15 years ago, Rob Gronkowski arrived in the NFL seemingly straight out of central casting — almost the platonic ideal of a football player in the American psyche . He was all muscle and kinetic energy, a fearsome blocker and incredible receiver who was impossible to tackle, a selfless teammate on the field and the ultimate party animal off it. His touchdown celebrations — often a silly dance followed by a ferocious spiking of the football — summed up his spirit as well as anything. Having fun was his goal in life, and he seemed to be better at this, too, than anyone else.

Gronkowski grew up in Buffalo, New York as the fourth of five brothers, raised by a stay-at-home mother and a father who sold high-end fitness equipment. After being drafted in the second round following a career-thr

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