Rob Gronkowski hints he wants back with Buccaneers, has more freedom with Bruce Arians than Bill Belichick

If you’re still trying to come to terms with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski going on postseason runs with another team, it sounds like you’re going to have to deal with it for another season. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end did a one-on-one interview on the NFL Network with former New England Patriot Willie McGinest and, in addition to saying it’s a little easier to be himself in Tampa Bay, made it sound like regardless of how this season plays out, he’ll be back for another year. 

“This team was built to win right now. It always pops up in your mind, thinking about the future a little bit,” Gronkowski said when asked if he’d thought about the future. “I could definitely see this team also having a lot of talent come back and having another successful run next year as well with me.” 

Gronkowski, who has a year at $9 million left on his contract, will be a free agent this offseason.

The tight end was also asked about the difference between playing for Tampa Bay and Bruce Arians vs. New England and Bill Belichick. 

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“They’re both great coaches for sure. I love getting coached up,” Gronk told McGinest. "But one of the biggest things I would say is the freedom of just being yourself with the coaches.” 

That answer will likely come back to bite Gronkowski if the Buccaneers don’t win a title in the next two seasons, but it also provides some insight to how worn his relationship with Belichick really was.