Rob Gronkowski - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Brady, Gronkowski

June 11th, 2018 at 12:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski reported to the Patriots last week, but they won’t be around for the team’s remaining practices in the month of June. The two stars are not slated to take part in the final few OTAs this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. With that, Brady and Gronk are not expected to report to the club until July when training camp gets underway.

The arrival of the two players last week was viewed as a positive sign for their relationships with the team and their contractual situations. To date, neither player has received a new deal, and it’s still not clear whether that is part of Brady’s agenda. A revised pact seems likely for the tight end, though nothing is imminent on that front.

For all of the rumors of discord in New England, there is every reason to believe that both players will be in uniform for the team in September. A new round of trade speculation circled around Gronkowski last week, but there’s no basis for such talk.

Brady, predictably, has said very little about reports of a rift between him and coach Bill Belichick.

Latest On Patriots, Rob Gronkowski

June 11th, 2018 at 10:59am CST by Zachary Links

A new contract for Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is “likely,” a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. However, “nothing is imminent” on that front.

It has been expected that the Pats and Gronk would reach an accord similar to the one from 2017. Last year, Gronk’s deal was revised to give him a base salary of $5.25MM with opportunities to earn incentives at three different levels. With a First-Team All-Pro selection, Gronk maxed out his bonus package at $10.75MM.

This time around, Gronkowski’s camp may push for a meld of incentives and a boost to his base compensation. After all, Gronk did return from his injury-shortened 2016 to rack up more than 1,000 yards receiving and eight touchdowns while also coming up big in two of the Patriots’ three postseason contests. Gronkowski has already vowed to put his dreams of acting and pro wrestling on the back burner, but a sweetened deal may help to keep his focus on the field in 2018.

Six years ago this week, the Patriots and Gronk agreed to a deal to make him the highest-paid tight end in league history. Gronk stands to carry the highest cap number of any tight end in the league this year, but you can expect the two sides to boost that number even further in the coming weeks.

Latest On Rob Gronkowski Trade Rumors

June 8th, 2018 at 1:11pm CST by Zachary Links

On Friday morning, Twitter became flooded with rumors of a potential Rob Gronkowski trade. However, it appears that Patriots fans can breathe easy. There is “zero truth” to rumblings of the Patriots trading Gronkowski, a source tells Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston (on Twitter).

[On This Date In 2012: Gronkowski, Patriots Agree To Record-Setting Six-Year Extension]

At Pro Football Rumors, we typically do not go out of our way to address rumors from unsubstantiated sources, but the word of a potential Gronkowski trade has dominated the Twittersphere for several hours. Given the Patriots’ history of embracing the next-man-up mentality, a trade of the most dominant tight end in the game would be a surprise, but hardly an impossibility.

Gronkowski stayed away for much of the Patriots’ voluntary offseason team activities this year in an apparent effort to have his contract reworked. His arrival in Foxboro this week seemed to signal that a resolution was on the horizon, but the two sides have yet to hammer out a revised deal. Gronkowski’s brief flirtation with retirement this offseason could also be a signal that the “Patriot Way” has grown tiresome for him.

One source who has been with the Patriots for years told Curran (Twitter link) the team’s treatment of Gronk at the start of 2017 was similar to how other players have been treated before being dealt. Of course, that doesn’t mean a whole lot in and of itself, and the tight end was not traded last year.

So, for now, we can put the Gronkowski trade rumors to rest. While major trades are more commonplace than ever in the NFL and Bill Belichick‘s methodology remains unpredictable, there’s no reason to believe that Gronkowski will be in another uniform in 2018.

This Date In Transactions History: Rob Gronkowski

June 8th, 2018 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

Six years ago, Rob Gronkowski inked the most lucrative deal for a tight end in NFL history. The Patriots tacked another six years on to the two remaining seasons of his rookie contract at $54MM, locking him down through the 2019 campaign.

The deal made plenty of sense for both sides at the time. The pact included $13MM fully guaranteed and $18MM guaranteed for injury, which provided the 23-year-old with financial security early in his career. Through his first two NFL seasons, the former second-round pick made less than $2.5MM in total.

Meanwhile, the Patriots locked down a tight end coming off of a First-Team All-Pro selection. Although he impressed as a rookie, Gronk took his game to a new level in 2011 as he caught 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns with a catch percentage of 72.6%. Even today, those numbers stand as Gronk’s career bests.

A broken forearm sidelined Gronkowski for five games in 2012. Shortly after returning, he re-aggravated the injury in the Pats’ first playoff game and missed out on the AFC Championship game. In the offseason, the forearm became infected, forcing the tight end to undergo the third and fourth surgeries of his career. In June of 2013, he had back surgery. Then, in a late-season contest against the Browns, he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. Gronk was undoubtedly grateful for his injury guarantees at that time.

