Patriots star Rob Gronkowski wants a new deal, but he’s nowhere close to the point where the team would be obligated to give him an extension. What should the Pats do in order to keep their star tight end happy? Joel Corry of CBSSports.com suggests a compromise in which the Patriots would give Gronk $3-$5MM as an additional roster bonus on the first day of the 2017 league year, since they can afford to absorb a salary increase next year. The team could also include incentives for Gronk if he finishes in the top three among tight ends in key categories and/or add two years to his deal so that it runs through the 2021 season. On the flipside, the Patriots know that they would be setting a dangerous precedent going forward.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- From a fiscal standpoint, Darrelle Revis‘ five-year, $70MM deal ($39MM fully guaranteed) doesn’t seem like a great deal for the Jets at this juncture. As Revis ages, many have speculated that the Jets could try to shift him to safety, though he has rejected that idea in the past. This week, however, the veteran acknowledged that a position switch could be in the cards for him down the line. “There will probably be conversations in the future about maybe moving my position to safety,” Revis conceded Thursday, according to Connor Hughes of NJ.com. “But as of right now, I still feel I can play at a high level, and play the cornerback position at a high level.”
- Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan is many steps away from seeing the field, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes. Putting substance abuse issues aside, Jordan has been away from the game for more than a year and is looking to return from knee surgery. Also, despite boasts about his conditioning, Salguero says that he doesn’t look to be in especially great shape when looking at him. Because he has so far to go and because the team has many other options at DE, Salguero wouldn’t be surprised to see the team keep him on the NFI list or move him to the regular season PUP list to give him extra time.
- On Thursday, we learned that the Bills and quarterback Tyrod Taylor are discussing a two-year deal as opposed to the type of long-term pact that the QB was initially seeking.
Want to piss off a top player? Ask him if he’d like you to add incentives to his current deal to placate him until you have to give him a massive contract.
You may as well ask a stunningly beautiful woman who’s the girl of your dreams and never gave you a reason to doubt her if she wants to sign a pre-nup.