2018 Gronk Watch

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Ed Hillel

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If there were incentives added, Gronk might end up at like 14-15 million against the cap this season, as his incentives last year hit now and anything this year should be LBTE, unless BB got creative.
 

Harry Hooper

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If there were incentives added, Gronk might end up at like 14-15 million against the cap this season, as his incentives last year hit now and anything this year should be LBTE, unless BB got creative.
Wasn't he already in that neighborhood for the purposes of the cap this year because of the previously earned incentives?
 

Ed Hillel

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Wasn't he already in that neighborhood for the purposes of the cap this year because of the previously earned incentives?
Wow, yeah, he’s already past it. I didn’t realize he also had a 2 million dollar option bonus or whatever that is. So he could be up around 20. Yikes.
 

DJnVa

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And Reiss: http://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4813100/rob-gronkowskis-decision-gives-patriots-important-clarity-in-draft

Gronkowski's decision to reopen those lines of communication comes three days after he held a playful "news conference" as part of his business partnership with Monster Energy and Supercross. The "news conference," in which Gronkowski talked of his lack of a commitment for the 2018 season with a humorous touch, wasn't received favorably by parts of the fan base, which had grown tired of him continuing to use his lack of a decision for publicity purposes.
 

dcmissle

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It’s not too much of a leap to think that if the meeting didn’t go right, and maybe even if it didn’t happen at all, Gronk was ticketed out of town. He’s bright enough to realize he probably pushed this too far, and Rosenhaus certainly is as well.
 

DJnVa

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So, what could BB actually say to him?

"Look, it's the offseason, the workouts are voluntary, but how about not talking about how you're not committed? How big of a star will you be in Cleveland? We don't mind trading up."
 

SMU_Sox

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So, what could BB actually say to him?

"Look, it's the offseason, the workouts are voluntary, but how about not talking about how you're not committed? How big of a star will you be in Cleveland? We don't mind trading up."
 

OnWisc

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At least 51 by my count.
More like 17 according to the official list on the NFL's website (which shows 18 for the Pats but still has Gronk as uncommitted). Dallas has their entire roster listed as uncommitted for 2018- wonder if that's Jerry fucking with the league or the other way around. That said, this time of year sometimes they update it in bunches, so you check it two hours later and 30 uncommitted guys drops to 3 or 4.

It's a stupid, archaic system that's a relic from the days when NFL players didn't make that much money and it was completely reasonable to assume that they might've found another job in the offseason and were done playing football.
 
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lexrageorge

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Wow, yeah, he’s already past it. I didn’t realize he also had a 2 million dollar option bonus or whatever that is. So he could be up around 20. Yikes.
To some extent, some of these are sunk costs. The $2M option bonus and last year's LTBE incentives are there regardless of whether Gronk is here or not. The only items in the Patriots control are his $8M salary and any other bonii that get potentially added this year.

In any event, it sounds like the air has been cleared. The Pats do hold a lot of the cards, as teams do in situations such as these. The timing probably had more to due with the draft than anything else. It's theoretically possible the 2 sides could have agreed to a trade, and this announcement could be a charade in order to keep Gronk's trade value up, but that seems unlikely. It could be that, gasp, Belichick the GM is actually a reasonable person to deal with and is willing to listen and not allow a trivial matter to blow up a key relationship. But that's a much less exciting story to write.
 

Reverend

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More like 17 according to the official list on the NFL's website (which shows 18 for the Pats but still has Gronk as uncommitted). Dallas has their entire roster listed as uncommitted for 2018- wonder if that's Jerry fucking with the league or the other way around. That said, this time of year sometimes they update it in bunches, so you check it two hours later and 30 uncommitted guys drops to 3 or 4.

It's a stupid, archaic system that's a relic from the days when NFL players didn't make that much money and it was completely reasonable to assume that they might've found another job in the offseason and were done playing football.
How much is your subscription to the service a month?
 

TheoShmeo

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I know that many fans were not worried about this. Some pointed to the Pats last SB winning season without Gronk. But for on field reasons, and to help stem whatever negativity surrounded the Brady/Gronk/BB relationship, real or only partially real, this strikes me as a very positive development for the Patriots.
 

