David Kenyon
Rob Gronkowski still hasn’t publicly revealed whether he’ll return to the New England Patriots for the 2018 season, and Bill Belichick isn’t sharing whatever he knows.
According to Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston, Belichick said he will not discuss private conversations.
“I’m not going to speak for anybody else. Conversations I’ve had with the players — and I’ve had a lot of them — I’m gonna keep those private between myself and the player. I’ll respect that coach-to-player conversation. I don’t want to speak for anybody else.”
Perhaps it’s a bright side for Patriots fans that the comments suggest Belichick has discussed the upcoming season with Gronkowski. The longtime coach may know something we don’t.
Regardless, New England will consider addressing the tight end position this offseason if the front office finds the right value.
Gronkowski is wavering on his playing future, and Martellus Bennett retired. Dwayne Allen, Will Tye and Jacob Hollister remain on the roster, though Allen is a potential cap casualty. The Patriots could find a considerably cheaper option in the draft.
But if Gronk returns, that need is minimized at least until 2019.
