe is the best TE in NFL history!

Bye Felicia.

Enjoy retirement, he earned a pile of money and he gets to enjoy it before he's permanently disabled. Seems like a smart move to me.

Originally Posted by Magnificent Seven

Disagreed! Shannon Sharpe is the best TE in NFL history!

It's honestly hard to compare the two. Numbers wise, Gronk was more dominant. However, Gronk dominated in the era of the rules aligning in favor of receivers, and in the era of safeties no longer operating as heat-seeking missiles.

Originally Posted by Davii

Bye Felicia.

Enjoy retirement, he earned a pile of money and he gets to enjoy it before he's permanently disabled. Seems like a smart move to me.

Seems unreal that he's only 29. Feels like he's been around for to long.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

Seems unreal that he's only 29. Feels like he's been around for to long.

Really? 9 seasons though right? Did he come in at 20?

Originally Posted by Davii

Really? 9 seasons though right? Did he come in at 20?

Yep. Feels strange to now be the same age as guys retiring from the NFL with hall of fame careers.

later, meathead. . .

Originally Posted by dogfish

later, meathead. . .

A 29yr old meathead that's gonna have fun, get laid from whoever he wants, drunk when ever he feels like it and be able to afford it whenever he wants!!

I'm jealous!

I think he meathead thing was more of an act than people realize anyway. He's apparently never spent a dime of his contract money. From what I've read he lives off his endorsement money and is just saving/investing his NFL money. Now he gets to retire in his 20s and be set for life. He did it right.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

I think he meathead thing was more of an act than people realize anyway. He's apparently never spent a dime of his contract money. From what I've read he lives off his endorsement money and is just saving/investing his NFL money. Now he gets to retire in his 20s and be set for life. He did it right.

Yep, going to miss having him on the team but it's probably best for him.

This is a great thing for fans of any team not from Boston...but a bad day for anyone that watches TV, since we'll now probably have to see his dumb ass on every other commercial and sports related TV show.