Rob Gronkowski is retired and the Patriots aren’t at the Super Bowl, but of course Gronk is. Before hosting a Super Bowl bash like few others before, Gronkowski guzzles a few questions from The Post’s Steve Serby:
Q: Who do you like in the Super Bowl?
A: If the Kansas City offense is rolling, and they’re putting up points on every drive, they’re gonna win the game hands down. ’Cause that offense is spectacular, they got so many weapons, from (Travis) Kelce to (Tyreek) Hill, everywhere on the field. But if for some reason their offense isn’t clicking, I think San Fran will take it over and take advantage of that and win the game.
Q: So you’re not making a pick then?
A: So what do I think, do I think the offense for Kansas City will be clicking? I do, so I’ll go with Kansas City.
Q: High-scoring game?
A: I would say more of a high-scoring game than usual.
Q: Thirtysomething to thirtysomething?
A: Low 30s to high 20s.
Q: Patrick Mahomes?
A: I feel like Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, (Deshaun) Watson, they’re all changing the game.
Q: When you watch Mahomes throw the ball?
A: Just his arm. His arm is spectacular. It’s unbelievable to see an arm like that, how far he can throw the ball, and how accurate he is at the same time, it’s just tremendous.
Q: Your favorite Super Bowl memories?
A: Oh man, winning the Super Bowl. Super Bowl 49, versus Seattle. Scored a touchdown on a fade, all the way to a pick by Malcolm Butler.
Q: Did you hold the Lombardi Trophy?
A: I got to hold it, yes.
Q: What was that like?
A: It was fantastic. Got to kiss it, hold it up in the air. It was a beautiful day.
Q: Do you remember watching the Giants Super Bowl 42 upset of the Patriots?
A: That was my first Super Bowl I ever went to. It was in Phoenix (Glendale), I was at U of A (Arizona), my dad had tickets and he brought me to the game.
Q: Do you think Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer?
A: Yes. To play that position for that long, and to have two Super Bowl championships, I think he should be definitely considered, if not in the Hall of Fame. And to play that long, it’s just tremendous, ’cause it does take a lot of passion, a lot of ability to be able to keep on going year in year out, especially after Year 10, Year 12, just to keep it up at that high of a level.
Q: What stands out for you about that second Patriots loss to the Giants?
A: Just the feeling of losing. Putting all that work in and losing that game, but it gave me that passion to want to get back there for sure.
Q: So you know the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.
A: Yes, exactly. Lost two of ’em.
Q: What do you remember about Jimmy Garoppolo when he was your teammate?
A: How he could put the ball in the pocket wherever he needed to. By pocket, I mean like wherever the position is the ball needs to be put in. And just so soft his passes are.
Q: Tom Brady to the Chargers, is that a good fit?
A: Brady anywhere’s a good fit, because he can just bring his game anywhere and it’ll be a good fit to whatever team it is.
Q: He’ll be 43 next August.
A: Yeah, that’s fine, the guy doesn’t age.
Q: Patriots fans want him to stay.
A: Oh, of course, Patriot fans want him to stay. He’s a legend there, he’s the best all-time, best quarterback ever, of course.
Q: What do you remember about Joe Judge?
A: Joe Judge is a great guy. He’s crazy, in a good way. … He doesn’t take any s–t, which is good.
Q: Do you think he’ll be a good head coach in New York?
A: I think he’ll be a great head coach. I think he’s gonna bring it, he’s gonna bring the attitude that needs to be. It’s positive attitude, but it’s also reinforcement of bringing it to the table.
Q: Crazy in a good way?
A: Oh man, he’s got a lot of good jokes. A LOT of good jokes. I was in some special teams meeting and he had me laughing for like five minutes straight! But at the same time, this guy keeps a straight face the WHOLE time.
Q: Give me a joke.
A: Ah no, you guys can ask him when you talk to him. You can say, “Yo, Gronk says tell me a joke.”
Q: They’re X-rated?
A: They’re all over the place.
Q: Are they football jokes?
A: Everything. ALL things.
Q: He says it with a straight face?
A: Oh straight face. He will never laugh. He’ll never laugh. But it’s hilarious. It makes it even better.
Q: Could you see that he had a good relationship with (Bill) Belichick?
A: Oh yeah, I would say he had a great relationship. He loves the game of football, loves coaching. And if you love the game of football and you love coaching, you have a great relationship.
Q: What’s the difference between Travis Kelce and George Kittle?
A: One plays on K.C., the other plays on San Fran. … Oh!, the difference in their playing style?
Q: Hey, I’ll crack the jokes here.
A: Oh all right, I see.
Q: You give Kittle the nod because he reminds you of you?
