New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is loved by fans for his performances both on and off the field.
While the Boston Celtics were attempting to reach the NBA Finals, the New England Patriots made moves of their own. The Patriots reached an agreement with tight end Rob Gronkowski on a six-year pact worth $54 million on Friday. This deal includes $16.5 million guaranteed and there is a $10 million option in 2015, if exercised by the organization, that could lengthen the contract to ’19.
Gronkowski is now among the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL just two seasons into his career.
The 23-year-old, 6-foot-6-inch behomoth set records in 2012 with 1,327 receiving yards and 17 touchdown catches. He added 90 receptions. Gronkowski is coming off left ankle surgery after the defeat to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. He receive a high ankle sprain while he was being tackled in the third quarter by Patriots nemesis Bernard Pollard of the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship.
In 2010, Gronkowski was drafted in the second round. Gronkowski has immediately become a fan favorite for his play and goofy personality. He is referred to as “Gronk.” Gronkowski’s actions have come under intense scrutiny, particularly taking pictures with a porn star named Bibi Jones and dancing on stage after the loss to the Giants. The franchise forced him to apologize for the images with Jones that were seen throughout the internet. Gronkowski is shirtless and Jones is wearing Gronkowski’s jersey. Former Patriot-turned analyst, Rodney Harrison, criticized Gronkowski for dancing after the Patriots were unable to capture their fourth Super Bowl title.
When healthy, Gronkowski is a mismatch because of his size and ability to break tackles from smaller defensive backs. He is too big for defensive backs and too quick for linebackers. In Super Bowl XLVI, Gronkowski was limited, especially when Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn leaped for an interception over the outstretched hands of Gronkowski on a jump ball at the 14:20 mark in the fourth quarter.
While the Patriots kept an emerging, lovable superstar, they severed the services of another popular Patriot. Chad Ochocinco was let go by the Patriots ending an unspectacular year with a place he referred to as “heaven.”
When Ochocinco was traded for a fifth-round pick in 2012 and a 2013 sixth-round choice, he was expected to help the Patriots on the outside. He made nearly $6 million in 2012. This never came to fruition because Ochocinco had trouble understanding the playbook. He only caught 15 passes for 276 yards and one touchdown.
Since Josh McDaniels replaced Bill O’Brien as the offensive coordinator, he added new wrinkles to the playbook. The Patriots also added several receivers in Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, and Donte Stallworth to a group that already includes Wes Welker, Deion Branch, and Julian Edelman. The Patriots also took Jeremy Ebert out of Northwestern in the seventh round of the Draft. The Patriots also cut Ochocinco’s salary to $925,000. All of this meant the writing was on the wall for the Patriots and Ochocinco’s relationship.
The one criticism of the organization is this move should have been done during the 2012 season because it was clear that Ochocinco did not belong in the Patriots’ offense. Branch kept having to tell Ochocinco where to line up. After the season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins when Tom Brady threw for 517 yards, Ochocinco tweeted “Just waking up after a late arrival, I’ve never seen a machine operate like that n person, to see video game numbers put up n person was WOW.” Former Patriots linebacker-turned ESPN analyst, Tedy Bruschi ripped Ochocinco. Bruschi said, “Stop tweeting and get in your playbook.”
The problem with Ochocinco is he cares more about being an entertainer.