Coming into week 3 of the Buccaneers new season, Rob Gronkowski was not showcased as much more than a blocking tight end in this Byron Leftwich offense.

But come this past Sunday, Gronk managed to lure TB12’s eyes 7 times for 6 catches and 48 yards of productivity in the win over Denver. Doubts had circulated that maybe the 31 year old tight end would not be much more than a blocking addition due to his first two weeks of lackluster receiving numbers. The first question to open up the media session specifically focused on the change of involvement for Gronkowski and his offensive output in Sundays game.

Gronkowski responded: ” It just felt good to be out there making a couple plays [here] and there, getting involved in the passing game. You just have to keep working hard in practice. It’s been there in camp and stuff an during the practice week. Not every week you’re going to get targets your way because you never know how the game’s going to go. But today it went that way, where I had a lot of targets. It just felt good to get involved and the way Tom spreads the ball out is unbelievable. I mean he finds the open guy whenever he needs to and spreads the ball out and hits the guys that’s open.”

One of the following questions naturally took aim at the collective down-talking of Tom Brady’s aging talents and the relative struggles from his week 1 outing. Gronk was quick to explain away the “not true” comments directed at his tenured quarterback and good friend.

“There’s been people talking garbage about him since I started playing with him 10 years ago – saying he didn’t have anything left in the tank. That’s just simply not true. Just the way he can air the ball out and put a dime where he needs to.” He added. “I just feel like he can do it and it’s like he’s not even 43 years old. Overall, as an offense I feel like we can come together better – start feeling each other out and make more plays while we’re out there as a team.”

At 2-1 for the season, the Buccaneers tight end is optimistic that the offense can continue to progress and work through the on-field inconsistencies. Listen to more of Rob Gronkowski and his reactions to all things Tampa Bay Bucs!