The Facts: Following New England’s disappointing Super Bowl LII loss, Gronkowski refused to say whether he plans to return to the field in 2018. The lack of certainty surrounding Gronkowski’s future was seemingly upstaged by other Patriots storylines — Malcolm Butler’s benching and Josh McDaniels’ sudden change of heart — in the aftermath of their Super Bowl defeat. But the possibility of losing one of team’s strongest offensive weapons is reportedly very real. “Weeks before [the AFC Championship game,] Gronkowski was telling people around him the toll on his body was making him lean toward the potential that this was his last season,” ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported on SportsCenter last week. “This is a very serious thing for Gronkowski at this point. He will certainly continue to contemplate retirement.”

Diehards Line: According to Darlington, Gronkowski has been mulling over retirement for quite some time. His thoughts are reportedly not just a byproduct of New England’s taxing season that ended with a Super Bowl defeat. “It’s not a done deal by any means, but this is not something that is simply an emotional approach to the loss of the Super Bowl, nor is it an emotional response to the concussion,” Darlington explained. “This is something Gronkowski has been considering long before both of those instances in the 2017 season.” Darlington reports sources close to Gronkowski “truly believe the toll on his body is making him question his NFL future.” The 28-year-old has missed over 30 regular-season and postseason games due to injuries. Of course, some speculate Gronkowski is teasing the possibility of retirement in order to get the Patriots to offer him a contract extension or restructure his current deal. In addition, a career in Hollywood or perhaps a stint in the WWE are reportedly possible if Gronkowski decides to call it quits in the NFL. We'll continue to watch for more.