Gronk says he’s healthy and fire burns to play with Brady

Rob Gronkowski planted seed for a NFL comeback when he played catch with Tom Brady two months ago.

He told six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback he was getting an itch to play again if “right opportunity” presented itself.

Brady, on verge of becoming a free nt and signing a two-year, $50 million contract with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was more than intrigued.

“We had a little conversation. re was pressure on eir side. We actually got toger just to throw football,” Gronkowski recalled Wednesday, a day after Bucs completed a trade to acquire four-time All-Pro tight end from New England Patriots.

“We rarely talked about what his decision was going to be or where I’m at. But we did talk about ... I’m kind of getting that fire underneath me again. I told him I’m definitely interested in decision you make and ... even if you go back to Patriots ... re’s a possible chance I will definitely love to reconnect,” Gronkowski added. “That’s where conversation started ... and he was fired up.”

Bucs sent a fourth-round pick — . 139 overall — to Patriots in exchange for a seventh-round selection (. 241) and Gronkowski, who retired 13 months ago after nine seasons and winning three Super Bowl rings with New England.

30-year-old said he will always respect and appreciate time he spent playing for coach Bill Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, but he’s just as excited about starting anew with Brady in Tampa.

“I’m t going to sit here and say it’s that easy of an organization to play for,” Gronkowski added of his stint with Patriots. “I do kw ... it gets you right. It gets you mentally right. It gets you physically right. What I’ve learned re, I’m definitely going to take it with me and apply it to my daily life, big time.”

Gronkowski was one of most dominant tight ends in league with Patriots, compiling 521 career receptions for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns — third-most TD receptions by a tight end in NFL history behind Antonio Gates (116) and Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (111).

five-time Pro Bowl selection is one of just four tight ends, along with Gonzalez, Jason Witten and Travis Kelce, who’ve had four seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving. With 28 career 100-yard games, Gronkowski ranks second to Gonzalez (31).

He said he walked away from game after helping Patriots win Super Bowl in February 2019 to give his body a chance to heal from numerous injuries during his career.

“I was getting opportunities throughout whole retirement to come back, which is special. ... But I’ve always said I wouldn’t come back unless I’m feeling good, feeling healthy and feeling like I’m ready to go,” Gronkowski said. “This is time. It definitely wasn’t last year. My body 100% needed a rest.”

During his nine seasons in New England, Patriots won nine division titles and appeared in eight AFC championship games, advancing to five Super Bowls. In 16 career playoff games, he has 81 catches for 1,163 yards and 12 TDs.

Bucs have played just 15 postseason games in club’s 44-year history, ne since 2007.

That’s expected to change with Brady and Gronkowski joining an offense that led NFL is passing, and ranked third overall. Pro Bowl receiver tandem of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin that caught 153 passes for 2,490 yards and 17 TDs last season figures to be best Brady has had to work with since Hall of Famer Randy Moss began a three-plus season stint with Patriots in 2007.

With O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate on roster, tight end also was considered a strength even before Gronkowski was added to mix.

Brady, though, is what made moving to Tampa, where Gronkowski once owned a home, especially appealing.

He said he’s remained in shape and tipped scales at 250 pounds Wednesday, about 12 to 15 below his rmal playing weight.

“Playing with Tom is special. ... We have a great chemistry out re. Every time we get toger, it’s just like old days. It doesn’t matter if we take a month off or six months apart, we just go out re and we’re throwing ball just like it’s a rmal practice,” tight end said.

“He was like appetizer of whole meal. He got me hooked when he went down to Tampa,” Gronkowski added. “I saw what was down re, just opportunity to go down re and play with that type of offense. y’ve got some special wide receivers out re. y’ve got or great tight ends. ... It’s just right opportunity.”