Rob Gronkowski revealed the New England Patriots didn’t even bother to check with him before handing wide receiver Romeo Doubs the iconic No. 87 jersey. Seriously? The team just let that happen? It’s a head-scratcher, especially considering how Doubs *started* his Patriots career, stumbling big time against our Seattle Seahawks last week. If that’s the kind of play they expect from a guy wearing a legend’s number, then New England is in for a long season.
Gronk’s Take on the No. 87 Legacy
When asked about Doubs rocking his old number, Gronk told Kay Adams on Up & Adams, “I’m not the one who makes the decisions over there.” He then added, “I wasn’t consulted at all, but I mean, I’m cool with it.” “Cool with it” might be the polite way to say it, but you gotta wonder. Gronk, who suited up in that No. 87 for nine seasons with the Patriots and helped hoist three Super Bowl trophies alongside Tom Brady, clearly has a strong opinion on jersey retirement. He went on to say that the “only number that I truly believe that should be retired in New England… is the No. 12.” Brady’s No. 12 was retired before the 2024 season, a well-deserved honor for the GOAT. Gronk’s point is clear: “If you’re not playing for 20 years, I don’t think that any other number should be retired. I think all other numbers should be very usable.” The Patriots have retired seven other jerseys, but none since Bruce Armstrong in 2001. So, while he’s “cool” with it, there’s a definite vibe that the team missed a chance to show some respect.
Doubs’ Rocky Start and Our Seahawks’ Win
The Patriots shelled out a four-year, $70 million contract for Doubs this offseason, hoping he’d be a top target for Drake Maye alongside A.J. Brown. Doubs wore No. 87 for four seasons with the Green Bay Packers, so he’s no stranger to the digit. But putting on that Patriots No. 87 means stepping into massive shoes. Gronk’s legacy is etched in New England history, and Doubs just walked into that pressure cooker. What happened next? Doubs absolutely flopped in the Patriots’ season-opening 13-10 loss to our very own Seattle Seahawks. Yeah, you heard that right, our Hawks handed them an L! Doubs had *no catches* and even *dropped a pass* during that embarrassing debut for New England. No catches and a drop in a close game? That’s not living up to *any* jersey number, let alone one as storied as 87 in Foxborough.
Now, things are getting even tighter for the Patriots. A.J. Brown is sidelined for an estimated six weeks with a high ankle sprain, meaning Doubs needs to step up big time. The Pats will be desperate for him to suddenly live up to the legacy of that No. 87 as they gear up for Sunday’s home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that showing against our guys, can he actually turn it around? We’ll be watching to see if he can escape the shadow of that awful Week 1 performance.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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