Gronk knows value to Pats
FOXBORO — Rob Gronkowski has seen the big paydays that have been handed out around the league this week.
He’s seen the deal for Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants wide receiver who signed a five-year deal worth $95 million on Monday.
“He’s a great player,” Gronkowski said about OBJ. “He comes up clutch in many situations and just his talent is second to none. It’s always good to see guys like that that got that talent — I’m in for the players always. I mean, I’m a player, so it’s good to see that.”
Gronkowski also certainly has seen the deal teammate Shaq Mason recently got, a five-year extension worth $50 million.
“He’s a great player and it’s always great to see guys like him get a deal like that,” Gronkowski said.
The odds are Gronkowski also thinks it would be great if he got a new deal of his own.
The tight end has two years left on his contract with base salaries of $8 million this year and $9 million next year. Last year, he made several incentives that increased the value of his contract, and it’s clear he would like a new deal worked out. In June, upon returning to mandatory minicamp after missing OTAs, he said he’s “trying” to get a new contract. He was asked at that time if he’d like to have something done before the beginning of the season, and said, “Who wouldn’t?”
More than two months later, nothing has changed. There’s been no deal, and Gronkowski remains the fourth-highest paid tight end in the league behind Jimmy Graham, Travis Kelce and Jordan Reed. Also, there’s a multitude of wide receivers in the league who make much more than the best tight ends.
Gronk, arguably the top tight end in the NFL if not all time, was asked if he thinks tight ends should be paid as much as much as other targets in the passing game.
“That would be pretty cool,” he said.
And then, it was back to the topic of his own contract. He was asked again if he’d like something done in the near future.
“I’m always open for that,” Gronkowski said with a smile.
Would he like it done before the season?
“It is what it is,” he said. “That’s not really my focus. I got a long season ahead and just trying to focus on what I need to really do and just let everything else play out.”
Maybe another full productive and healthy season would help. Last year, a refreshed Gronkowski returned after injuries ended his 2016 season, and with a new health plan — he joined the TB12 method — looked like his old self. He missed just two games and was named an All-Pro as he helped the Patriots return to the Super Bowl.
Gronkowski seriously considered retirement in the offseason, but ultimately opted to return.
And this year, as the new season approaches, he claims to feel even better. The 29-year-old is focusing on his body more than ever, and that approach is paying off late in his career.
“I just love playing the game,” he said. “I feel good right now. I definitely feel like 100 times better than I did last year during training camp. When you’re feeling good, you love playing the game. I feel good enough to where I thought I could come back, go throughout the whole season, go throughout camp and just keep playing the game and be enjoying it.
“That’s how it’s been and when you’re enjoying the game, when you’re feeling good, you just love playing the game. It’s just something when you’re out on the field, like your mind is just in another place because you’re just focusing on what you got to do.”