There were more ailments to come, including a less serious knee injury in 2015 and a pulmonary contusion in 2016, but Gronkowski continued to be one of the very best at his position. Meanwhile, the salary cap continued to grow and the tight end market advanced. Over time, Gronk’s record-setting deal started to look more and more team-friendly. In 2014, Jimmy Graham signed a deal that made him the league’s highest-paid tight end with an average annual average value of $10MM and $16.5MM in full guarantees.

Eventually, something had to give. Prior to the 2017 season, the Pats tweaked Gronk’s deal to incentivize his performance while protecting the team against another injury-marred season. The deal gave him a base salary of $5.25MM with incentive packages at three different tiers:

A total salary of $10.75MM with either 90% play time or 80 catches or 1,200‪ receiving yards or an All-Pro nomination.
A total salary $8.75MM with 80% play time or 70 catches or 1,000 receiving yards or 12 touchdowns.
A total salary of $6.75MM with 70% play time or 60 receptions or 800 receiving yards or ten touchdowns.

With 1,084 yards (off of 69 receptions with eight touchdowns), Gronkowski satisfied the middle tier requirement. However, thanks to his First-Team All-Pro selection, the tight end maxed out his 2017 package.

Gronk still has two years to go on the deal he inked in 2012 and the Patriots will probably have to sweeten the pot for him again. The tight end has decided that acting and/or pro wrestling can wait, but his absence from early-season OTAs likely signals his desire for an improved contract. In the coming weeks, it’s likely that Gronkowski will receive yet another upgrade to separate him even further from the rest of the tight end pack.

East Notes: Eagles, Wentz, Pats, Gronk

June 5th, 2018 at 4:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Good news for Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. Based on what he is hearing, ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen (Twitter link) believes that Wentz will be ready for the team’s season opener.

All offseason long, the Eagles have been hoping that Wentz would be ready for Week 1. Of course, after his late-season ACL and LCL tears, the team is taking a cautious approach to his recovery. So far, Wentz has looked sharp in OTAs, so he should be ready to retake his spot as the team’s starting QB in September.

Here’s more from the East divisions:

There was a great deal of retirement talk surrounding Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski this offseason, but that’s all in the rear view mirror now. “I had to see where my body was at and where my mind was at. But now I’m out here, and I feel good,” Gronk said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington). “I feel like I definitely made the right decision coming back out. Mind and body. That’s what it has always been about. Nothing wrong with that, in my opinion. On Tuesday, Gronk and Tom Brady both reported to the Patriots for OTAs.
Jets tight end Chris Herndon, who was arrested Saturday, was on the practice field on Tuesday (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post). It remains to be seen whether he’ll face league discipline or whether the DUI charge will impact his status with the team.
The Giants announced that GM Dave Gettleman is set to undergo treatment for lymphoma. “Recently, I underwent an annual physical, during which it was discovered I have lymphoma. Over the past week, I have undergone more testing to determine the course of treatment, which is scheduled to start in the very near future,” Gettleman said in a statement. “The doctor’s outlook for the treatment and the prognosis is positive, and so am I. I will continue to work as much as the treatment process will allow, and as they know, when I am not in the office, I will be in constant communication with Pat (Shurmur), Kevin (Abrams) and the rest of our staff.”

Tom Brady, Gronk Report To Patriots

June 5th, 2018 at 12:34pm CST by Zachary Links

As expected, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski were on hand for the Patriots’ Tuesday morning practices. The two stars previously stayed away from voluntary offseason team activities, but it appears that all parties are now on the same page.

It is widely believed that Gronkowski was abstaining from OTAs in order to push the Patriots for a new contract. No new deal has been reached yet, but that’s likely forthcoming. Gronk, who is signed through the 2019 campaign, is scheduled to earn a base salary of $8MM in 2018, but New England has been working on “tweaking” his deal. The Patriots are expected to add some sort of incentive package to Gronkowski’s pact, as they did last year.

The circumstances behind Brady’s absence are not quite as clear. It has been speculated that the quarterback is angling for a new deal and/or is at odds with head coach coach Bill Belichick. Brady has not confirmed such talk and owner Robert Kraft did his best to sweep those rumors under the rug. Belichick, predictably, has been mum on the subject.

Last year, Brady led the NFL in passing yards en route to his third MVP trophy. While the rumors of discord will continue to swirl in New England, Brady will look to capture his sixth Super Bowl trophy this season.

Rob Gronkowski Confirms He’ll Attend Patriots Minicamp

June 3rd, 2018 at 1:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski didn’t attend voluntary workout sessions last month, but he will show up for mandatory minicamp next week, as he confirmed to reporters at a charity event on Sunday, per CBS Boston.

“We’ve got mandatory minicamp this week,” Gronkowski said. “So I’ll be there this week. I’ll be full go. I’m looking forward to it. Can’t wait to get back to work. I’m excited.”

