Back in April, when Tom Brady announced he was returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rob Gronkowski said he still needed time to make a decision about his NFL future.

More than two months later, the tight end still does not seem ready to decide.

"I think it's up to him, and obviously we would all love to play with him, but he has to make the best decision for himself, and he knows that," Brady told the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday.

When the quarterback, who will turn 45 in August, came out of brief retirement, Gronk said he wouldn't return to any team other than the 'Bucs' if he decided to play a 12th career season on the Goodell circuit. .

The star player had retired from the NFL for the first time after the 2018 campaign, having played nine seasons with the New England Patriots and Brady.

no press

Gronkowski chose to put on his helmet and shoulder pads to join his former teammate with the Buccaneers in 2020. The prolific duo also contributed greatly to the crowning of the Florida club that year. Last year, however, he was limited to seven games in the regular season due to multiple broken ribs and a punctured lung.

“We don't have practices for about the next six weeks. So he [Gronk] has time to sort it all out,” Brady said.

In two seasons in the colors of "Bucs", Gronkowski caught 100 passes for gains of 1,425 yards and 13 touchdowns in 28 games.