Gronkowski’s agents mum on tight end’s future

INDIANAPOLIS — The curiosity continues, as Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski hasn’t been in a rush to make a call on his football future.

Gronkowski is still weighing a decision to potentially retire from the NFL, and his agency declined to comment on his situation yesterday at the NFL scouting combine.

“We’re not going to talk about that. That’s personal,” Drew and Jason Rosenhaus told the Herald.

Gronkowski said after the Super Bowl LII loss to the Eagles that he would mull his future in the ensuing weeks. He said the journey to reach that decision would include conversations with his teammates, among self-reflection and anything else the choice could entail.

If there’s a positive, it’s that his teammates would probably try to talk him into playing in 2018, given Gronkowski’s significance to the Patriots’ title chances. Of course, if the retirement debate were purely health-related, his teammates likely wouldn’t press him to play, but Gronkowski said health wasn’t a factor in regard to the possibility of walking away.

Gronkowski, who turns 29 in May, is signed through 2019. He is set to earn $9 million in cash in 2018 and $10 million in 2019. There have already been preliminary discussions over the possibility that he could tack on additional performance-based incentives next season, similar to the contract structure that helped him earn $10.75 million in 2017. However, it’s not clear how close, if at all, the two sides have come to an agreement in that regard.

The Patriots should theoretically expect an answer from Gronkowski by the March 14 start to free agency. On that date, they’ll owe tight end Martellus Bennett a $2 million roster bonus. The Patriots can save about $6.2 million in cap space by releasing Bennett prior to that, as well as another $5 million against the cap by parting with tight end Dwayne Allen.

These transactions could all hinge on Gronkowski’s decision, whenever it comes.

Ex-Pat helps Rams

The Rams, who have quickly become one of the league’s most exciting young teams under 32-year-old coach Sean McVay, have benefited by some underthe-radar Patriots flavor.

Shane Waldron was promoted in January to pass game coordinator, and McVay raved over his rising assistant coach. Waldron had two stints for Bill Belichick’s Patriots (2002-04 and 2008-09) and worked his way up to tight ends coach before his departure.

“What’s unique about Shane, I got a chance to work with him in Washington, and being exposed to coach Belichick and some of the things they did in New England, he has provided a great opportunity for me to learn from him because a little bit different way of approaching things,” McVay said. “Their success speaks for itself, so I think the perspective that I’ve been able to gain being around and learning from Shane has been really important to kind of the way that we do some things here. Very organized, has a big-picture perspective, so he is a great coach. He is a guy that will continue to grow in this league, and a lot of people will hear about what a good coach he is, and we’re fortunate to have Shane.”

Reunion tour

Running back LeGarrette Blount, an impending free agent, has drawn plenty of interest here this week, according to a source.

Even though it seems highly unlikely Blount could return to the Patriots, a source wouldn’t slam the door on the possibility.

Blount rushed for 2,917 yards and 34 touchdowns in two stints with the Patriots from 2013-16, but contract negotiations last year were contentious before he joined the Eagles. He had 766 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season, and 90 yards and a touchdown against the Pats in the Super Bowl.

Divisional moves

There were two significant developments within the AFC East yesterday, as the Jets officially released defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson and the Bills committed to quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Wilkerson is immensely talented but gave the Jets too many headaches to justify his $20 million cap hit in 2018, which made this decision predictable. And Bills coach Sean McDermott said it’s “not in (the team’s) plans” to release Taylor.