The Facts: Last year, the Patriots and Gronkowski began the process of negotiating a new contract. His latest back surgery derailed that process, and also prevented as a practical matter a new deal in 2017. Still, the Patriots agreed to the unusual step of giving Gronkowski an incentive package with nothing in return: No reduced salaries, no restructuring, no extra terms. Instead, it's simply more money based on performance, on top of the money Gronkowski already was due to earn.
Diehards Line:Gronkowski had been due to make $5.25 million in 2017, roughly $8.5 million in 2018, and $9 million in 2019. As it now stands, he has a three-tiered incentive package for 2017. According to agent Drew Rosenhaus, Gronkowski can earn another $5.5 million, another $3 million, or another $1 million under the following formula: (1) if he participates in 90 percent of the offensive snaps or catches 80 passes or gains 1,200 receiving yards or scores 14 touchdowns or is named a first-team All-Pro, Gronkowski will earn the extra $5.5 million; (2) if he participates in 80 percent of the snaps or catches 70 passes or has 1,000 receiving yards or scores 12 touchdowns, he gets the extra $3 million; or (3) if he participates in 70 percent of the snaps or catches 60 passes or has 800 receiving yards OR scores 10 touchdowns, he gets the extra $1 million. As PFT suggests, it’s a true win-win, giving Gronkowski something more than what he was entitled to and ensuring that the Patriots will have a happy and motivated player. Talks on a potential extension for the 28-year-old will now be tabled until 2018, and his performance in 2017 will be a major factor in those discussions.