Former Patriots staffer and Belichick confidant Mike Lombardi was among those lamenting earlier this season that Rob Gronkowski didn't look the same, but he's not about to concede the Patriots tight end's time in New England, or his playing career, will be over after this season.

In fact, Lombardi told WEEI on Friday that with Gronk returning Sunday against the Jets after a three-week absence to nurse ankle and back injuries, it's too soon to say whether this season will be the last in New England, or in the NFL, for the big guy, who turns 30 in May.

“I think you can say that based on he hasn’t played a lot and all that, but I think you are jumping to conclusions there [saying Gronk's done with the Pats after this season]," Lombardi told The Athletic's Steve Buckley and Patriots Football Weekly's Andy Hart. "I don’t think anyone knows the health situation of those games. He has one touchdown pass and he’s been hurt, so it’s easy to conclude he won’t be back. Well, I am not sure that is the right conclusion. I think the six remaining games is going to determine everybody’s future in terms of the NFL, that is what always happens. If they make a long run and Gronk goes back to his old form and he’s healthy, I think that is completely false.”

Despite what happens in the final six regular-season games and the playoffs, with a $12 million cap hit for next season, "there’s a restructure/pay cut, a release or a retirement for Gronk dead ahead" as NBC Sports Boston Patriots Insider Tom E. Curran put it.

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