The Facts: The widely reported Gronkowski trade talks were real, but cooler heads eventually prevailed. First, there was a report the Patriots had talks with the Titans and 49ers about Gronkowski. Now, on Monday, The MMQB’s Albert Breer reported that the Patriots also talked to the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans about a trade for the seemingly disgruntled tight end. “I don’t think they were shopping Gronk to the entire league, but there were some teams they trust that I know they talked to. Detroit, Tennessee, Houston, San Francisco — you guys can make the connections there,” Breer said.

Diehards Line:The “connections,” of course, are obvious. Lions GM Bob Quinn used to work for the Patriots, as did new Lions HC Matt Patricia. Former Patriots OC Bill O’Brien is the head coach in Houston. The Titans are in their first year under new HC -- and former Patriots linebacker — Mike Vrabel, while GM Jon Robinson spent more than a decade in Foxboro. There’s familiarity with the 49ers, too, as the two teams made the blockbuster trade for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last season. Patriots coach Bill Belichick is friendly with Kyle Shanahan (dating back to Belichick’s admiration for Shanahan’s father, Mike), and general manager John Lynch even had a cup of coffee with the Patriots toward the end of his career. ... As far as Gronkowski, Breer indicated the tight end’s desire for a new contract was the driving factor for most of his discontent. A new deal still is “likely” to happen but isn’t imminent, according to a recent report.