Four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski told the New England Patriots coach that he couldn't remember how he got home from a college party before he was drafted.
Gronkowski's last meeting before entering the 2010 NFL Draft was against the New England Patriots, in what the former tight end called “one of the worst draft meetings of all time.” Gronk said he had already taken “17 flights in 15 days” to visit teams in hopes of becoming an NFL player.
“I was sick of that shit, bro,” the 35-year-old told the host of the Spittin Chiclets podcast.
“I needed a nap. I didn't feel like I was in a meeting or anything.”
Gronkowski, whose motto was “I'm done with all this crap'' and “If the team wants to take me, take me,'' said Gronkowski of entering the Patriots facility, “I felt terrible.'' I looked back.
Gronk distinctly remembered growing tired of assuming a false persona and deciding to enter the facility as if he owned the place.
“I'm going to do my best…I'm going to walk like I'm going to a party at the University of Arizona because I'm tired of putting on a show,” he told hosts Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette.
But Gronkowski acting like himself was a show in itself. His first task was to “fall asleep at the table in front of the highest-ranking member of the team.”
“But I needed a nap. I wasn't in any meetings or anything,” the former player clarified. laughed hysterically.
Gronk was taken into a conference room and began talking about how well-liked he was at the University of Arizona, telling then-Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien that he once walked home from a party in college. He even said he didn't remember “at all”.
“It was a disaster, brother,” Gronk explained. He added that he told his coach that he should attend the party in Arizona.
So the coach decided to test Gronkowski's soccer memory. He drew plays on a whiteboard and erased them to see if the young players remembered them.
“He drew a play, erased it, [then says] They were like, “Write the play on the blackboard!'' “I don't even know the play you wrote, I have no idea.'' Well, it was too difficult for me,” Gronk continued.
“I've gone through the whole process,” he added, causing the hosts to burst into laughter.
But in true Gronk style, the five-time Pro Bowler told his coach, “Throw me the ball with a play in mind, and I'll catch it.''
O'Brien asked how he could get the ball to Gronkowski if he didn't remember the play, and the 21-year-old replied, “You'll find a way to throw it to me.” answered.
Gronkowski said he left the meeting feeling like the team either hated him or loved him, and the rest was history. Gronkowski was drafted by the Patriots with the 42nd pick in the second round and went on to play eight outstanding seasons.
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