ATLANTA — Go ahead, believe Rob Gronkowski is slowing down if you want.
But coming off one of the least productive seasons of his nine-year career, there he was in the clutch, making the longest play of scrimmage in Super Bowl LIII while setting up the only touchdown in the New England Patriots' 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Then, after a week of outrunning the incessant retirement question, Gronk evaded it one more time Sunday night.
"Tonight it's about celebrating with my teammates. And that decision will be made in a week or two," said Gronkowski, who, true to form, was looking forward to his next off-field throwdown.
"We're gonna have a good time. Bill (Belichick) told me he's partying tonight, so you know it's gonna be good."
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Arguably, no one's ever been as good a tight end as No. 87. His 79 regular-season TD grabs trail only Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez at the position, and both those players' careers spanned nearly twice as long as Gronk's.
Sunday, Gronkowski caught six passes, giving him 23 in the Super Bowl — a record among tight ends as are his 297 receiving yards after he added 87 more against the Rams.
"He played his tail off," remarked Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater. "Not bad for a guy who's washed up, right?"
But it was Gronk's final reception, a diving, 29-yard snatch of Tom Brady's pass halfway through the final quarter down to the Rams' 2-yard line with the game tied 3-3, that was arguably the contest's pivotal play. Sony Michel barreled into the end zone on the next snap to provide what would be an insurmountable lead.
"When it comes to crunch time," said Gronkowski with a grin, "I always find a way."
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