NFL

Rob Gronkowski Speaks at Gillette, Offers Few Answers to Future

Speaking prior to a Supercross dirtbiking event at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski didn't come out and say he'd be back with the team for the 2018 season.

But the four-time First Team All-Pro may have tipped his hand anyways. Asked by a reporter what fans might see from Gronkowski when he returns to the field this fall, Gronkowski said, "they’re going to see a 'freek-a-leek.'"

Standing alongside Supercross legend Ricky Carmichael, the headliner of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross event taking place in Foxboro, Gronkowski was decked out in a full dirt bike uniform in the Patriots’ media workroom.

"So you are coming back?" a reporter asked Gronk.

"Uh, maybe," he said.

Gronkowski, who turns 29 next month, has two years remaining on his contract. His future has come with a touch of uncertainty since immediately following Super Bowl LII, when Gronkowski said he would take some time to contemplate his future plans.

"I'm riding dirt bikes," Gronkowski said. "I've been training really hard. I go 'vroom vroom' really good. I can ride that dirt bike like no other."

Gronkowski did say that he wouldn’t be attending New England's voluntary workouts in the near future. The Patriots will be holding their mandatory offseason minicamp from June 5-7. They'll have nine other organized team activity (OTA) sessions prior to their full training camp in late July.

"I've got dirtbiking skills to work on," Gronkowski said.

A second-round draft choice by the Patriots in 2010, Gronkowski caught 69 passes for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017. He played in 14 of New England’s regular season games, his two absences due to a quick Thursday Night Football turnaround in October and a one-game suspension in December.

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