Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski has missed NFL games this season due to rib, lung and back injuries. One of the toughest players in pro football, Gronkowski is known for playing through bumps and bruises. However, the rib injury that the Buccaneers tight end suffered back in Week 3 was far more than just a minor ailment.

In fact, Gronkowski compared the injury to something very painful, indeed.

So Rob Gronkowski basically got shot in an NFL game in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams. Now it all makes sense as to why the Buccaneers star missed as much time as he did. No one blames Gronkowski for not being able to play in a ferocious game where opposing players routinely make rib-crunching tackles because he felt as if he had been shot.

It makes it that much more impressive that Gronkowski could be ready to play for the Buccaneers in Week 11 against the New York Giants.

And of course, Gronkowski being Gronkowski, jokingly let the NFL know that he will be coming for worker's compensation. There has to be a reasonable enough case there, right? In all seriousness, this is just another notch on the bedpost in the legend that is Rob Gronkowski.

The Buccaneers tight end will leave NFL fans with plenty of soundbites and highlights of footballs being spiked long after he has hung up his cleats. One thing is for sure.

There will never be another Rob Gronkowski.