A: I would say Kelce’s more fluid. He’s more of a route-runner, he’s more of a wide receiver-type tight end. And Kelce brings the ability to stretch down the field at all times from anywhere on the field. And Kittle, feel like he’s more of like an old-school tight end. He gets dirty in the trenches. His all-around game is tremendous. He’s ready to block anytime, he’s ready to get dirty.
Q: Your on-field mentality?
A: Just wanted to bring down the house. By that, I mean, like whenever I got the ball, just wanted to score. … You gotta bring that passion to the field too, especially in the trenches. You gotta go out there with some attitude, with some meanness to you. You gotta bring that fierceness to the table to be able to block guys in the trenches, but you also gotta bring that … that … smooth, Rico Suave-type feel in the passing game too. You gotta have both — you gotta have that meanness, but you also gotta have that suave feeling at the tight end position.
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Q: Who was the fiercest competitor you went up against?
A: I’ll go with Suggs, Terrell Suggs. When I was a rookie, second year, he was fierce, he was always bringing it. Just the way he came off the ball, the garbage he was talking, and being that young, and knowing it’s Terrell Suggs in front of you, it’s a different ballgame then.
Q: What’s the percentage that you’ll come back and play football?
A: Wow. I was taught to never give a percent.
Q: Who taught you that?
A: Coach Belichick. He said never give percentages, yeah.
Q: Is that door open?
A: Yeah, the door will always be open. I like to work out, I like to compete, so if it just came to me one day, I’m not gonna totally close the door. There’s a chance — like what’s that movie, “Dumb and Dumber”? So you’re sayin’ there’s a chance (smile). I use that one every time. So one in a million: So you’re sayin’ there’s a chance.
Q: Do you miss the game?
A: Yes in ways. In ways.
Q: What about acting for you?
A: I just go with the flow. Whatever comes to me, I’m not pushing anything.
Q: Boyhood idol?
A: I was in Buffalo, so I grew up a Buffalo Bills fan. I loved watching Eric Moulds play wide receiver, and then Takeo Spikes at the linebacker, just loved his name, but also loved his game.
Q: If I was just landing from Mars, which some people think I just got here from …
A: Yeah, I think so too. Oh yeah, you from Mars for sure (laugh).
Q: Hey, I don’t want to be like you earthlings.
A: You’re right. OK I’ll take it, man. Like me — everyone thinks I’m crazy. You’re right, you gotta have your own identity.
Q: I want to be different. I don’t want to be like anyone else.
A: Exactly. I like it.
Q: So I’m coming down from Mars: Who is this Bill Belichick? Describe him for me.
A: Just straight passion and love for the game of football. And just straight passion for winning.
Q: He cracks jokes too, but he’s not as funny as Joe Judge?
A: Depending on the situation, but overall, Joe Judge wins that category for sure.
Q: Did Belichick ever crack a joke that made people laugh?
A: Oh yeah, for sure.
Q: Anything come to mind?
A: Yeah. A lot of things come to mind.
Q: That you can share?
A: That I can share? What happens inside the locker room and stuff, I like to keep those inside the locker room.
Q: Honey Badger?
A: That dude’s all over the field. That’s what makes him special. And it’s special because his size, he’s a small guy, but it shows that you don’t even have to be the biggest guy on the field, you gotta just have that passion.
Q: The 49ers front four?
A: Tremendous … They’re not the biggest guys. That’s what makes ’em special though is their quickness. They’re not huge guys where you know you gotta move ’em with strength, they got quickness which is a different type of ballgame. That’s what makes ’em special, having four guys quick like that gets ’em to the quarterback quicker, that’s what it’s all about.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Wow. Pamela Anderson, back in the day. … Arnold Schwarzenegger — he might steal Pamela though — but that’s OK, I’m a good guy, I would let him steal her. Oh, Happy Gilmore. Like him coming as Happy Gilmore.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: My mother’s chicken soufflé.
Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?
A: I’ll go with J-Lo ‘cause she’s just so consistent and just brings it every time?
Q: She’s the halftime show?
A: Exactly. And she’s 50, still just destroying it.
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Leonardo (DiCaprio).
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Jennifer Aniston.
Q: Why should I go to Gronk’s Beach Party Saturday?
A: What do you mean why should you go? That’s the No. 1 party to be at. We got six performers — we got Diplo, Carnage, 3Lau, Kaskade, we got Rick Ross, we got Flo Rida, they’ll all be performing. I’m the host, so I’ll be figuring out my role throughout the party, but I bring a lot of different roles to the party game, you know, I’ll be dancing. There’s gonna be so many players there, a lot of great people that are coming to the party, and on top of it, I mean, who hasn’t seen my dance moves? So who doesn’t want to join ‘em?
Q: So I’ll drop your name when I get there?
A: Yeah, yeah, definitely. The guy from Mars.
Q: Thanks so much Gronk.
A: All right man, thank you, Mars. I’ll remember you as Mars.