It's Official: Gronk is Signing a One-Day Contract and Retiring as a Patriot

Curse my dark, cynical, Masshole heart. I have to confess that went I caught wind of Rob Gronkowski saying this yesterday, I didn't really put much stock in it. 

Though to be fair to me - which I am - Gronk does have a bit of a history when it comes to making "big announcements." There were too many times when he'd tease some major news dropping, and it would turn out to be a stunt to sell some energy drink, promote a motorsports event, or push tickets to some rager he and his brothers were throwing like The Gronk Cruise.

Well I apologize, because he was leveling with us. He really is signing a one-day contract with New England to retire a Patriot. As confirmed by the team:

I'll concede these things happen all the time with great players who finish their careers somewhere other than where they became great players. Nomar Garciaparra springs quickly to mind. But this one is special. Especially special. 

Because while this shouldn't be the story, it must be pointed out that things did not end well between Gronk and the Patriots. He famously retired after the 2018 Super Bowl season. Making his last official act with the organization denting the third Lombardi Trophy he helped win:

But long before sitting out that 2019 season rather than play another snap for the Patriots, his relationship with the organization was a contentious one. There was a long history of medical issues. Surgeries that required re-surgeries. Accusations of misdiagnoses from unnamed sources. Lots of contract disputes where he'd end up taking incentive-laden deals instead of guaranteed money, and you'd hear rumors his family is sick of the treatment. Then things coming to a head when the head coach tried to trade him, and he threatened retirement rather than play elsewhere. Then he reported called Gronk out in front of the team for training with TB12 Fitness instead of doing what the Patriots staff wanted. 

This guy:

Jim Rogash. Getty Images.

It's enough to make you wonder if this day would be happening if Bill Belichick was still in Foxboro instead of Chapel Hill. 

But that's enough about that. What matters is that the greatest tight end of all time is getting his day to become, in his and Tom Brady's words, "A Patriot for Life."  And then in a few years, a Patriots Hall of Famer. 

And let's not dispute the "greatest tight end of all time" label either. If you want to nominate Tony Gonzalez, we can have that discussion:

Gonzalez had the longevity, Gronk was more productive. That's a good conversation. But don't insult us or embarrass yourself by bringing up Travis Kelce, who's a tight end in name only. 

Consider the following. This is where Gronk ranked as a blocker according to Pro Football Focus. 

2010: 4th

2011: 1st

2012: 3rd

2013: 3rd

2014: 4th

2015: 4th

2016: 2nd

2017: 1st

Oh, did I forget to mention that's not his ranking at his position? But among all tight ends AND tackles? Sorry. My bad. Gronk was throwing bodies around like an All Pro left tackle while being uncoverable in the passing game. Doing both jobs a tight end is supposed to, at an impossibly elite level. The way we will likely ever see again. Not in our lifetimes. Not while college and pro football both evolve more into spread offenses and legislate hitting out of the game. In fact, he might be the last of the truly great all purpose tight ends. 

And Patriots ownership is giving him the honor and recognition he deserves. I apologize for doubting his veracity when he said it on Fox yesterday and look forward to the ceremony on Wednesday. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to spend the rest of the day watching highlights of Gronk robbing other men of their manhood and making them look like little kids trying to play a game for grownups: