The Patriots previously have retired seven numbers. It looks like 87 won’t be the eighth.
Via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, the Patriots briefly re-issued Rob Gronkowski‘s former number for receiver Devin Ross, who participated in mandatory minicamp on a tryout basis.
It’s possible that the Pats have had second thoughts. Ross made the team, but he has now been given No. 8. That same number also has been issued to linebacker Ja’Whuan Bentley. (The recent expansion of the permissible numbers for various positions was supposed to prevent that.)
Still, the fact that No.