According to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, there was a lot of drama happening behind the scenes for the Patriots during the weekend of the draft when it came to their star player, Rob Gronkowski.
Schefter has let loose a report that the Patriots where looking to trade the tight end to the Detroit Lions after Gronk asked for more money. Something the Patriots wasn’t willing to do reportedly due to Gronk’s history with injuries.
Per Schefter, the New England Patriots and the Lions “were deep into trade discussions last off season that peaked during the week of the draft, when the teams nearly completed a blockbuster trade.”
Patriots and Lions nearly completed a blockbuster trade in the week of the NFL draft that would have sent Rob Gronkowski to Detroit, per sources. Now Gronkowski is in Detroit to play the Lions tonight.https://t.co/Dn0DEHWmAu
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2018
When Rob Gronkowski was told the news he threatened to retire and also refused to take any calls about trade talks from the Lions camp, Lions GM Bob Quinn and new Lions coach Matt Patricia. Gronk only wanted to play for the Pats with Tom Brady and didn’t want to go anywhere else.
Another Gronk point: It wasn’t that Rob Gronkowski didn’t want to play in Detroit; he didn’t want to play anywhere other than New England. Patriots had been discussing a trade with a few teams, and Gronkowski only wanted to play in New England, with Tom Brady, or nowhere at all.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2018
The Patriots camp and Gronk decided to rework his contract with both parties happy about the outcome. Gronk was given an additional $4 million in incentives.
On Sunday night, the Detroit Lions will host the New England Patriots in week 3 of the NFL season.
