Gronk expects Brady to play 16 games next season

Rob Gronkowski is an optimistic man. As he should be.

The New England Patriots tight end graced both the cover of GQ Magazine and EA Sports' Madden 17 on Thursday and joined ESPN's "SportsCenter" for the announcement of the latter.

Gronk was asked about his thoughts on teammate Tom Brady's pending four-game suspension and the 26-year-old All-Pro responded as only he could.

"I was actually surprised. (The reinstatement) was a surprise to everyone," Gronkowski told ESPN, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com. "I thought it was totally done and it was crazy to see it happen again. It's kind of getting stupid to the point where it's at now.

"I think he's going to play 16 games again. That's the way it's been going on, that's the way it's worked, so hopefully that's true."

Obviously, Gronkowski hasn't been privy to all the legal proceedings of the case, but judging by last year's result of a full 16-game season for Brady, he isn't wrong to believe his teammate will avoid suspension.

Brady has until May 23 to make a decision about asking for either a rehearing in front of the same three-judge panel or to request a new hearing before the entire circuit.