Rob Gronkowski is a full go for Patriots mandatory minicamp
Rob Gronkowski and his newly shaved head will be at the Patriots’ mandatory minicamp this week after the tight end skipped voluntary offseason workouts.
Gronkowski said as much at the ninth annual Buzz Off charity event for kids with cancer held at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
“We’ve got mandatory minicamp this week. So I’ll be there this week. I’ll be full go. I’m looking forward to it. Can’t wait to get back to work. I’m excited,’’ Gronkowski told reporters at the event.
Gronkowski was certainly a full-participant in the charity event. He posted pictures of his new dome on Twitter after getting all his hair cut off.
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The Patriots are expecting a fuller house for mandatory minicamp than they got for the voluntary practices, called organized team activities, or OTAs, over the past couple weeks. Gronkowski and quarterback Tom Brady were notably absent, but both are expected back for minicamp, which players can be fined for skipping.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the Globe at the league meetings earlier this spring that he was expecting Brady back for minicamp.
Gronkowski, 29, considered retirement this offseason but decided against it and told coach Bill Belichick in April that he would be back with the Patriots in 2018. With Brady’s absence providing some tacit permission, he has skipped the voluntary portions of this offseason perhaps in pursuit of a new contract, as well as just to have some fun away from Foxborough.
More Patriots coverage:
■ Volin: Will order be restored with Tom Brady’s presence at Patriots’ minicamp?
■ Gasper: Is there no fun in Foxborough?
■ Those Patriots-bashing comments reveal some truths about life in today’s NFL
