Should we be worried about Rob Gronkowski?

Is there a reason the Patriots, according to a report in The Boston Globe, have spiked the Summer of Gronk? Is it as simple as a reminder to get ready for work, or is there something more going on?

Because I must be missing something. What, exactly, has changed?

Gronkowski is a fascinating case study -- he's the first player of the Bill Belichick era who clearly isn't afraid to do whatever he wants off the field. Reality dating shows, hanging out with the (recently retired, sadly) Bibi Jones, posing naked for the cover of ESPN magazine, dancing on tables after the Super Bowl, this is something new around Foxboro. An overexposed star.

And I think we all know why Belichick has looked the other way while Gronkowski has spent the summer morphing into some combination of The Situation, John Mackey and every fraternity pledge in America. Rob Gronkowski has the greatest season of any tight end in NFL history on his resume -- statistically it's not even a debate. He's 23 years old and already has 27 career TD catches (10th in franchise history). This is transcendent talent, a once-in-a-generation (OK, Saints fans, twice-in-a-generation) tight end. If this was Just Another Guy, Belichick would have stopped all this before it really had a chance to get started.

But that's the problem -- Just Another Guy wouldn't be asked by ESPN to be on its cover, wouldn't be asked to co-host "Access Hollywood" and wouldn't be asked to appear on reality shows. There wouldn't be the opportunity to be overexposed. And the Patriots -- starting with Tom Brady -- have generally eschewed the spotlight, left that for the Cowboys and Jets and all the other headline-chasers. Sure, Brady's married to Gisele and has done some commercials and cameos in movies, but it's been about as low-key an arrival to A-list as one can imagine. Reality or not, Brady acts as though he's embarrassed by all the attention (kind of hard to believe when you look at the occupations of his recent significant others, but still). Gronkowski embraces it, can't get enough of it. He's allergic, evidently, to saying no.

And I don't see any problem with it. 

As long as he's not breaking any laws, or violating any league policies, God bless him. Date every porn star ever nominated for an AVN award, show up on every reality show on TV, co-host "Access Hollywood" every single day. What's the difference, as long as he's showing up for meetings and practice on time during the week and catching passes on Sunday? 

Has any of this stuff affected his on-field performance? Absolutely not. You and I and have seen the ESPN pictures -- it sure doesn't seem his rehabilitation has been slowed at all. And clearly the Patriots can't be too concerned about Gronkowski's off-field activities -- they signed him to a $53 million contract ($16.5 million guaranteed) in June. 

And I don't want to hear how these images of Gronkowski have embarrassed the Patriots organization, or have impacted the perception of whatever "The Patriot Way" is. If there is a Patriot Way, watch how fast it'll end when Brady and Belichick eventually retire. And I've seen all the Gronkowski footage this offseason and there is nothing -- nothing -- that is anywhere close to as embarrassing the Bob Kraft-Ricki Noel Lander video. Allowing that Kraft is a single man and is within his rights to do whatever he wants, tell me you'll be able to look at him the same way you did before you watched that video for the first time. 

Look, it's clear that Gronkowski probably isn't going to follow Jack Kemp's post-football path. He's not a genius, but who cares? He's a 23-year-old kid having a good time. I don't think the Patriots should have a say in what he does or doesn't do, so long as (again) he's not breaking any laws or suffering a drop in production. Does your boss have that say? I just don't see the issue. Take a look around the NFL. Gronkowkski could have starred, directed and distributed a sex tape with Bibi Jones and it would look wholesome next to Marshawn Lynch (who should be kicked out of the league) and Dez Bryant. 

Maybe it's overblown. Maybe the Patriots told every single player to crawl back into the tall grass and stay out of trouble with training camp approaching. Maybe this wasn't an order to Gronkowski and Gronkowski only. And maybe it was and Gronkowski is fine with it -- it's been two years and I've heard no one question his work ethic or professionalism. Maybe the Patriots are trying to slow Gronkowski down before he finds real trouble. 

To all that I would say only this: Let Gronk be Gronk. Seems to be working so far.