Patriots to send Gronk and seventh-round pick to Bucs for fourth-round pick

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 21, 2020, 4:23 PM EDT
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Rob Gronkowski is ready to return.

Gronk, who is planning to un-retire and facilitate a trade to the Buccaneers, will be packaged along with a seventh-round pick to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round pick, according to multiple reports.

Gronk told his fellow FOX Sports employee Jay Glazer that he already took his physical for the Bucs. Physicals have been the holdup for some players this offseason thanks to the coronavirus shutdown, but Gronkowski and the Buccaneers apparently found a doctor who was ready to go and gave Gronk a clean bill of health.

And so Gronk will be playing in Tampa Bay this season. Now the only question is whether he’ll be able to defend his WWE belt.

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74 responses to “Patriots to send Gronk and seventh-round pick to Bucs for fourth-round pick”

  2. Sigh. The Pats make out like bandits again.
    Gronk wasn’t going to play for New England this year, or likely ever again, so the Pats essentially traded a seventh-round pick for a fourth-round pick. Good deal if you can get it.

  4. Crazy times here in Tampa. OJ Howard is an ex-Buc in waiting for certain now, likely gone in the next cuople of days.

  5. Okay then! Pats get a 4th for a guy who wasnt going to play for them anyway.

    Bucs get a guy who was great, but looks really light in recent videos (instagram). If he can add some pounds and play at 80% of what he was, Bucs did great.

    I really hope the season happens!

  7. He was injured repeatedly the last few years in the league, and then he was retired smoking weed for a year, and now he wants to return and play again. What makes anyone think he’s going to be football ready when there’s no chance there will be any type of normal training camp.

  9. Not a good idea. That man was amazing but took a ton of physical punishment. He’s won titles, has plenty of money, his Hall of Fame status is secure. Just stay retired and enjoy life. Chasing another ring isn’t worth it.

  12. Will he have to defend his WWE title via 24/7 bout while he is playing football?

  17. Hopefully it’s the first of TB’s 4th rounders. The second is a compensatory pick so it’s basically a fifth.

  18. He was hurt the last few years of his career, and then he was retired. He stopped training and lost about 30 pounds which isn’t easily put back on I don’t care how many PED’S he takes (if you know anything about ped’s then you know 15 pounds is considered a decent cycle), and people think he’s simply gonna step right up and be the same old Gronk again? Come on

  19. Tampa Bay Tommy will be happy. Both guys away from that meanie Belichick.

    Can’t say I’ll be going out of my way to cheer them unless it helps my team.

  20. Wow! If Tampa gets their defense straightened out, they are going to be a very tough team to beat.

  21. TE wasn’t a perceived big draft need, but this will undoubtedly be a big improvement. Brady obviously has something to say about the offense.

    Patriots win on this, regardless on how it turns out for TB. They got something for what was going to be nothing.

  22. Keep Howard – we all know Gronk isnt going to make it through an entire season. He will likely just come in for the redzone offense

  23. So a HOF player in his prime would rather retire than play for Bill Belichick.

    Sounds like Tom Brady may deserve more of the credit for NE’s success than the “Patriot Way.”

  24. I expect Gronk to fill the same role with the Bucs that he did in his last year with the Pats. That is block better than many offensive lineman and make the occasional clutch reception.

  27. pendragon54 says:
    April 21, 2020 at 4:24 pm
    The kid is a hell of a ball player and as strong as an ox.

    —-
    “Was” on both counts

  29. I had a feeling ever since the OJ Howard trade block talks. Man this is gonna be awesome. Don’t sleep on Gronk, he’s still young and healthy now, got a year to recover his body and he’s gotta be motivated and ready to go. Ready to take back his TE crown again, I’m predicting he has Prime-Gronk type of season.

  31. Gronk had leverage here. He could have unretired and his 9.5 mil 2020 salary would hit the books and put the Patriots 8.5 mil over the cap. They’d have had to cut him, or some other combination of players. Getting a 4th for a 7th when you could had had nothing but trouble dealing with a guy that only wants to catch passes from Tom Brady, you did OK. I thought we might possibly see a larger trade involving Gronk and Thuney from the Pat’s, for Howard, Cappa, and a #1 2020 pick (wishful)….or a #2 pick (hopeful) from Tampa. Things may not be done yet….

  32. jkb0162 says:
    April 21, 2020 at 4:29 pm
    Not a good idea. That man was amazing but took a ton of physical punishment. He’s won titles, has plenty of money, his Hall of Fame status is secure. Just stay retired and enjoy life. Chasing another ring isn’t worth it.

    —–

    I’m all for it. Hopefully his next injury is permanent.

