Rob Gronkowski knows retirement will feel different in August: 'I may not know what to do with myself'

The former Patriots tight end admits that the full impact of his retirement will hit when the players return to football and he is watching from afar.

Rob Gronkowski's retirement has gone just about as you would have expected it to go through four months; weight loss, partying, some volunteer work, and most importantly, some much-needed relaxation. Though all is going according to plan for the former New England Patriots tight end, even he knows the full impact of him leaving football won't hit until the 2019 season begins and he is away from the game. 

"You want to know something? I never had an August off in my life," Gronkowski said on the Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday. "So, it's gonna be a little different. That's when it's gonna start really seeing the change is when that comes around in August when I'm not in training camp; I might not know what to do with myself."

Those are very interesting remarks by Gronkowski, especially when he decided to double-down on them, mentioning that he can't 100% say that he won't miss the football when his friends and former teammates start the 2019 season without him. 

"There's definitely going to be times when you miss it and everything," he said. "I would always say that it's still the offseason right now. I mean I can't really say how I'm going to feel about it when the games start rolling around and everything.

There has been no shortage of NFL players in the past that have retired and come back to the game because they get the itch when they are at home watching from afar. Jason Witten is a recent example of that, who stepped away from football after the 2017 season, took a job as an ESPN Monday Night Football analyst for the 2018 season, and then rejoined the Cowboys this offseason. 

Playing at a high level like Gronkowski did over his NFL career may be the biggest indicator of his return. If New England's tight ends struggle early on this upcoming season and he feels like he could help, along with some convincing from his former teammates and coaches, then a return could very well happen. But as of right now, Gronkowski is persistent that he is enjoying every bit of retirement.