Gronkowski Missed Belichick’s Surprise Patriots Reunion Appearance Over Fox Work
Rob Gronkowski says Fox duties at West Point kept him from the Patriots' Super Bowl LI reunion party, where Bill Belichick made a surprise appearance and praised the tight end as one of the best ever at his position.
Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski says he missed a surprise appearance by ex-coach Bill Belichick at a Patriots reunion party in Foxborough because he was at West Point working for Fox. Belichick, who left the team on bitter terms, turned up unannounced.
Gronkowski explained his absence on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams. He had flown to the military academy to celebrate Veterans Day with troops on the Fox show.
"I didn't get to celebrate with my teammates on Saturday night and my family," Gronkowski said. He added that he heard "so many stories" about the night at Davio's Steakhouse at Patriot Place. "I wish I could have been there, but unfortunately I just couldn't. I had work."
A decade since Super Bowl LI
The party capped a weekend honoring the Patriots team that won Super Bowl LI a decade ago. New England beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in that game. It was the fourth of Belichick's six Super Bowl titles with the franchise.
Gronkowski was part of the celebrations earlier in the weekend. The Patriots inducted him as the 38th member of their Hall of Fame.
In his speech, he thanked Belichick from the stage. "Coach Belichick, he's coaching some college team right now. But the greatest of all time, no question about it," Gronkowski said. He also thanked the coach for drafting him, joking that he was the "so-called a-hole" who only talked about hot tubs on his pre-draft visits.
Belichick's praise
Belichick, now head coach at North Carolina, has kept his distance from the Patriots in recent years. His Tar Heels stand at 5-4. He still made the trip to see his former players.
He had warm words for the tight end he did not meet that night. Belichick called Gronkowski "the best tight end in football during his time and one of the best of all time."
He credited Gronkowski's work ethic, toughness and dependability. "Wouldn't have won as many games as I did without him, I can tell you that," Belichick said.
Gronkowski's weekend work did produce a viral moment. He appeared before Army cadets in the military's new green uniform, with a helmet hiding his identity. He then removed the helmet and revealed himself to the surprised cadets.
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