Rob Gronkowski, as you likely know, decided not to retire this year and is now back in the fold with the New England Patriots, who are engaged in their mandatory minicamp right now.
That said, on Tuesday Gronkowski made it clear that he was “definitely” considering retirement this offseason.
Gronk: [Retirement] definitely was in the mind, but I had to do what I had to do. I felt where I felt good enough to get my body right again. See where my body was at. See where my mind was at… I feel like I definitely made the right decision coming back out.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) June 5, 2018
Gronk: I feel like I’m just going to do what’s best for myself and take care of myself because if I can’t take care of myself, I can’t take care of anyone else and I can’t help out the team.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) June 5, 2018
Gronkowski also opened up about why he opted to train on his own until now, rather than participate with his teammates during OTAs.
“Just training on my own. Felt like that was the best thing for me,” Gronkowski said, per Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal. “I wanted to take care of my body. Take care of myself and see where I was at before I came out there. It went good. I think it was a good decision.”
The dynamic tight end also said he’d definitely love to get a new contract done before the season but didn’t seem too convinced it would happen.
Are you re-doing your contract?
Gronk: "I don’t know. Trying to."
Are you trying to get soemthing done before the season?
"Who wouldn’t?"
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) June 5, 2018
The Patriots have been reportedly working hard on doing a new deal that would include more incentives, like they did last year, with Gronkowski.
One of the most effective playmakers in the game when healthy, Gronkowski is coming off a 2017 campaign that saw him haul in 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns.