Former Teammate Rob Gronkowski Speaks Out On Death of Aaron Hernandez

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A former Patriot is opening up about late teammate Aaron Hernandez, who took his own life in his prison cell after being convicted of murder. He was 27 years old.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski, now of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hadn't spoken about his former friend and teammate in a long time.

TMZ reported about the conversation that Gronkowski had on the "10 Questions with Kyle Brandt" podcast, where he was asked about Hernandez.

"I was definitely shook when I heard" about the arrest of Hernandez, Gronkowski said on the show.

"Because, being his teammate and everything -- you really don't see that. You're not really looking into players like that ... that's who they are, or that's what they're doing."

Gronk says Hernandez was a "great football player" -- but notes in the greater scheme of things "that does not mean anything."

Hernandez's life spun out of control in 2013 after he was arrested for the murder of Odin Lloyd. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Hernandez was also charged in the 2012 double murder of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, but he was acquitted in 2017.













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Matt has been a part of the Cleveland Sports landscape working in the media since 1994 when he graduated from broadcasting school. His coverage beats include the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers. He's written three books, and won the "2020 AP Sports Stringer Lifetime Service Award."