Rumors have swirled that Rob Gronkowski could join Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and when the former New England Patriots tight end was asked about it, he didn't refute it. The rumor was originally started by Barstool Sports’ PFT Commenter’s dog, Leroy.

Gronkowski seemed to find the comments a bit funny, saying someone needs to get Leroy under control and keep him quiet instead of barking up a storm.

“Wow, PFT Commenter,” Gronkowski said Wednesday via NESN.com. “Yo, you know PFT Commenter, his dog is starting some crazy rumors out there. His dog, Leroy, dog. You’ve got to keep your dog quiet. Leroy, you gotta stay quiet, man. Wow, man, he’s barking up a storm.”

Gronkowski is still under the control of the Patriots, so if he wanted to join the Buccaneers, they would have to make a trade for him, or the Patriots would have to release him. The Buccaneers could try to trade OJ Howard before the draft, according to NFL executive Michael Lombardi.

“I (got) a phone call … from somebody in the league who said, ‘Look, I don’t think Howard’s going to be on the (Bucs this season). They’re trying to trade him,’ ” Lombardi said Wednesday on his “GM Shuffle” podcast. “They wanted a second-round pick for him at the trading deadline (that) no one would give them. Howard’s got a great name, but I think there’s an instinctive issue going on. I think he’s going to be available.”

If the Buccaneers were to find a trade partner for Howard, they would be looking for another tight end, and Gronk would be the perfect guy to fill that role.

This still is just a rumor, but how fun would it be to see Gronk and Brady playing on the same field again?