The topic of comebacks from retirement is a popular one this week around the NFL, thanks to the return of 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to the Indianapolis Colts.
Rob Gronkowski, the legendary Patriots and Buccaneers tight end, has joined in.
Gronk says there's just one scenario that would get him back, and it's not what you'd think.
“I would maybe go back if a team was like, ‘Hey, can you give us some great looks on the scout team?’” Gronk said, via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Judy Battista. “We’re going to pay you a legitimate bonus, like a million bucks bonus, and all you gotta do is practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on the practice squad and show us some legitimate looks of the tight ends that we’re going against. Just go out there and practice and have fun and get our guys better."
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Really? Just the practice squad?
“That actually might be a pretty cool case — you know, I might have to think about that," Gronk added. "The chances of that happening are 1 percent, but I would have to just think about it and lay my options on the table."
Gronkowski signed a one-day contract earlier this season to officially retire with the Patriots.
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He had retired once before, in 2019, but then he returned in 2020 and 2021 to play a couple of final seasons with Tom Brady with the Buccaneers.
Gronk is 36 years old. Compared to Rivers, he's got all sorts of time to make it back onto an NFL field.
Will he? Doesn't seem like it. But hey, especially with Gronk, never say never.
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