Watch CBS News

Jonathan Kraft: Gronk Just 'Having Fun' Over Bye

BOSTON (CBS) – New England Patriots vice chairman Jonathan Kraft has no problems with tight end Rob Gronkowski, or the fun he had over the bye week.

"Rob's a great guy and the thing first and foremost when you're a Patriot, is do you love the game of football.  I can tell you Rob Gronkowski loves the game of football more than anything else," Kraft said on Sunday's Patriots Pregame show on 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Gronk had pictures of him with adult film start Bibi Jones in his Patriots jersey tweeted out over the team's bye week.

Gronkowski spoke with owner Robert Kraft upon his return to the team, but Jonathan said the tight end was never asked to apologize for the pictures.

"The one thing I think I want to correct, I didn't hear Rob's exact comments, but Rob wasn't called in and asked to apologize to anybody. I think Robert and Rob just bumped into each other the first day back, because they were both getting something in the café. Rob initiated the conversation and just came over," Kraft recalled. "I think what Robert said to him was, being in this position people are going to try to get you and you have to always think about what you're doing… Just think about when you look back 10-20 years from now, how you want to be perceived."

Gronk On T&R: Never Asked To Apologize

"He's a 22-year-old single guy; when he has his bye week, he's entitled. He didn't break any laws," said Kraft. "Rob's pretty savvy. I don't think he meant to do anything; there was zero malice."

"He was having fun, and compared to the way lots of other professional athletes do things…" said Kraft.  "He was taking a picture with somebody. "

"I think it's a good lesson, and he'll decide going forward if doing things like that are right for him or not. That's his call, and I think he understands now that even little innocuous things like that, can when you're fortunate enough playing in a town like Boston and being a successful pro athlete, there are ramifications maybe beyond just taking a picture. He can decide for himself if he wants to do it or not," Kraft added.

Tune in to Jonathan Kraft every week on the Patriots Pregame Show on 98.5 The Sports Hub, starting three hours before kickoff.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.