Rob Gronkowski: Tom Brady Has My Full Support
BOSTON (CBS) -- In his media tour as one of two finalists to be featured on the cover of Madden, Rob Gronkowski swung through ESPN headquarters on Wednesday.
And with Tom Brady and the Patriots serving as the A1 story in sports these days, Gronkowski faced a number of questions on the saga known as DeflateGate.
Not surprisingly, the All-Pro tight end has Brady's back.
"Literally I have not a thing to do with what's going on, and I just have full support in Tom and what's going on," Gronkowski said. "And hopefully, when he appeals the suspension, it gets reduced or taken away at all costs. Because we definitely want him in the locker room, because he's our team leader and he's always been there for everyone else."
In Ted Wells' report, he wrote that Brady claimed to not know the name of Jim McNally, the man at the center of the probe. So, Gronkowski was asked if he knows McNally and John Jastremski, the other key figure in the investigation.
"Whoa, these are a lot of questions, I thought we were here for the cover vote," Gronk responded.
Gronkowski was then pressed on what the role of Jastremski and McNally was in the locker room and whether he knew them.
"I know everyone in the organization," Gronkowski said. "You're there every single day for seven months throughout the season, and everyone's good people out there in the locker room, and everyone's good people in our organization."
Gronkowski, who's been a teammate of Brady since 2010, was asked for his overall opinions on the penalty handed down on the quarterback.
"I just want to start with, Tom's a professional on and off the field. He's the leader of our team," Gronkowski said. "He's an unbelievable player, and he has full support from myself and definitely the organization, as you can see the statements that Bob Kraft has been putting out there and everything. It is what it is, and I'm just going to watch it and see how it plays out. I mean, I have nothing to do with what's going on and everything, so what I can really do is just keep on focusing on myself, keep on focusing on what I gotta do to become a better football player and get ready for this upcoming season."
When asked if the punishment was too harsh, Gronkowski plead ignorance on the matter.
"I really don't have enough information on it and what's going on," Gronkowski said. "It just it what it is. And that's how we roll going into every single game."
