Romeo Doubs is officially rocking No. 87 for the New England Patriots, signing a monster four-year, $68 million deal. You’d think a move like that, taking the number of arguably the greatest tight end of all time, Rob Gronkowski himself, would at least warrant a heads-up, right? Well, apparently not. Gronk received zero advanced notice on the number assignment, and his reaction to it might just make your jaw hit the floor.
Gronk’s Ice-Cold Take on His Own Legacy
Forget the sentimental stuff. Gronk, who’s eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027 with a strong first-ballot case, just dropped a bombshell on the “Up & Adams” show. When asked about Doubs rocking his legendary 87, he simply said, “I wasn’t consulted at all, but I mean, I’m cool with it.” *Cool with it?* This is the guy widely revered as the best to ever wear a Patriots jersey, whose number isn’t even among the eight retired jerseys for the franchise, meaning it’s still fair game. Kay Adams, bless her, tried to push back, saying, “You can’t be okay with it,” but Gronk was diplomatic. “I’m not the one who makes the decisions over there,” he replied. Talk about playing it cool when a part of your legacy gets passed along without a word.
Only One Number Is Sacred, And It Ain’t 87
Here’s where it gets even more wild: Gronk firmly believes only one number should *ever* be retired in New England: No. 12, Tom Brady’s. Think about that for a second. Even though Brady’s number was only officially retired ahead of the 2024 season, everyone knew it was untouchable the moment he left. Gronk laid it out plain: “That’s the only number that I truly believe. Tom set the standards, and if you’re not on that page, 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.” So, if you’re not Brady, your number is fair game, no matter how iconic. That’s a serious statement coming from the man himself.
Romeo Doubs Just Got His Welcome-to-New-England Moment
While Gronk might be “cool” with Doubs taking his number, he definitely isn’t cool with a lack of production. The man threw down a direct challenge to the new $68 million wideout. With A.J. Brown now on IR, Gronk called on Doubs to step up big time for quarterback Drake Maye. He didn’t mince words: “You can’t just go out there and pay somebody that much money and then not have any production from him. He’s gonna have to pick it up.” That’s the ultimate gauntlet thrown, not just about the number, but about earning that fat contract.
So, Romeo Doubs, rocking the legendary 87, has his work cut out for him, not just in living up to the number, but in living up to his paycheck and Gronk’s very public expectations. The Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday in their home opener. You can bet all eyes will be on No. 87. Does Doubs have what it takes to pick it up? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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