Is The Gronk Really Headed To Tampa Bay To Play For The Bucs?

TAMPA, FL — There's no need to wait for Thursday's 2020 Tampa Bay Bucs Virtual Draft Party to get the big headlines. ESPN has already reported that Tampa Bay will trade a fourth-round draft pick in exchange for retired New England Patriots tight end and WWE Wrestlemania champion Rob Gronkowski.

Gronkowski, who retired from the NFL in March 2019 after three Super Bowl championships, is reportedly rejoining his old Patriots teammate, Tom Brady, to play for the Tampa Bay Bucs.

After playing nine seasons in New England, Gronkowski still has a year at $10 million left on his contract.

The Bucs have yet to confirm the trade but Bucs fans are already calling it a done deal on social media sites.

"I'm seeing it, too. Bucs got Gronk!" said Brent Dewey. "Wow, they are definitely winning the Super Bowl."

"I just can't believe this," said Mary Water. "The greatest tight end ever and the greatest quarterback ever and Tampa Bay!"

"Well, this former New England Patriots fan is now a Tampa Bay Bucs fan," said John Tyler of North Carolina. "You got Tom Brady and now, I hear, that Rob Gronkowski is heading that way! So, Tampa Bay will be in the playoffs and Super Bowl contenders with your new QB and great offense and defense."

There's no word when confirmation will come from Bucs head coach Bruce Arians. But fans say the Bucs first virtual draft party is sure to be standing room-only with this announcement anticipated.

Tampa Bay will host the Buccaneers Virtual Draft Party presented by Miller Lite Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. via the team's Official Fans Group on Facebook.

To participate, fans must be members of the Buccaneers Facebook Fans Group – if you aren't already a member, you can join here. Hosted by team reporter Casey Phillips and senior writer Scott Smith, fans will have the opportunity to interact during the livestreamed prime time event. The live portion will take place before the draft kicks off and will also feature celebrity and player guests dropping in.

Confirmed participants include the Backstreet Boy and Bucs Super Fan Nick Carter along with the trio of 2019's first three draft picks, inside linebacker Devin White, cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and cornerback Jamel Dean.

The virtual draft party will offer exclusive features and content that can't be found anywhere else along with fan interaction, giveaways and a rolling comments section. The conversation will continue through the first round of the NFL Draft on the group page after the livestream ends.

The Buccaneers hold the 14th pick in this year's draft.

Last year, the team hosted a draft party at Raymond James Stadium where thousands of Bucs fans came out to witness Tampa Bay's selection of Devin White with the fifth overall pick. White had a slow start due to injury in his first season but finished 2019 with back-to-back NFC Rookie of the Month honors. White ended the year with 91 combined tackles, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles along with one interception across 13 games started.

As for The Gronk, he's being uncharacteristically quiet.

His Facebook page showed him playing basketball against "my invisible quarantine friend, LeBron James," in his backyard court yesterday. There were no hints of a move to Tampa Bay.

Following his retirement from the NFL, Gronkowski signed a contract to join the WWE and was named host of Wrestlemania 36, originally scheduled in Tampa but moved to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando when sports events were shut down due to the coronavirus.

During the event, Gronkowski won his first WWE title, pinning his good friend Mojo Rawley to be crowned the 24/7 champion. Unlike other WWE belts, the 24/7 allows wrestlers to challenge the champion at any place and time.

He also recently debuted his singing skills on Fox's "The Masked Singer."

Gronkowski is known for his colorful exploits on and off the field. Dubbing himself "Yo Soy Fiesta," he prides himself on his party spirit.

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