Gronk: 'I was just joking' about getting Bucs playbook before trade
Rob Gronkowski clarified Wednesday that his comment about receiving a Tampa Bay Buccaneers playbook weeks before officially ending his retirement was only a joke.
"This is seriously a story?" the star tight end wrote in a note he shared on Twitter, adding "I was just joking around."
- Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) April 30, 2020
Gronkowski made waves Saturday during a draft after-party, according to ESPN.
During a discussion about No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow receiving a copy of the Cincinnati Bengals' playbook weeks before the draft, Gronkowski suggested his sudden return from retirement and trade from the New England Patriots wasn't as spontaneous at it appeared.
"I was in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' playbook four weeks ago, and I wasn't even on the team," said Gronkowski.
Gronkowski's trade was made official April 21. If he received a playbook before then, it could have been a violation of league rules.
But Gronkowski insisted he actually got his playbook from Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
"It's still in the package and hoping it is all pictures and drawings," he wrote. "I'm pumped to open it one day hopefully soon and follow the arrows to learn where to run to. Gronk run. Gronk catch ball. No playbook needed."
Gronkowski is set to reunite with quarterback Tom Brady, who recently drew the league's attention for his own playbook-related incident.
The NFL inquired about Brady visiting the home of Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich to pick up a playbook - after he accidentally walked into the house of Leftwich's neighbor - and determined the quarterback didn't break any offseason work rules, a league spokesman told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
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