Rob Gronkowski Shares A Few Of His Favorite Things, From Sandler Films To Bieber Albums

As far as NFL stars go, Rob Gronkowski is as close to the Us Weekly “Stars, They’re Just Like Us” model as they come. He’s from a big family, still hangs out with his brothers, has a good time at night, watches movies, and generally does the sort of things you or I would do if we suddenly were gifted with the Super Soldier serum, got super huge, and became All Pro tight ends.

Which is to say that Gronkowski is relatable in his own way. He keeps things simple, and there’s beauty in that. He’s not trying to be an enigma, he isn’t overly concerned with his brand at all times keeping him at arm’s length even when he is trying to be a man of the people, and he hasn’t come to the point yet where he resents the media or the fans for, well, doing whatever the media and the fans do to star athletes.

He’s just Gronk. And that’s why it’s kind of refreshing to see him not only named to this week’s GQ, but also being announced as the cover athlete for EA Sports’ Madden NFL 17. He deserves it for his play on the field, sure, but he’s winning one for all the Gronks out there – in name, or otherwise – who can only dream of doing such a thing.

Uproxx Sports got a few minutes with Gronk himself to discuss the honors, his party-boat cruise, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, his love of Adam Sandler movies, and more.

Congrats on the two covers. I don’t know anybody who’s ever had a GQ cover and a video game cover in the same week, much less the same day, before.

I appreciate that. It’s definitely surreal. I’ve been going and going all day. It was super amazing and super cool.

Which one’s the cooler honor?

They’re both really cool, but I’d definitely say the video game. Being on the cover of Madden, it’s a lifelong thrill, and you can always say you’ve been on the cover of a video game.

You’re able to say what only a few people, and like the Mario Brothers and Ninja Turtles can say.

It’s definitely wild. It’s just an honor to be in the elite category of so many great football players who have been on the cover before.

When you were playing the game as a kid, which team did you play with? Did you have a plan offensively and defensively you stuck to?

Just growing up in my hometown of Buffalo, I’d always play with the Bills when I started playing Madden. You have to choose your hometown team growing up as a kid. I didn’t really know what offenses and defenses were, I always just picked the same one every time, one that I knew or was familiar with, and I’d use that every single play.

Who was the better player among the brothers?

I would go with my brother Chris. He knows the video game pretty well. He was unreal.

You just finished up with the cruise, which seemed like it was a lot of fun. Is that something you’d do again?

The experience was great. It was a surreal time. Both of Saturday’s performers, all on the ship. It was a great time, with my family and friends, all the way around. But I don’t think it’s ever going to happen again.

A one-time thing.

One-time thing. So we had to knock it out of the park.

In general, it seems like you really enjoy that festival atmosphere and upbeat music. Are there any bands you’re listening to right now?

I like listening to all the top hit music right now, not just one song in particular, or any one artist in particular. Top 40, that’s my stuff.

So you’re a pop guy.

Yeah, definitely.

What’d you think of Bieber’s last album?

It was excellent. It had great songs, great lyrics. It’s stuff you can chill to, and stuff you can go out and jam to.

Have you had a chance to look at Tom Brady’s cookbook yet?

I really haven’t looked at it like that. I’ve just seen some of the headlines, and some of the parts they put out there.

Do you think you’d eat the food that’s in there from what you’ve been seeing?

I would definitely eat it. The thing is I just have to find it and have someone cook it for me. But if it was in front of my face, and all ready to go, definitely 100 percent, I would.

You don’t cook?

Every once in awhile, yeah, but I’m not the greatest. Especially not something super special and healthy like that. Just hamburgers, and hot dogs, and chicken.

If you had one more meal left, what would you go with?

I would go with my mother’s chicken soufflé. She’s an amazing chef, and has this bomb recipe, and that’s what she called it, so I’d have to go with that. Chicken soufflé, baby!

All the brothers have had their time in the spotlight at one time or another, whether it’s a commercial or a Super Bowl. Growing up, is there anything people don’t know about you guys that they’d be surprised to learn?

We always got our schoolwork done. Our parents made us sit down and get our homework done before we could do anything.

What would be the punishment if you didn’t?

They wouldn’t let us go out and play or go outside. They’d make us stay in until it was done.

That seems like that’s the worst possible result for you as a kid: to not be allowed to go outside and play.

Exactly.

It seems like there’s a lot about Bill Belichick that he doesn’t show in public, but one thing he kind of hints at is that sense of humor. Is it as good as it seems like it is?

He has a great sense of humor, and has stories and all that, but basically what you see on TV is what you get. He’s just an unbelievable coach, and the best out there.

Did you take anything away from the injuries you’ve had in the past, and having to be forced to sit on the sidelines and watch the game rather than play?

It just makes you appreciate the love of the game even more than you ever have. When it’s taken away from you, it just shows and re-illustrates how much you love the game when you can’t play it.

If the game was taken away from you tomorrow, what would you do? What would be your profession?

If football was gone, I’d just be in the business of staying active. Being a personal trainer. I love being fit, and I love working out, so it’d be in the lines of the industry of fitness.

Is there one exercise, supplement, or piece of machinery that has really made the difference for you physically?

That’s keeping your core strong. Really doing a big variety of core workouts. It’s the centerpiece of your body, so you should be doing it six days out of the week at a minimum. Keep that core strong and have everything working together there.

Have you gotten into the yoga stuff or the pilates like a lot of the other guys have?

No, I haven’t, really. I’ve done it before, but I never really got into it.

How many years do you think Tom has left? It seems like when you’re as cerebral as he is, and you can out-think guys, it elongates your career.

I think he has at least four or five solid years left. Tom is the best out there. It’s not just because he can make the throws, but it’s because of his knowledge of the game. The knowledge of defenses, and the overall game that he has.

If you’re not playing, working out, or going out, what do you like to do?

I like to sit back at home, and go On-Demand, and rent movies all night. I watch like two movies a night. I just sit there and watch classic movies.

Among the classics, what do you have in constant rotation?

Happy Gilmore and Waterboy are two really good movies.

Do you like Adam Sandler’s newer stuff?

I like it. I like it all.

You’ve Gronk Spiked a lot of stuff over the years. Is there anything left to spike?

No. I’ve spiked everything, basically, so I’m all set. There’s nothing out there that I need to spike anymore. I can’t think of anything as of now.

You’re spiked out. You’re all done.

Yeah, as of now.