Why Was Rob Gronkowski 'Happy' To Be Suspended From The NFL?

Publish date: 2024-04-08

During a game against the Buffalo Bills in 2017, Rob Gronkowski was suspended for a late "dirty hit" on Tre'Davious White who was laid out on the ground before Gronkowski jumped on his back, per CBS Sports. "Your actions were not incidental, could have been avoided and placed the opposing player at risk of serious injury," NFL Vice President John Runyan said at the time. That earned Gronkowski a one-game suspension — which he was delighted to serve. "I just got suspended a week. I was happy, I was finally happy," he revealed on the January 4 episode of the docu-series "Man in the Arena," via the New York Post. "I was like, 'Yes, I'm away from football for a week. I get to recover my body.'" 

Not only did Gronkowski miss a game, but he missed a paycheck and was still elated to get much-needed time off. "I lost a game check and it was about $300,000 that game check, and I didn't even care one bit," he added. Gronkowski may have been happy at the time, but many fans were furious with the cheap shot by the then-New England Patriot. "What the hell are you doing, Gronk?" one person tweeted.

Afterward, Gronkowski issued an apology to White. "I'm not in the business of that," he said, via CBS Sports. "I was just really frustrated at that moment and it just happened naturally through emotions." 

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