Rob Gronkowski: No More “Friction” Around Patriots This Year Than Any Other

From the controversy over the benching of Malcolm Butler in the Super Bowl to Tom Brady skipping OTAs to the team reportedly shopping Rob Gronkowski before the draft, it certainly appears the New England Patriots have had more internal strife than ever before — at least from the outside looking in.

But, from the inside looking out, things are the same as always, at least according to Gronk.

In a new interview with Sports Illustrated, the All-Pro tight end spoke about the issues — or rather the non-issues in his opinion — that have been surrounding the team since their Super Bowl loss.

When asked about the “friction” this off-season, Gronkowski had the following response: “I feel like it’s the same every year. You just block out those distractions. I have to focus on what I can control and what I can do. Just try to be the best player I can be, help the team out however I can help out. Block out all the noise.”

Gronk’s denials about internal struggles echo what Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft, and Brady have all said at times, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he (or they) is telling the whole story.

Unfortunately, considering the way information leaks from Fort Foxboro, don’t ever expect to ever really know for sure, and especially not anytime soon.

In the meantime, one thing Gronk will tell the truth about: sharks.