Joe Burrow also sees ghosts, but his look like Rob Gronkowski

The Baltimore Ravens and their fans can rest easy knowing Rob Gronkowski’s decision to ghost Joe Burrow kept yet another weapon out of Cincinnati’s arsenal.

In a season where little has gone right for the Bengals, the revelation that Joe Burrow got ghosted by Rob Gronkowski after trying to recruit him feels almost too perfect. It’s a hilarious reminder that, for all his talent, even Burrow can’t land every big target.

On Dudes on Dudes, Gronk explained why he ignored Burrow’s text back in 2022: he thought it was a prank. After being duped in the past, Gronk decided he wasn’t falling for another fake message, even if it was from a quarterback he admired. “I was like, I ain’t getting got again. This is nuts. I ain’t falling for this,” Gronk said.

By the time he realized it was actually Burrow, the window of opportunity had closed.

For Ravens fans, this story is more than just a funny trip down memory lane. It’s a snapshot of what separates Baltimore from Cincinnati. While the Ravens focus on building a contender with smart moves and internal consistency, the Bengals can’t even get their quarterback’s recruiting efforts to stick.

Joe Burrow wanted Rob Gronkowski to join the Cincinnati Bengals

Let’s not undersell how big a miss this was.

Bringing Gronkowski into the Bengals' offense, even for a single season, would have created major problems for the Ravens and every other team in the league. Gronk is truly one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. With Burrow’s exceptional passing skills combined with Gronk’s sheer dominance in the red zone, it’s easy to picture Cincinnati pulling off some wins in games they might have otherwise lost.

But that’s the thing with “what could have been.” It’s all hypothetical, and hypothetical doesn’t win you games. Gronk ghosted Burrow, and the Bengals were left to rely on the pieces they already had. Meanwhile, the Ravens have been busy sweeping Cincinnati this season and proving who the real class of the AFC North is.

This story feels symbolic of Cincinnati’s struggles in 2024. Burrow is as talented as they come, but even he can’t overcome the Bengals’ bigger issues. Whether it’s recruiting a future Hall of Famer or trying to stop a nosebleed, nothing seems to stick.

For Ravens fans, this story is a fitting snapshot of how this season has gone. While the Bengals are left wondering what might have been with Gronk, the Ravens are focused on securing a top seed in the AFC while coining some cool nicknames along the way.

So, here’s to Gronk’s ghosting. It didn’t just save Baltimore from a potential headache—it also served as a reminder that, even with Burrow under center, the Bengals aren’t quite who they want to be.

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