The phenomenon of star football players retiring abruptly is nothing new. Back in 1999, long before the dangers of head trauma became prevalent, star running back Barry Sanders decided to hang it up after just 10 seasons, even though he made the Pro Bowl in every single one of them. At 31 years old, he decided to walk away from the game healthy. The following year, ex-Vikings running back Robert Smith did the same thing, except he was just 28.
This trend has accelerated in recent years. The 2015 offseason saw four players under the age of 31 call it quits by mid-March, including linebacker Chris Borland, who left the 49ers after just one season. In 2016, star wideout Calvin Johnson decided to retire, because he says he was "fed up" with football.
It sounds like Rob Gronkowski may opt to walk away for similar reasons. The usually upbeat Patriots tight end was somber and reflective in his post-Super Bowl press conference, telling reporters he was undecided about playing next season. Since then, he has done little to dispel the speculation. Over the last five days, Gronkowski has tweeted three cryptic messages, one of which explicitly references the WWE, where he's been rumored to land.
To those at Gillette Stadium on a regular basis, it doesn't seem as if Gronkowski's apprehension about returning to the Patriots is surprising. WEEI's Ryan Hannable noticed after just 10 days of training camp that something might be up with Gronk. Adding to the weirdness, the Providence Journal's Mark Daniels said Tuesday the Patriots tried to spike a story he was writing about Gronkowski's work with Tom Brady's personal guru –– and apparent Bill Belichick nemesis –– Alex Guerrero.
NBC Sports Boston's Tom Curran tied all of these anecdotes together this week, reporting Gronkowski did not enjoy himself last season.
"He didn't enjoy himself in 2017," Curran said on Boston Sports Tonight. "He didn't have a good time. Despite the fact that his body was in a better situation that it has been in a long time, ever maybe. Despite the fact that he's one of the most dominant players at any skill position. It is starting to wear on him, physically and mentally."
According to Curran, Gronkowski was thinking about stepping away from football in training camp, because his body wouldn't respond to the way the Patriots wanted him to prepare for the season.
"He was pissed at the way the season played out," Curran reported. "By the end of it, I don't think some of the principal players on this team were really happy with the atmosphere and the climate. All the stuff that we reported, all the stuff we've talked about, they still need to have a hell of an air clearing at Patriot Place to get these guys back."
Gronkowski's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined to squash any of the hearsay in an interview Wednesday with the Herald's Jeff Howe
There have been credible stories about Patriots discord ever since ESPN's Seth Wickersham reported there was an incoming collision between Belichick and Brady over Guerrero's access to the team. Sure enough, Belichick significantly curtailed Guerrero's privileges during the season.
This kind of palace intrigue, while uncommon for the Patriots, is typical across the league. Star players routinely clash with their coaches. But what's unique about Gronkowski's situation is that the retirement card doesn't just seem to be a ploy. Gronk appears to be the stereotypical football bro –– complete with "69" jokes and football spikes. Yet, he probably knows he doesn't need the game. After undergoing nine operations since 2009, including three back procedures, it's easy to fathom why he would be tempted to move on. Getting concussed in the AFC championship only adds to the immense physical toll his body has taken.
It's now common knowledge that on-field glamour often results in off-field despair if players keep punishing their bodies into oblivion. Gronkowski has been shrewd about marketing the Gronk Brand, outfitting party buses and raucous cruises. The tight end also carries multiple high-level endorsements, including Dunkin' Donuts and Tide. He reportedly only lives off his endorsement money, meaning he likely doesn't need to keep playing for financial purposes.
There were some signs last year Gronkowski may be positioning himself for life after football. He appeared at WrestleMania and starred in two low-level films, "You Can't Have It" and "American Violence."
Gronkowski, 28, is due to make $8 million in base salary next season. It's fathomable he would be able to earn most of that while pursuing a variety of opportunities in the entertainment industry. And, most importantly, he would be able to walk.
It would not be surprising, given Gronkowski's health history, his brand viability and dangers of football, if Gronk Inc. moves on from Foxborough next season. It makes all of the sense in the world.
The most convincing reasons for Gronkowski to stay are the chance for another Super Bowl run with Brady and devotion to the game itself. But that might not be enough. In fact, it probably shouldn't be. The chance of holding up another Lombardi Trophy isn't worth the risk of going under the knife for another time.