While Gronkowski hasn’t publicly addressed his motivation behind skipping organized team activities, his contract situation is likely a key factor. Gronk, who is signed through the 2019 campaign, is scheduled to earn an $8MM base salary in 2018, but New England is reportedly working on “tweaking” his deal. The Patriots are expected to add some sort of incentive package to Gronkowski’s pact, as they did in 2017.

Gronkowski, of course, has had an eventful offseason, and reportedly considered retirement after battling a variety of health issues. In 2017, Gronk was on the field for 14 games, and managed 69 receptions, 1,084 yards, and eight touchdowns, all of which placed him within the top-five among tight ends.

Patriots, Rob Gronkowski Nearing Reworked Deal

May 25th, 2018 at 3:19pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots and tight end Rob Gronkowski‘s contract discussions have progressed to the point where it’s now “likely” Gronkowski will play the 2018 campaign with a new deal in place, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required).

Drew Rosenhaus, Gronkowski’s agent, is reportedly working with the Patriots on a “tweaked” contract, which could indicate New England is willing to add extra incentives to the All-Pro tight end’s deal. However, it’s not exactly clear how the Patriots intend to address Gronkowski’s pact, as Howe reports it’s not yet known whether Gronk will receive an extension or simply earn a raise.

New England has always shown a willingness to go the extra mile for its players by including additional– and sometimes, more easily attainable — incentives into contracts. The Patriots did just that for Gronkowski a year ago, and the 29-year-old ultimately maxed out his deal by earning a first-team All-Pro nod, allowing him to collect a total salary of $10.75MM.

NFL rules don’t allow teams to rework incentive-laden deals until one year after the last restructuring, and given that the Patriots altered Gronkowski’s contract on May 24, 2017, they’ve just passed the date at which they can change his current deal. Gronkowski, who is signed through the 2019 season, is scheduled to earn an $8MM base salary, $750K in per-game roster bonuses, and a $250K workout bonus for the upcoming season. On an annual basis, Gronk is only the league’s fourth highest-paid tight end behind Jimmy Graham, Travis Kelce, and Jordan Reed.

Gronkowski, of course, has had an eventful offseason, and reportedly considered retirement after battling a variety of health issues. In 2017, Gronk was on the field for 14 games, and managed 69 receptions, 1,084 yards, and eight touchdowns, all of which placed him within the top-five among tight ends.

Pats Owner: Brady, Gronkowski Will Show

May 23rd, 2018 at 11:04am CST by Zachary Links

The absence of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski at Patriots OTAs caused a stir this week, but owner Robert Kraft does not seem concerned. Kraft says Brady is excited about being at minicamp, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, which is an apparent confirmation that he will be in attendance at some point. Kraft says Gronkowski will also show for minicamp, despite rumblings of the tight end angling for a new contract (Twitter link).

It’s not exactly clear why Brady opted to stay home on Tuesday, but speculation has been rampant regarding his relationship with coach Bill Belichick. Some believe that Brady is looking to send a message to the head coach, but Kraft says “nothing’s changed” with regards to their relationship and “everything is good.”

Kraft’s assertion that Gronk will show up for practice jibes with a recent report on the tight end’s plans. It stands to reason that the dynamic pass-catcher could arrive as early as Thursday, which is the one-year anniversary of his last contract restructuring. Per NFL rules, a deal involving incentives cannot be reworked until one year after the last round of adjustments.

Brady’s decision to skip OTAs is unprecedented, but it may not be a hinderance to his performance after yet another brilliant season. Even at age 40, Brady was terrific, leading the league in passing yards on the way to his third MVP trophy. Gronk, meanwhile, had 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns.

Latest On Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski

May 21st, 2018 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Tom Brady opted against attending the Patriots’ OTAs on Monday, and it’s not yet known whether tight end Rob Gronkowski will follow suit. However, he will be there at some point, Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter) hears.

Apparently, there’s a good reason for Gronk potentially skipping Monday and reporting in the near future. Gronk’s reps and the Patriots are discussing a revised contract and, per NFL rules, a reworked deal involving incentives cannot be completed until one year after the last restructuring.

Last year, the Pats and Gronk agreed to tweak the tight end’s deal on May 24th, as James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter) notes, so that’s the date to keep an eye on this year. If the two sides can reach an accord in the coming days, Gronk could be on the field starting Thursday.

In 2017, Gronk had incentives added to his deal that gave him the potential to earn some extra cash while protecting the team against another major injury. The 29-year-old hit the top tier of the bonus structure, giving a total salary of $10.75MM by way of his First-Team All-Pro selection.

Gronk bounced back from an injury-riddled year to haul in 69 grabs for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 16 catches for 218 yards and three scores in the postseason.