NFL star under scrutiny for excessive partying
Gronkowski claims he is ‘just looking to have a good time’
You have probably seen him in the end zone spiking footballs on Sundays in the NFL or all over TV during commercials or late night talk shows, but if you have not yet witnessed the life of Rob Gronkowski, I can assure you that he is living it to the fullest.
Currently a tight end for the New England Patriots, Gronkowski holds the NFL record for the most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season with 18 touchdowns and the most receiving yards by a tight end in a season with 1,327 yards, all while being a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Gronkowski, or “Gronk” to his many fans, has been widely criticized for his crazy off-field antics that often hit the web in the blink of an eye. They have led people to believe that all he does is party and have fun rather than focus on his football career. To those people, I say that you could not be more incorrect. As a matter of fact, I would say Gronkowski is a highly accomplished multitasker, being able to juggle his on and off-field persona, all while having fun at the same time.
In the last few years, Gronkowski has made appearances on late night shows such as Conan and Jimmy Kimmel Live! where he has talked about some of his craziest moments in college at the University of Arizona and his off-season party stories.
In an interview on Conan O’Brien’s talk show, Gronkowski talked about his house in college where he lived with his brothers and the parties they would have.
“We actually bought the place. After my rookie year I had to go back and pay for all the damages,” Gronkowski said.
When Conan asked Gronkowski if he and his brothers bought a hot tub for the house, Gronkowski explained the process of the purchase.
“We wanted a hot tub bad. We just knew it would go with us. We literally took our bank accounts and took everything out and withdrawal all of the money. I had like 10 bucks left for college. … It was a great, great investment,” Gronkowski said.
In another interview with Kimmel, Gronkowski explained Gronk’s Party Ship, a three-day cruise with Gronkowski’s family and friends that included live musical performances and a massive beach party from Miami, Florida to the Bahamas, and was open to the first 1,000 fans.
“It was complete madness for sure,” Gronkowski said.
In the last year, the future NFL Hall of Fame tight end has also made appearances on the TV game show “Family Feud,” but more recently “WWE’s WrestleMania 33,” where he climbed into the ring and helped out his WWE friend Mojo Rawley defeat Jinder Mahal.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” Gronkowski said in a post-match interview with WWE.
“Gronk” has also graced the cover of GQ Magazine in the last year, where his profile was titled, “Gronk Up Your Life,” and featured Gronkowski wearing some of the most expensive and fashionable beachwear in the photo story.
With Gronkowski’s rise in fame, it seems that more and more companies and television stations are beginning to take advantage of his flexible and entertaining personality for new shows and endorsement deals.
He has become the face of many companies, such as Nike, Dunkin’ Donuts, Body Armor and Monster Energy. He is also starring in two new television series called “Crashletes” and “Most Valuable Partner.” He was the cover athlete for EA Sports’ top-selling video game, Madden NFL 17.
In an interview with Bleacher Report, Gronkowski revealed that he still has not spent any of his NFL contract money, which has totaled over $30 million.
“To this day, I still haven’t touched one dime of my signing bonus or NFL contract money. I live off of my marketing money and haven’t blown it on any big-money expensive cars, expensive jewelry or tattoos and still wear my favorite pair of jeans from high school,” Gronkowski said. “I don’t hurt anyone, I don’t do drugs, I don’t drive drunk, I don’t break the law. I’m a 23-year-old guy just looking to have a fun time.”
Gronkowski, now 27, has been one of the main contributors to the Patriots’ success over the last few years, along with Tom Brady. He has been a force to be reckoned with on the field and has helped them win two Super Bowls since being drafted in the second round in 2010. There is no question that “Gronk” is going to have a great time and enjoy life every chance that he gets, even if it does include catching beers from fans on the street at the Super Bowl parade in Boston and chugging them in front of the many cameras that were present.
“I partied for them. I chugged beers for them. I had to. It’s just unbelievable. I love them so much,” Gronkowski said when asked about the fans.
I say let the guy keep living his life. What is the big deal? He is having fun and living the dream while also giving all of his fans some worthwhile entertainment free of charge. He is putting in the work on the field, there is no doubt about that. The stats do not lie. He lets his actions on the field speak for themselves, but when the stadium lights are off, the cities’ nightlife lights just begin to turn on.
Gronkowski told ESPN that, now that he is at the point where he has won the Super Bowl, he is just enjoying it while he can.
“If you’re killing it on the field, you can kill it anywhere else,” Gronkowski said.
In an excerpt from his book “It’s Good to be Gronk,” Gronkowski recalls how he once told his head coach, Bill Belichick, that he is motivated by the fun.
“Fun stuff makes me grind harder, Coach,” Gronkowski said.
Needless to say, the five-time Super Bowl champion coach walked away and shook his head while leaving “Gronk” with one remark.
“Whatever works for you,” Belichick said.
Ben H. • Apr 17, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Lol somebody got a man crush on Gronk..