Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski
Robert Paxton Gronkowski, nicknamed "Gronk," is an American football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Raised in Williamsville, New York, he played college football at Arizona, winning several awards, including being named The Sporting News freshman All-American, Rivals.com freshman All-American, The Sporting News freshman Pac-10, as well as being named to the watchlist for the Lombardi Award...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFootball Player
Date of Birth14 May 1989
CityAmherst, NY
CountryUnited States of America
I was always blessed growing up with opportunities and access to facilities, equipment, and playing with my brothers in the backyard to be the best athlete I could be.
As time goes on you're getting more knowledge of your playbook and football, and you just pick it up a lot easier. Lining up everywhere is just second nature to me now.
I feel like when I do some dance moves during the week or at the house, I'm quicker on my feet. I can react quicker just from dancing.
I've got four brothers, so with them and all our friends we had these sports parties in the basement. We'd play basketball, mini-sticks, baseball in the backyard, football, whatever it was. We were busy 24/7.
Just like any other game we're taking on we've got to prepare, prepare hard, mentally, physically. We've been practicing hard.
Just follow the rules. Always have a designated driver. Don't be doing anything to make someone mad. And just walk away from the trouble.
I was running super slow. Chris thought I was done. Then one day at the end of February, I woke up and my body felt good. I was just so happy. I was faster than my brother again. I got all my moves back. I told him, 'Brother, I'm back, and now you're done!'
Am I ever going to be able to play football again? What's going on with my career? I was just thinking things like that. You've got tears going down your eyes. You've got your trainers right there and my parents right there. I was just thinking, "Is this it?" I didn't know what a knee injury was. I'd never felt pain like that.
I've always been a fan of football, always watched the NFL and it's great to always sit back wherever I can this year. You sit back and enjoy the games, pop a little sports drink - not any pop or soda - lay back, watch the games. It's always cool to see how the games go down and just enjoy them.
Everyone always helped me out growing up, and everyone now supports me Sunday. So whenever there's a chance to give back, to the community, to the less fortunate kids so they have the opportunity to gain the most potential they can in their life to be success, it's always good to do.
You always want to be on top of the playbook. You always want to be refreshed with the plays, make sure you're on the same page with everyone else.
It's cool. You can laugh about it, but at the same time you can't really get caught up in it because you're here for a job and it's to win football games. Being on this team, being with the head coach here and the quarterback we have keeps you humble. It keeps you hard working. You can laugh and giggle about stuff, but then at the same time you've got to make sure you're prepared and practicing hard still.
Me not working hard? Yeah, right - picture that with a Kodak.
At one time, I wanted to be a WWE wrestler. I still do. I want to go in the ring once and mess around and jump off the ropes and do a Stone Cold stunt.