The New England Patriots decided to give their newly-acquired wide receiver Romeo Doubs the same jersey number that he wore with the Packers – the No. 87. The problem is, that number used to be worn by one of the best pass catchers in team history: Rob Gronkowski.
And as it turns out, the Patriots aren’t in the business of asking or even telling Gronkowski who they’re giving the number he dominated the league in.
Appearing on Up & Adams with Kay Adams, Gronkowski revealed that nobody cleared the decision to issue No. 87 to Doubs or any other player since he departed after the 2018 season.
That didn’t sit well with Adams, who went on X later and admonished the team for not showing as much respect
“Romeo Doubs is wearing Gronk’s 87 in New England. NO ONE checked with him or asked him if that’s okay. NO ONE should wear 87 for the @Patriots,” she wrote on X.
Fans didn’t like that.
A number of Patriots fans don’t feel great about the team continuing to issue the No. 87 to anyone and feel that the number should have already been retired to honor their future Hall of Fame tight end.
“Insane that 87 isn’t a retired number in New England,” one user wrote on X.
“I agree, no one should wear 87 in New England. Though respectfully, he’s not the greatest TE to ever play the game. He’s not even the greatest 87…” wrote another.
But others feel that if a number isn’t retired, it should be considered fair game.
“Gronk doesn’t own the #87 just like Jayden Daniels doesn’t own the #5. If it’s not retired, it’s free game.”
“Until the number is officially retired, anyone can wear it.”
Elsa/Getty Images
That said, the Patriots have chosen not to reissue numbers without explicitly retiring them.
Tom Brady’s No. 12 was free game for five years before the team finally retired the number. And there was never any doubt that the number would not be issued to another player.
Gronkowski may not be upset over the whole thing, but it still raises the issue whether the team should retire his number.
