NFL Notes: Gronkowski ‘pretty certain’ to return

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is more likely to continue his football career than retire at 28 years old, ESPN reported Sunday, citing sources close to him.

Gronkowski still hasn’t made a decision, but the sources say that he is “pretty certain” to return as long as quarterback Tom Brady remains with the team.

While that can be construed as a positive, the report noted that “lingering frustrations remain between Gronkowski and with head coach Bill Belichick” in addition to “others in the Patriots organization.”

–Tom Brady knows a big game when he sees one.

The New England Patriots quarterback showed his allegiance to his alma mater with a post that has his face photoshopped celebrating along with other Wolverines on the Michigan bench.

Brady even went the extra mile as he photoshopped his likeness wearing a No. 12 jersey. Wolverines star senior guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman wears that number.

–Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church has reservations about the NFL’s new rule that prohibits lowering one’s helmet to initiate contact.

The rule has unspecified language allowing for ejection, and the competition committee is expected to work out a more detailed explanation at the league’s meetings in May.

“I don’t understand it because, as a defender, when you’re going in for a tackle, your first instinct — you got to lower yourself to get your pads even with the player’s pads,” Church said on 103.3 FM ESPN in Dallas. “So you’re telling me if you’re a defender that needs to lower your pads to get more leverage on a player, and the running back goes low to protect himself, and you guys hit each other, hit him with the helmet or whatever — are they just going to throw a flag basically every single play?”

–While Washington Redskins defensive end Jonathan Allen admits to making progress, he’s not sure he’ll be ready for a full workload when Organized Team Activities begin in a few weeks.

Allen recorded 10 tackles and one sack in five games during his rookie season before being placed on injured reserve with a Lisfranc foot injury.

“I’m going to be honest, the OTAs they start like end of April, and this will be my first time, so I would like to think so, but I mean, honestly, there’s no way of telling at this point,” Allen said, via the team’s website. “I feel like I’m going to be in a good spot come OTAs, so I’m excited for that, and right now, I’m just taking it day by day just trying to grind.”

–Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden is pinning his hopes on more in the way of production from tight end Jordan Reed and wide receiver Josh Doctson this season.

As he has been throughout his career, Reed was hampered by injuries in 2017 while Doctson made strides last year after missing nearly all of his rookie season in 2016 with an Achilles injury.

Reed was limited to a career-low six games until going on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. But it was the toe injury during training camp that caused the overcompensation and eventually the strained hamstring.

–John Ross may have stumbled out of the blocks during his rookie season, but Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis insists that the wide receiver is working with a clean slate in 2018.

Lewis believes Ross will have a strong second season in the league.

“He wasn’t in my doghouse. I don’t have a doghouse,” Lewis said. “I think he’s all the ability we wanted. That’s why we drafted him. He had to get fixed. We knew he was injured going in and he got nicked up a couple of times in his lower legs and the other shoulder was bothering him. He’s all fixed now.”

–While the New Orleans Saints re-signed Drew Brees this offseason, defensive end Cameron Jordan already has started thinking of the future in regard to the team’s next quarterback.

So, Mr. Jordan, what should the Saints do with their first-round pick (27th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft?

“If you’re looking for an heir apparent, maybe give him the Aaron Rodgers treatment. Let him learn from the best for a couple years and then send him on. But I’m not putting here nor there, I’m just simply saying,” Jordan told NFL Network before mouthing the name “Lamar Jackson” into the camera.

–The Miami Dolphins have voiced internal discussions about extending defensive end Cameron Wake’s contract through the 2019 season, the Miami Herald reported.

Wake, who is a five-time Pro Bowl selection, recorded 10.5 sacks and 36 tackles while starting all 16 games last season. He is set to make a base salary of $8 million in the final season of the two-year deal he signed in 2017.

The 36-year-old Wake has collected 22 sacks in his last two seasons and 92 for his career, leaving him second only to Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor in franchise history.

–Thomas Rawls is headed east as the running back left the Seattle Seahawks to join the New York Jets.

Before he left, however, Rawls posted a lengthy farewell post on Instagram that included everyone from former teammates, coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Schneider and owner Paul Allen. He also thanked the fans as well as janitors, nutritionists, chefs and security.

“Everyone played a huge role in my life and helped not just my career but you make me a better man,” Rawls wrote. “Those who know me know that I will continue to persevere and grow through any challenges that come my way. I’m accepting a new challenge in life to elevate myself as a person and teammate.”

–The reason the Oakland Raiders cut Marquette King last week was because new head coach Jon Gruden had personality issues with the punter, according to multiple reports.

Gruden reportedly made the decision to release King, which shaves $2.9 million from the salary cap.

It is not clear what those personality issues were but former coach Jack Del Rio said in 2016 that he was frustrated with King after he was assessed 15-yard personal foul penalties in consecutive games.

–Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker Von Miller took to social media and tried to trick their fans with posts that they had been traded. Remember people, it’s April Fools’ Day.

Sanders posted a photo of himself making a catch while photoshopped in a Washington Redskins uniform. “Thank you Broncos nation for giving me so much love and support,” he posted on Instagram. “I have decided to take my talents to Washington to join @jno24 (Josh Norman) in a quest to win Super Bowl 53. Washington we lit! I’m on the way.”

Miller followed suit, posting a picture to Instagram with a bar that read “Broncos agree to trade All-Pro LB Von Miller to Browns.” He also added the following comment: “It’s been real Denver! The “Mile High City” and the @broncos will always have my heart! SB50 Champs! They can never take that away from us! @clevelandbrowns & @juice_landry (Jarvis Landry) what’s good!!!”

–An attorney who represents about 250 former NFL players suing over brain injuries said that the league’s $1 billion settlement system is broken.

The league has settled with 156 former players to receive payments, averaging about $1 million each. However, attorney Peter Shahriari said in a court document obtained by the Boston Globe last week that the NFL is stalling in making payments and the settlement may need to be rejected.

“The settlement is broken” and “on the brink of collapse,” Shahriari said.

The NFL disagrees, and says that there needs to be assurance that every player who files a claim actually deserves those requested payments.