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Patriots reward Gronkowski with reworked deal

Patriots reward Gronkowski with reworked deal

The New England Patriots drafted tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in the same year. One worked out really well. One, for reasons unrelated to football, didn’t.

The one who did has now gotten another reward from the team. Three years after signing a long-term deal (when teams could sign draft picks to new contracts after only two seasons), the Patriots have reworked Gronkowski’s contract to accelerate a significant payment that wasn’t due until after the 2015 season.

PFT has confirmed that the Patriots have shifted Gronkowski’s $10 million option bonus into 2015, with Gronkowski getting $4 million as a signing bonus. The other $6 million will be paid out before the $10 million decision otherwise was due to be made.

The move, per a source with knowledge of the deal, came at Gronkowski’s request.

The restructuring was first reported by Field Yates of ESPN.com.

While his performance in 2014 made the team’s decision to pick up the $10 million option bonus more likely, his long-term status was a little tenuous after multiple arm surgeries (the injury initially happened on an extra-point try) and a December 2013 torn ACL. Since he doesn’t need the money (in his new book, Gronkowski makes it clear that he has spent none of his football money, using his endorsement revenue instead), Gronkowski apparently wanted to secure his future with the team.

And now he has, with a contract that runs through 2019. Which means he’ll definitely be spiking footballs (and possibly pushing some of the air out of them) for the duration of Tom Brady’s career, and beyond.

- Pro Football Talk, NBC Sports