Rob Gronkowski has wild suggestion for Patriots' Mac Jones, Browns

New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski has a solution for how the club and quarterback Mac Jones could deal with their supposed fractured relationship this fall. 

"I think Mac Jones should ultimately, even right now, should just go and ask for his release," Gronkowski said during Wednesday's edition of the FanDuel TV "Up & Adams" program, per Lauren Campbell of MassLive. "If you’re talking to me about what he should do: Ask for his release. And then if it gets granted, he should go sign with the Cleveland Browns and start a new career right there. They need a new quarterback. Imagine that. How wild would that be?" 

This past April, Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe suggested that Jones should've requested a trade after his name was repeatedly mentioned in rumors regarding alleged drama involving head coach Bill Belichick. Belichick has since benched Jones on three occasions this season, most recently late in this past Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and it was reported Wednesday that the 25-year-old has lost a "'vast majority' of players" in the locker room due his poor play. 

Meanwhile, Browns starter Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury this past weekend. The 6-3 Browns are turning to rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson for this coming Sunday's home game against the 6-3 Pittsburgh Steelers after he was downright awful in his first start earlier this fall. 

"He’s got some weapons around him (with the Browns), and that would determine if Mac Jones is the real deal or not," Gronkowski continued. "I think he’s a decent quarterback. I think he’ll definitely be in the NFL for a little bit, even if it’s going to be as a backup for a little bit and then a starter once again." 

Gronkowski's idea makes for fun Internet chatter and an interesting "Madden" video-game scenario but ignores the fact that the Patriots have no reason to release Jones for nothing when they could shop him to other clubs once the new league year opens in March. As for the Browns, Jake Trotter and Seth Walder of ESPN mentioned Wednesday that Cleveland can't escape the five-year, $230M contract the franchise gave Watson in March 2022 anytime soon.