Rob Gronkowski feels the same way you do about the underinflated footballs controversy that has dominated New England Patriots headlines since early 2015.
Speaking Wednesday night at the Providence Journal’s All-State banquet, Gronkowski drew a cheer when he told the assembled high schoolers that Deflategate is “getting stupid now,” according to ProJo Patriots reporter Mark Daniels.
That’s not exactly a hot take from the All-Pro tight end, as most in New England probably grew sick of hearing about PSI levels and suspension appeals months ago.
The event also featured some actual football talk from Gronkowski, who was on the field for just one of the Patriots’ five organized team activity/minicamp practices that were open to the media.
“It went really well,” Gronk told Daniels, referring to New England’s offseason workout program as a whole. “It’s always great to go in and see your new teammates, see the new faces around and get to know everyone, work together during practice, be around football and get familiar with football again.”
Gronkowski even addressed this controversial tweet, which he sent out shortly after the Patriots picked up his $10 million contract option in March:
If ya think about it that Option pick up basically equals pay cut the next 4 seasons…🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 I don't work hard for those reasons. Haha 🏋🏼🏈
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) March 8, 2016
Gronkowski told Daniels he was “just messing around” with the tweet but declined to disclose the meaning behind it.
“I’ll leave it up in the air,” he said. “I like it like that. I like the guessing.”
After making $4.75 million in base salary in 2015, Gronkowski is set to make just $2.25 million this season. That number climbs over the final four years of his current deal, however, bumping to $4.25 million in 2017, $8 million in 2018 and $9 million in 2019.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