  34. This is going to be a weird season with Brady and Gronk in Tampa playing in empty stadiums.

  35. dregonspengler says:
    April 21, 2020 at 4:25 pm
    Sigh. The Pats make out like bandits again.
    Gronk wasn’t going to play for New England this year, or likely ever again, so the Pats essentially traded a seventh-round pick for a fourth-round pick. Good deal if you can get it.
    ——-
    Nah. Looks to me like the Pat’s just lost arguably the best tight end in the history of the nfl. I think lane Johnson was onto something.

  37. Nah. Looks to me like the Pat’s just lost arguably the best tight end in the history of the nfl. I think lane Johnson was onto something.

    ___

    Ah yes, the fun factor. Johnson been having fun the last few years losing all the time?

  38. Patriots win on this, regardless on how it turns out for TB. They got something for what was going to be nothing
    —-
    Yep. Gronk talking up wanting to return to football makes sense. If the Patriots didn’t do anything he could have unretired and blown the Pats cap where they wound have been forced to cut him or other players. Instead they got something of value.

  40. bird2urmother says:
    Nah. Looks to me like the Pat’s just lost arguably the best tight end in the history of the nfl. I think lane Johnson was onto something.
    ==

    Rob Gronkowski clearly came back for one reason — to play with Tom Brady in Tampa. He wasn’t going to ever play again in New England, and everyone knows it. Nothing from nothing is nothing, so the Pats lost nothing. And no, I’m not a Pats fan, hence the opening “sigh” in my comment.

  42. joker65 says:
    April 21, 2020 at 5:05 pm
    Nah. Looks to me like the Pat’s just lost arguably the best tight end in the history of the nfl. I think lane Johnson was onto something.

    ___

    Ah yes, the fun factor. Johnson been having fun the last few years losing all the time?
    —–
    Yea, I’m pretty sure. Hes been in the playoffs the last few years with a super bowl in there, and he was recently paid as the highest paid o-linemen in the league. Yup, sounds fun.

  43. joetoronto says:
    April 21, 2020 at 4:50 pm
    jkb0162 says:
    April 21, 2020 at 4:29 pm
    Not a good idea. That man was amazing but took a ton of physical punishment. He’s won titles, has plenty of money, his Hall of Fame status is secure. Just stay retired and enjoy life. Chasing another ring isn’t worth it.

    —–

    I’m all for it. Hopefully his next injury is permanent.

    *******************************************************************

    Karma will get you for that one……Pat’s open on the road in Buffalo, and Stidham leads the Pat’s to a comeback win, and Buffalonian’s heads explowwwde. It’s Deja Vu all over again….

  45. Gronkowski caught some deep passes from Brady so he could run some WR routs.

  46. So a HOF player in his prime would rather retire than play for Bill Belichick.

    Sounds like Tom Brady may deserve more of the credit for NE’s success than the “Patriot Way.”

    ___

    Yeah, wasnt Brady on the Pats last year when Gronk retired? If Brady was the reason for all the success, why wouldnt Gronk have stayed to play with Brady again?

  48. Loved watching Brady to Gronk up the seam. Brady to Gronk up the sideline in crunch time. Brady to Gronk for the go ahead touchdown. I wish them both well.

    Bill doesn’t mess around. A 4th rounder with a 7th back to Bucs is a fair deal. There’s only two guys I remember Bill unwilling to give them their freedom, Mankins and Vinatieri.

    The Patriots Draft is starting to get interesting. Bill is already cutting deals.

  49. tqaztec says:
    April 21, 2020 at 4:32 pm
    TEs always flourish in a Bruce Arians’ system……….?

    ************************************************************

    ReallY? Howard sucked last season.

  50. It’s nonsense that the Patriots players hate playing for Bill. I just watched the three Patriots playoff wins leading up to and including the victory over the Seahawks. There were more “love” before, during and after that game than in a French Open. No one had more fun than Gronk but the game is grueling and Bill is demanding.

  51. joetoronto says:
    April 21, 2020 at 4:50 pm
    jkb0162 says:
    April 21, 2020 at 4:29 pm
    Not a good idea. That man was amazing but took a ton of physical punishment. He’s won titles, has plenty of money, his Hall of Fame status is secure. Just stay retired and enjoy life. Chasing another ring isn’t worth it.

    —–

    I’m all for it. Hopefully his next injury is permanent.

    ——————-

    That’s nice. I can’t think of why anyone would root for someone to have a permanent injury, but isn’t this the guy with the irrational, never-ending hate of Buffalo?

    Makes zero sense on both counts.

  52. The “No Fun” angle is stupid.
    If Brady and Gronk weren’t already loaded with rings because of playing under Belichick, they wouldn’t be wanting to play anywhere else. It’s party time for them now. Gravy time.
    Meanwhile, in N.E., it will still be all business.

