Rob Gronkowski Announces He Met With Bill Belichick, Committed To Playing In 2018
Rob Gronkowski announced in a new Instagram post on Tuesday that he met with Bill Belichick and told the head coach he’s committed to playing for the Patriots in 2018.
“I met with coach today and informed him I will be back for the 2018 season with the Pats,” the post reads. “I have been working out, staying in shape and feel great. Looking forward to another championship run.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter followed up Gronk’s post with a Patriots’ TE Rob Gronkowski and his agent Drew Rosenhaus met today with Bill Belichick, and told him that Gronkowski is playing this season for the Patriots.
“It was very positive and Rob is committed,” Rosenhaus said.
There will be no Gronkowski trade this season.
Gronkowski said as recently as last Saturday that he doesn’t plan on attending any upcoming Patriots offseason workouts, saying at a press conference for a Monster Energy motocross event that he’s “got dirt biking skills to work out.” An earlier report by Jeff Howe of The Athletic indicated that Gronkowski’s planned holdout is strictly because he wants a new contract.
It’s unclear if Gronkowski still plans on sitting out OTAs, or whether a new deal between the Patriots and the All-Pro tight end is imminent. He earned $10.75 million last season after maximizing the incentives in his contract, becoming the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
Gronkowski’s announcement comes on the heels of a confirmation from Tom Brady’s agent, Don Yee, that the quarterback is also committed to playing in 2018. Both reports come just in time for the Patriots at the 2018 NFL Draft, which kicks off on Thursday night in Arlington, Texas.
Click here for all Patriots content, including news, podcasts, feature stories, and more.
