New England Patriots: Making Sense of the Gronk Trade Rumors
By Erik Lambert
By this point, people should know better than to take the New England Patriots at their words when it comes to anything. Especially trade rumors.
No team has developed a greater reputation for selling off aging stars right before their career pitfalls in the past 20 years. It’s for that reason people were so willing to soak up initial buzz that the team might be trying to move All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski. It didn’t take long for certain Patriot sources and even some inside the Gronk family to say it was fake news.
Is it though? Let’s review the information. Gronkowski flirted with retirement at the end of last season. He just turned 29-years old and has seen his body go through a number of difficult injuries. None more worrisome than a persistent back problem that knocked him out for several games over the past couple years. Under these conditions, it would be more of a shock if the Patriots didn’t shop him around to interested teams.
As it turns out, at least according to certain sources that’s exactly what they tried to do. Adam Kurkjian, formerly of the Boston Herald revealed a possible situation that developed.
From multiple sources, here's what I have re: the Gronk rumors. Told Belichick wanted to trade him. Offers on the table w both the Titans and 49ers. He and Robert Kraft had a closed-door meeting to discuss. Tom Brady threatened to retire if the deal went through. Kraft nixed it.
— Adam Kurkjian (@AdamKurkjian) June 8, 2018
Rumors may be flimsy but it can’t be ignored outright
Others have questioned Kurkjian openly about his “sources.” It’s true this is the sort of rumor that’s hard to prove and could just be a way to drum up exposure. Still, it does lean heavily into another ongoing report that has surrounded the Patriots. This one involving a power struggle between Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and Robert Kraft.
ESPN reported months ago that the connection between the power trio that has endured for so long seems to finally be fraying. Belichick wants to continue his role has team overseer but Brady has grown resistant to many of his demands. He wasn’t comfortable with Jimmy Garoppolo nipping at his heels, so he talked to Kraft who forced Belichick to trade the young QB to San Francisco.
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Now here’s another rumor that suggests Brady got Kraft to kill a trade involving Gronkowski, the best weapon in that Patriots offense? It’s not hard to see that happening. Especially after Julian Edelman got slapped with a four-game suspension. Opinions will be divided on this. Is it true? There’s no way to know for sure. Could it be true? Given the history of this franchise, there is no question about it.