Gronk’s nonetheless obtained it.
That foolish, fun-loving character that helped launch Rob Gronkowski into all-time fan favourite standing in New England arrived at Tremendous Bowl media day in classic kind.
No, there weren’t any LOL-worthy dances or outrageous moments to ship social media buzzing. However the 31-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight finish confirmed as much as his video interview session Monday with a secret that had everybody chuckling when it was revealed.
So, Gronkowski was working his approach again into form final offseason — reunited with Tom Brady — after a 12 months away whereas in retirement. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, gamers filmed distant exercises on their very own and despatched them to Bucs energy and conditioning coach Anthony Piroli to get credit score for the day.
Enjoyable at first, it obtained a bit monotonous for Gronkowski after a couple of week. So, he found out a approach round it. In fact.
“I’d convey my shirt out after which I’d convey one other shirt out, so once I’m operating the sprints, I’d movie myself like 15 occasions for that exercise session,” mentioned Gronkowski, who had 45 catches for 623 yards and 7 touchdowns this season. “However I’d run in a few completely different shirts since you solely needed to ship in like two or three reps. So then when the subsequent time got here, I didn’t need to movie myself as a result of I already filmed myself operating in a unique shirt each time on that someday.
“And he hasn’t had a clue to at the present time that I used to be tricking him about half the time throughout these digital exercises.”
Effectively, now he does.
Typical Gronk. Give him a gap — for a joke or a giant play — and he is throughout it.
“Day by day’s a brand new day with him,” Buccaneers tight ends coach Rick Christophel mentioned. “He’s only a pleasure to be round.”
Similar for Travis Kelce, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ record-breaking tight finish whose larger-than-life character — his landing celebrations are wildly fashionable views on social media — has put him on par with Gronkowski.
Particularly on the sector. And to Kelce, that is good firm to be in.
“The man is an unbelievable particular person, expertise, you identify it,” Kelce mentioned. “I may be one of many greatest Gronk followers on the market. Let it’s instructed, man.”
Kelce broke George Kittle’s NFL report for yards receiving by a decent finish this season with 1,416. He additionally has essentially the most 1,000-yard receiving seasons on the place, doing it in 5 straight years. Kelce’s persistently dominant manufacturing additionally earned him a four-year, $57 million contract extension final summer time.
That is one thing even Gronkowski, who has 566 profession receptions for 8,484 yards and 86 touchdowns and a slew of his personal data — together with three Tremendous Bowl rings — can admire.
“I’ve obtained nothing however main respect for Travis Kelce,” Gronkowski mentioned. “He has helped remodel the tight finish place. He has helped put the tight finish place on the map. Talking of contract-wise, he has helped the tight finish place receives a commission the best way that they should receives a commission.”
Reality is, Gronkowski is the prototype for an period of tight ends that grew to become focal factors of offenses. He was a hulking, bodily matchup nightmare for defenses in his prime with the Patriots. Gronkowski would punish folks as a blocker — and likewise run by means of, over and previous defenders week after week.
“You don’t see that in each single offense,” Kelce mentioned. “And what that did for a man like myself coming into the league was it gave coach Andy Reid an understanding of, OK, we are able to use the tight finish place a sure approach if he works at his craft sufficient to have the ability to be accountable for his teammates in that regard.”
Kelce is precisely that for the Chiefs with 612 catches for 7,881 yards and 48 TDs in eight seasons. However he is a leaner, swifter sort of tight finish who strains up extra like a large receiver with Patrick Mahomes routinely on the lookout for him to make large performs.
“The way in which he’s capable of learn coverages and perceive what the protection is doing, and the right way to get himself and others open is what makes him so particular,” Mahomes mentioned.
Kelce, who transformed from quarterback to tight finish in faculty, pored over movie of the highest gamers on the place — guys reminiscent of Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates — when he broke into the league to seek out his area of interest.
“I imply, I’m sitting right here and I take heed to everyone inform me I’m a large receiver,” Kelce mentioned. “I’m like, name me no matter you need to name me. I’m a soccer participant that’s on the market being accountable for his teammates. I’m doing what my coaches on my crew ask me to do, and that’s simply attempt to win my matchups when introduced them.”
And that is what each Kelce and Gronkowski have been doing their whole careers.
“Tight ends that may get out of breaks and may separate, these are essentially the most harmful ones: the Gronks, the (Jason) Wittens, the Antonio Gates, the Kelces,” mentioned Bucs outdoors linebackers coach Larry Foote, who performed towards each Gronkowski and Kelce. “You possibly can’t actually defend it. You’ve simply obtained to be able to drive and break and deal with.”
Otherwise you’ll pay.
By watching them have fun in the long run zone. And so they’ll inevitably be laughing about it with everyone later.
“The tight finish place form of actually wasn’t checked out (up to now),” Gronkowski mentioned. “It was form of overshadowed by the receivers, the operating backs, the quarterbacks and stuff. However I really feel just like the tight finish place is on the map now. It’s a place that I really feel like youngsters need to play.
“Individuals need to develop as much as be a decent finish, which is fairly, fairly superior.”
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AP Professional Soccer Writers Dave Campbell and Josh Dubow, and AP Sports activities Author Dave Skretta contributed.
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