Amongst talk of a potential gay NFL player "coming out" and the same-sex marriage debate at the forefront of political discussion, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski responded to the question regarding how he'd react to having a gay teammate. Gronkowski told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco on ESPN Radio New York that he wouldn't have a problem with an openly gay teammate in the Patriots' locker room.
"You've got to accept the player," Gronkowski said. "Everyone has their own ways to live their life and as long as he's respecting me, keeping distance, respecting myself, I'll respect him back."
"If he's being a great teammate and he's a guy on the field doing a great job, well then you've got nothing to complain about. He's another teammate and another friend."
Despite being one of the most dominant tight ends in the NFL, Gronkowski's productivity may be outshined by his off-the-field lifestyle. Well known for his partying lifestyle, the 23-year-old is no stranger to having his personal life scrutinized and be considered a "distraction" amongst the Patriots organization.
CBSSports.com broke a story earlier this week that included claims from sources that a current NFL player, who is gay, was considering coming out of the closet. However, the player in question wasn't sure if they were ready to accept the hostility from opposing fans.
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