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.
Gronkowski appeared at Gillette for night two of Morgan Wallen's concert in Foxborough. Wallen's introduction includes a special guest walking him out from the back towards the stage area; Friday night's show featured New England's current coach, Mike Vrabel. And on Saturday night, Gronkowski appeared on the video board, Patriots-themed guitar in hand and wearing a jersey with the number 617 across the front, to walk with Wallen.