It appears a year away from football is exactly what Gronk needed. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Rob Gronkowski: 'My body needed a rest' from football

By Erin Walsh | Last updated Apr 22, 2020 4:11 PM ET

New Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski was introduced via a Zoom conference call Wednesday because that's what we do now amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Gronkowski decided he wanted to come out of retirement shortly after Tom Brady signed his deal with the Buccaneers last month, but he stated his body definitely needed a rest from football last season.

"My body, 100%, needed a rest." - Gronk
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) April 22, 2020

Now that he's out of retirement, the 30-year-old says he would like to put on some weight ahead of the 2020 campaign. He currently weighs 250 pounds and normally weighs 260 to 265 pounds during the NFL season.

That's not much weight for Gronkowski to put on by September, especially given you can build muscle faster than you'd be able to years ago with the help of a high-protein diet.

During the conference call Gronkowski, also stated that New England isn't an easy place to play, which just about everybody knows by now.

Asked Gronkowski about how much his retirement had to do with the hard-coaching style of Belichick. "Coach says all the time it's not an easy place to play" and "I'm not going to sit here and say it's an easy organization to play for." @nflnetwork
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) April 22, 2020

Had Brady re-signed with the Patriots, Gronkowski said he would've considered coming out of retirement, but the 42-year-old QB heading to Tampa Bay was enough to reel him in.

Gronk now raving about the #Buccaneers talent at the skill positions. "I love playing with players with a lot of talent...got me pumped up to be a part of that."
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) April 22, 2020

With Gronkowski, Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Ndamukong Suh and Shaquil Barrett in the mix, Bruce Arians and the Buccaneers are primed to make a solid run at a Super Bowl title and their first playoffs appearance since 2007.

Erin Walsh

Erin Walsh is a Boston sports fan through and through. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bridgewater State University and currently is in pursuit of her Master's Degree in Journalism from Northeastern University. Follow her on Twitter @ewalsh90

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