TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski says he has no regrets after returning to football after his one-year retirement. Now, he wants to prove he can still play at a high level.
"I want to be moving like how I was back in the day. No doubt about that," Gronkowski said, after Thursday's practice. "Why else would I want to come back to the game and be moving like poop? I’m here to move. I’m here to make plays. I’m here to block in the run game, and I’m here to make plays in the pass game."
Gronkowski has a history of injuries, and the Bucs have plenty of options at tight end, including O.J. Howard and Cam Brate. But head coach Bruce Arians isn't planning on limiting Gronk's playing time.
"Play every game to win. Whatever that takes," Arians said. "We can’t worry about December in September. If that means he plays 50 plays or 30 plays, we’ll see."
It sounds like Gronkowski is on the same page.
"My mentality is ‘If I have to play the whole entire game, I’m going to play the whole entire game.' I don’t see how that would be a problem. I’m cool with whatever the coach’s game plan is," he said.
The 10-year vet added that he thinks Tom Brady's arm might be stronger now than it was when the two first became teammates in 2010.