    Bill keeps the greatest bus running, while players pick and choose when to get off.
    Who is greater?

  55. Yikes! He’s out of money already? Does he realize this is going to be work, not a party?

  56. Weird range of opinions on this. Here’s mine!

    1. Pats are the winners here, big DUH
    2. The “fun” thing is so stupid, whether mocking Lane Johnson or claiming it is true. He made an off-hand comment but I 100% guarantee they had a ton of fun winning games then spending the offseason as champs.
    3. This was also a no-brainer for Tampa, even if they had to send a 3rd and got no 7th. Fans are elated, your big FA acquisition is made as happy as possible, and yes, it improves the football team right now.
    4. I still think Brady is going to have a very rude awakening about life outside of the cozy AFCE. The NFC has been much deeper than the AFC for years too, the NFC rep almost never gets easy games after the WC round.
    5. The season will happen. It may look a lot different, shorter or more compact with larger rosters to deal with short weeks, games on wednesdays, start delayed by a couple months, whatever. But hear this, and see the truth: the most powerful sports league in America, and the President of the United States of America, have made it very clear they want it to happen. Do you see either party accepting anything less?

  57. Gronk? out of money?
    Who said that?

    Not someone following his excellent money management, that’s for sure.
    Lived entirely off his endorsements. Banked the payroll.

    Guy should be running seminars.
    Gronk.

  59. BB does it again!

    Gets a free 4th and he still has 7ths. 4 6ths and 3rds and 13 picks!

    The legend!

    Brady and Gronk sabotaged the team in their own little ways last year. Quite a foul way to go out the door. Pretty selfish.

  60. Belichick is the master traded a 7th and a retired players rights for a 4th I prey Gronk passes his physical fingers crossed please football gods !

  62. It’s remarks like this: “Brady and Gronk sabotaged the team in their own little ways last year.” that illustrate utter cluelessness.

    ‘selfish’ in no way defines those players or what they’ve put themselves through for NE.

    smh

  63. Aren’t the Patriots required to clear cap space to take Gronk off the reserved/retired list prior to trading him? If so, they have to come up with $10M in order to complete the trade. Maybe Thuney is on the way out…… that would clear enough space?

  65. Where are all those know-it-all dudes on here that said this sort of thing would never happen?

  66. Sports fandom is a funny thing. When a guy is on your team, he is an all-time great still better than 95 % of the QB in the NFL. Leaves the team and he’s a 42 year old that is washed up.

    Last year Gronk was coming back to save the season. This off season its a steal for Belichick because he got a 4th.

  67. R-Truth is going to get his title back during the NFCCG by tackling Gronk on the 1 yard line with the Bucs down by 6 and no time on the clock.

  68. raymondmac says:
    April 21, 2020 at 7:01 pm
    It’s remarks like this: “Brady and Gronk sabotaged the team in their own little ways last year.” that illustrate utter cluelessness.

    ‘selfish’ in no way defines those players or what they’ve put themselves through for NE.

    smh

    4 5

    ————-

    Dude, they changed. This action alone proves it. BB had Brady possibly going to SF in 2017 and Gronk to Detroit before 2018.

    Do you people live in caves?

    This is the very definition of primadonna behavior.

    Their success is partially due to BB pushing them to be the best they can be. Now, each just wants attention that they felt should have come more with their success. They felt BB got too much of it.

    It can’t be any more obvious.

  69. I moved to New England 10 years ago and have been fighting off people calling me a bandwagon fan this whole time.

    Yet here I am suddenly excited about this Tampa team.

    Don’t worry, I’ll go punch myself now.

  70. Patriots had to do something. They have no QB, an ok RB core, no TE, so so O-line, and no WR outside of Edelman. Their defense is still pretty good. However with no offense, they will not win the AFC East this year.

  71. We used to train together when he was in HS. He was a junior and I was going into my soph year in college. Welp, we see who had the better career. Good kid. Good family. Making buffalo proud

  73. tigerlilac says:
    April 21, 2020 at 5:25 pm
    Loved watching Brady to Gronk up the seam. Brady to Gronk up the sideline in crunch time. Brady to Gronk for the go ahead touchdown. I wish them both well.

    Bill doesn’t mess around. A 4th rounder with a 7th back to Bucs is a fair deal. There’s only two guys I remember Bill unwilling to give them their freedom, Mankins and Vinatieri.

    The Patriots Draft is starting to get interesting. Bill is already cutting deals.

    ————————————
    This wasn’t so much as a deal for BB as it was found money. But now he has that to work deals with.

    Now dealing would be if he next got Howard or Brate for Edelman.

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