Rob Gronkowski loves to drink and party, and recently, he went to Wrestlemania to drink and party. There is nothing objectively wrong with this, and it’s fun when athletes show their personality outside of sports.
He should keep partying and drinking as long as his heart desires.
However, would Gronk’s antics work if he were someone else? According to Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman, some NFL players say no.
However, I recently heard from four players, two from each conference, who all wondered if Gronkowski is held to a different standard than others in the league.
None wanted to be quoted, even on an off-the-record basis, but each made the point that they didn’t think a player such as Cam Newton could do what Gronk does without public backlash.
It’s hard to disagree with that assessment, and it’s particularly true of African-American players. Newton was once criticized for taking a 12th man flag and for touchdown celebration dances. Giants players got criticized for hanging out on a boat. If Newton or Odell Beckham Jr. went to Wrestlemania, there would very likely be columns about them being “distractions.”
Again, this isn’t to say any of Gronkowski’s fun is wrong—it isn’t. But because of his persona, he’s likely able to get away with a lot more than others would.