Tom Brady came out of retirement, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not expecting the same from Rob Gronkowski.
Heading into Sunday night's regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, the Buccaneers are not counting on Gronkowski to return to play football, sources told ESPN.
The Buccaneers initially had hoped that later this season, if they were in the thick of the race for a playoff spot, Brady could help convince Gronkowski to return. But sources told ESPN that at least for the time being, until they hear differently, the Buccaneers believe that Gronkowski has moved on with his life.