Buccaneers' Mike Evans believes Rob Gronkowski will stay retired?

Many within the football community automatically assumed that future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski would eventually follow in the footsteps of "best friend" and quarterback Tom Brady and choose to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one more season. That, of course, hasn't happened as of the first full week of July, and Gronkowski announced the second retirement of his playing career back on June 21. 

As Josh Alper noted for Pro Football Talk, some still believe Gronkowski could ultimately experience a change of heart and pursue one last championship ring playing alongside individuals such as Brady and star wide receiver Mike Evans. However, Evans suggested in recent comments he thinks Gronkowski is content with his latest decision because of his health. 

"I hope he comes back. With Tom and Gronk, you never know," Evans explained. "I wouldn’t be mad if he came back. I’d actually be really excited if he came back, but I feel like he’s done. He plays the tight end position and he plays it max effort. Gives it his all, practices really hard, takes a lot of shots, blocks, runs after the catch. He takes a pretty big beating, I’ve seen his body after some of them games and I understand why." 

Gronkowski's injury history is well-known among fans and analysts alike. Last fall, the 33-year-old missed time because of multiple rib fractures and a punctured lung. The four-time Super Bowl champion has nothing left to prove and may feel he also has nothing left to give to the sport as an active participant.