Odds of Rob Gronkowski Playing in Game With Patriots This Season Set at 5-1

• Three-time SB champion says football was bringing him down
• Gronk’s chances of coming back are at +500
• Physically, five-time Pro Bowler says he “could play right now”

Rob Gronkowski stepped away from football in March with a career resume many NFL players could only dream of.

Three Super Bowl rings, four first team All-Pro honors and five Pro Bowl appearances. However, there’s been some demand — from fans mostly — that the future Hall of Fame tight end make a comeback.

"I want to be clear to my fans … I was not in a good place. Football was bringing me down."

–Rob Gronkowski on his decision to retire pic.twitter.com/zEek2QNPjH

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) August 27, 2019

“I want to be clear to my fans,” Gronkowski said at an event to promote CBD products to athletes as a source for pain relief. “Football was bringing me down and I didn’t like it. I was losing that joy in life.”

Odds Gronkowski Returns To Play For Patriots In 2019

Odds taken 08/27/2019

Despite those remarks Tuesday, odds have been released on the possibility of Gronk playing at least one game with the Patriots in 2019, with Yes opening at +500.

Physically, Gronkowski said he “could play right now,” leaving the slightest of chances that a comeback very well could be possible.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1166346400512249856

However, mentally, Gronkowski was not the same after suffering a quad injury in Super Bowl LIII that he claims “was one of the biggest, deepest thigh bruises” ever suffered during his nine-year NFL career.

It was the injury that ultimately forced Gronkowski into retirement, but is there any reason to believe he will play a game for the Patriots in 2019?

Never say never.

Thanks to this hit in the Super Bowl, #Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski's thigh required special treatment, including getting fluid drained from the area. No long term issues are expected. pic.twitter.com/l7ybdC1OF1

— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) February 20, 2019

Hall Of Fame Career

There’s been a wave of NFLers retiring from football in the prime their careers, such as WR Calvin Johnson and Andrew Luck this past weekend. But what has separated Gronkowski from those players is his success on the field.

Gronkowski only played a full 16-game season twice in his career, in 2010 and 2011. His most productive season came in the latter, catching 90 of 124 targets for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Gronkowski would go on to record 1,000 or more receiving yards four more times despite missing so much time due to nagging injuries later in his career.

If he did consider making a return, it would be a one and done scenario to maybe chase another Super Bowl and not the record books.

No Intention Of Comeback For Gronk

Gronk will go down as one of the best tight ends ever to play in the NFL, but is not close to catching Tony Gonzalez (15,127 yards, 111 TDs) or Antonio Gates (11,841 yards, 116 TDs) statistically.

Betting No on Gronkowski playing a game for the Patriots in 2019 doesn’t present much value at -1000.

Gronk has made it clear at this point that he has no intention of returning to the field, and told an audience in New York that he’s “very satisfied with where I am in life now.”

Although he may have a burning desire to come back to the NFL when the season begins, don’t bet on seeing Gronk in a Pats jersey — or any uniform for that matter — in 2019.

Pick: Will Gronkowski Play for the Patriots at any point? (No, -1000)