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Rob Gronkowski’s much anticipated announcement on Tuesday did not result in him strapping on the pads and vowing to return for a tenth season, but it did shed some light on the chronic pain that caused the five-time Pro Bowler to hang up the cleats after his third Super Bowl victory.
While Gronk did leave the door open for a possible return to the NFL–saying he doesn’t foresee a return in the next few weeks or a month but said he could return in three months or two years–the Patriots legend was largely focused on his newly announced partnership with CBDMEDIC after revealing that CBD helped him recover from the gamut of injuries he suffered from his playing days.
“I was hurt both mentally and physically from football,” Gronkowski said. “I’m here to appeal to the sports governing bodies to update their positions on CBD (so it can be) used by all players. … For the first time in a decade, I’m pain-free.”
Fighting back tears, Gronk admitted that the chronic pain he was dealing with zapped his enjoyment from not only the game of football, but from life (sound familiar?).
Rob Gronkowski, tearing up, on his retirement: “Football had me down. I didn’t like it.” pic.twitter.com/RsmJOCuN0B
— Avery Yang (@avery_yang) August 27, 2019
Gronk went on to detail the final straw that solidified his plans to retire and caused him so much anguish, he couldn’t sleep for more than 20 minutes a night.
During the second quarter of Super Bowl LIII against the Rams on a relatively nondescript play. Gronk received a screen pass from Brady on 3rd and 9 and was fighting for yards when Cory Littleton and Mark Barron converged on him to deliver a hit to the quad that left the 265-pounder limping to the sideline.
Gronkowski said he took a hit to the quad. It left him crying in his bed After winning a Super Bowl. Couldn't sleep for more than 20 minutes a night. Drained 1000 mL of blood out of his leg.
What stands out to me: It was a totally unremarkable play. Standard football play. pic.twitter.com/Epl23CqNHN
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) August 27, 2019
Immediately following the Patriots Super Bowl victory in February, this is what Gronk had to say about the injury:
“Yeah, my quad. It hurts a lot. I can barely walk right now,” Gronk said after the game. “Adrenaline is flowing throughout the game. It’s the Super Bowl. I’ve had these quad shots about four times now. Probably won’t be able to walk that good tomorrow.
“But it’s all good. We’re Super Bowl champs.”
I want nothing more than for Gronk to live a healthy, happy, pain-free life, but I am holding on dearly to this quote about his potential return to football.
“Maybe down the road. I have to have that passion. I have to have the fire. … I’m not going to go out there and be beat the F up. That’s not the way to live.”
[h/t WEEI]