Gronk announces his retirement

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johnmd20

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Sorry to see him go but I'm glad to have watched him for as long as I did. Truly one of the greatest ever at his position, possible the greatest as his peak.
 

phrenile

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I didn't think today would be the day. I always expected him to announce his retirement on March 69th.
 

Seels

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I knew we had something different when he and his family did that draft day huddle/mosh pit.

What fantastic player to root for. Don't begrudge him one bit. First ballot HOF right?
In eight years the worst team he ever played still made it to the AFCCG. 3 rings, four all pros, an absolute lock of all decade team....

Yea. Can't imagine an argument against it.
 

bigq

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Good for him. He gave everything he had and he goes out on top hopefully with his health mostly intact. Football is a brutal sport.
 

JokersWildJIMED

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Unbelievable player. Sad to see him go, glad it’s on his terms. Huge loss to a now anemic receiving corps.
 

RoDaddy

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Like everyone else, so many great memories of Gronk! So what do we think, a year or 2 before he unretires?

Kinda wish he had waited til just after the draft as the Pats will look that much more desperate to land a top - presumably 1st round - TE
 

Scott Cooper's Grand Slam

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Someday Brady or Belichick will retire. That’s the day this run ends. Today is for celebrating the best tight end to ever play for the Patriots.

Congrats, Gronk. I’ll see you in the movies. Ones rated by the MPAA, I hope.
 

dcmissle

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Going out on top when you’re well past your peak powers is awesome. Thanks Gronk.
 

RedOctober3829

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I'm feeling nothing but the ultimate sadness of not being able to watch one of my favorite players of all-time take the field again. There's 2 players personally that I have felt this sad about hearing retirement: Papi and now Gronk. Gronk was not only the best to ever play at his position, but he played the game with such absolute joy and passion for the game. He never embarrassed the uniform or his teammates with any off-the-field issues. He embraced the Boston and New England communities with countless charity endeavors. I could not be any happier for Rob to have worn the Patriots uniform. The ultimate respect for a player is to make the most important plays of a game when everyone in the building knows the ball is coming their way. He did this so many times it is hard to count. To end your career on such a high note as he did in the AFCCG and SB53 catching the most important passes of each game when everyone knew the ball was going to him speaks to how great he is. I could go on and on about how much I loved watching him. He was one of the best teammates too. The last couple of years he took on more and more of a role as a blocker and never ONCE did he complain about his touches. In this day and age of me-me-me athletes, he did the job he was asked to do and he did it better than anyone. I will miss the hell out of him.
 

soxhop411

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Dec 4, 2009
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happy Retirement Gronk. Wonder what he'll do?
Become a movie star or talking head on NFLN/ESPN

Or join WrestleMania?

Regardless I bet the patriots trade up to draft a TE in the draft this year.
 

Jnai

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'I threw him out of the club' might be the best quote of the last 20 Patriots seasons.
 

Mystic Merlin

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He was a Pedro/Shaq level tour de force at what he did.

Like a number of other special players (Papi, Pedro and Brady most notably), we’re lucky to have seen him play for our team.
 

EL Jeffe

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Aug 30, 2006
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He was just so much fun to watch and root for. Really glad he went out on top, and making the announcement before the draft helps the team prepare for the future. 87 was special.
 

Dehere

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Sorry to see him go but I'm glad to have watched him for as long as I did. Truly one of the greatest ever at his position, possible the greatest as his peak.
That’s where I’m at. You can debate who had the greatest career, but at his peak I don’t think any TE was as unstoppable as Gronk.

See ya on WWE Smackdown.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Thank you, Gronk. Go off and spawn a fleet of Gronk puppies we can root for together in 25 years. They’ll unretire the number for you.
 

Briz

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Thanks for the memories Gronk. I loved the feeling of anticipation when you caught the ball downfield with plenty of real estate in front of you. I never knew if you were going to do an athletic feat a 6'7" guy shouldn't be able to do or just flat out truck a db. In the end, it was these moments that sped us to today unfortunately. Enjoy your retirement.
 

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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Gronk’s retirement gift should be 10% added to his career stats to account for what he would have accomplished had he been officiated fairly.
 

SMU_Sox

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@RedOctober3829 has it. That’s exactly how I feel. Thank you, Gronk.

This sucks. But you know what is the best medicine here? Drafting a tight end. Iowa is heaven right now.
 

Jim Ed Rice in HOF

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Jul 21, 2005
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His football ability along with his goofiness really made him fun to watch. Hopefully he shows up at Fenway with some of his teammates for the Sox banner raising.
 

sodenj5

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@RedOctober3829 has it. That’s exactly how I feel. Thank you, Gronk.

This sucks. But you know what is the best medicine here? Drafting a tight end. Iowa is heaven right now.
Yea it’s a good draft to need a TE. Hokenson and Fant are two high end TEs that are likely out of reach for the Pats barring a large trade up. Hokenson probably profiles most similarly to Gronk in that he’s an all-around blocker and receiver.

Even as a fan of a divisional opponent, I always respected Gronk’s game. Always doing the dirty work and making grown men look like children. More and more TEs coming out are big receivers. Don’t know how soon we’ll see another Gronk.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Going out on top. The context of this latest win is still so sweet that I can’t feel too sad. He left it all out there with two strong games (was a beast against Philly too) including the biggest offensive play of the game.

There are so many worse ways it could have ended. Another ACL, another back surgery, concussions. I probably held my breath on every single one of his last 200 or so catches just waiting for him to not get up. Glad it’s on his terms.
 

Oil Can Dan

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Gronk was a treat to watch, even when he was roughing up my fav team. Good for him to go out on top.
 

Beomoose

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Thank you, Gronk, for being the best and sharing your Gronkness with us all. Tu eres Fiesta, big man.


I'm not ready to be this old. Living in AZ during his college career, and all I could think was how much I wanted to see him on the Pats. Now, he's already come and gone.
 

ifmanis5

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Was hoping he had one more in him but all those years of guys taking head shots at his knees took a toll. One of the most fun Boston athletes ever and racked up a few records along the way...
 

Ale Xander

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Found out from my uncle, who was at the last Big Game, didn't even find out myself. Really regret not going to Atl. Will miss the big lug immensely.
 

mwonow

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Sad day - happy for Gronk, but sad that football is less colorful & fun than it was when I woke up this morning.
 

Euclis20

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FO had him finishing as a top 2 TE in 6 of his 9 years. The second half of his career was relatively healthy (13+ games and finished the season in 4 of his last 5 years), and there's an argument to be made that he was the best non QB offensive player of this decade. There's reasons to remain optimistic (almost $10M in cap space, it's a good draft for TEs, they've already won a SB without him), but I'm pretty sad today.
 
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