Rob Gronkowski still hasn't touched Lombardi Trophy after 2019 mishap

Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Rob Gronkowski still hasn't touched the Vince Lombardi trophy the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Sunday in Super Bowl LV. He cited a 2019 mishap, when he dented the trophy, as the possible reason.

Gronkowski spoke about the trophy during an appearance Monday on ESPN. The Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 Sunday in Tampa, Fla., to claim the NFL's top prize.

"I haven't even touched the Lombardi trophy yet," Gronkowski told ESPN. "I'm not sure if it's for a reason, if the Buccaneers organization is trying to keep it away from me, but it would be pretty cool just to even see it."

Many Buccaneers players, coaches and staff members touched, raised, kissed and hugged the trophy after the victory, but Gronkowski said he was 30 yards away from it after the game.

Gronkowski in 2019 used one of the New England Patriots Super Bowl trophies as a baseball bat while at a celebration hosted by the Boston Red Sox.

Then, Patriots teammate Julian Edelman threw a pitch to Gronkowski, who used the trophy to bunt the ball. The bunt resulted in a large dent on the football portion of the trophy.

"That was dangerous how I dented that trophy," Gronkowski told ESPN. "I always blame that on Julian. He threw me the pitch."

Gronkowski had six catches for 67 yards and two scores in Super Bowl LV. He said he plans to give the new trophy a kiss and a hug sometime soon.

The Patriots on Sunday congratulated Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Gronkowski. They also tweeted for Gronkowski to "be careful with that trophy." Brady won six Lombardi trophies as quarterback of the Patriots. Gronkowski won three titles with New England.

The Patriots have said they don't plan to fix the dented trophy. The sterling silver trophy has been created annually by Tiffany & Co. since 1967. The 22-inch, 7-pound prize was named after legendary coach Vince Lombardi in 1970.