Saints Rest

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I know that many fans were not worried about this. Some pointed to the Pats last SB winning season without Gronk. But for on field reasons, and to help stem whatever negativity surrounded the Brady/Gronk/BB relationship, real or only partially real, this strikes me as a very positive development for the Patriots.
It's VERY positive, indeed, especially with the timing of this rapprochement, vis a vis the draft tomorrow/this weekend. Not only does the need at TE subside, it also helps reduce need at other O skill positions simply because Gronk makes everyone else so much better. With Gronk, an opposing team not only has to figure out how to possibly stop him (ask the Steelers what can happen when you don't), it also loses a key indicator of run/pass tendencies since Gronk's presence is so effective in both options.
 

Reverend

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I dunno what is true, but I am enjoying the idea that he threw hundreds of thousands of fans for a loop simply by being a more thoughtful guy than people expect from him.
 

KiltedFool

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Movie is called Boss Level with Mel Gibson and Naomi Watts
 

bankshot1

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So while Gronk is dancing with a f'ing flame-throwing bullet spiiting cannon, his brother in arms TB12 is squiring around the lovely Mrs. at the Met Gala.

I'm not sure which is the more awesome experience, but I'd go with TB12's choice.
 

RedOctober3829

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Tight end Rob Gronkowski and the Patriots have made strides toward a new contract, to the point where it’s now likely Gronk will play the 2018 season under new terms, according to a source.

It wasn’t disclosed if Gronkowski will sign an extension or simply earn a raise, either incentive-based or of a more straightforward nature. But since Gronk informed Bill Belichick last month of his decision to play this fall, the Gronkowski camp and the Patriots have worked toward a contract resolution. The tenor of those discussions has been positive.

Gronkowski is signed through the 2019 season. He is currently set to earn up to $9 million this season ($8 million base salary, $750,000 per-game roster bonuses and a $250,000 workout bonus) and $10 million in 2019 ($9 million base plus the same $1 million in bonuses).

https://theathletic.com/366268/2018/05/23/source-rob-gronkowski-patriots-closing-in-on-reworked-contract/
 

InstaFace

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Pay him whatever will get him to stick around. He's the second most underpaid player on the team, even if he's the best-paid TE in the league.
 
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axx

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I do think this is going to be his last season. Maybe a deal which lets him retire after the season while not having to give back any of the bonus.

I think the Patriots are good on cap space so there probably isn't much of a point in doing a deal with some cap trickery.
 
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I'm hearing a lot of talk about Gronk retiring in the next year or so, and while I understand he's had injuries during his career, it does seem like the TB12 stuff has kept him feeling better than he has for years. I'm not sure when he retires, obviously, but I'd be pretty surprised if it was after this season, provided he has another campaign like he did in 2017.
 

axx

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It's more about the concussions I think as to why Gronk wants to retire.
 

dcmissle

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Only another fun loving guy, Cassius Marsh.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/28/cassius-marsh-to-patriots-fans-sorry-if-you-cant-handle-the-truth-but-thats-how-i-feel/

Preceded by an observation that JG in practice routinely went through our first team defense like shit through a goose.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/sports/cassius-marsh-garoppolo-shred-england-021302394.html

Edit — by the way, Marsh received $107,000 for the Pats going to the SB, even though he was cut by the no-funners the third week of November. I’d have probably kept my mouth shut.
 
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lexrageorge

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Only another fun loving guy, Cassius Marsh.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/28/cassius-marsh-to-patriots-fans-sorry-if-you-cant-handle-the-truth-but-thats-how-i-feel/

Preceded by an observation that JG in practice routinely went through our first team defense like shit through a goose.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/sports/cassius-marsh-garoppolo-shred-england-021302394.html

Edit — by the way, Marsh received $107,000 for the Pats going to the SB, even though he was cut by the no-funners the third week of November. I’d have probably kept my mouth shut.
Just like Nick Foles and Blake Bortles did when the games counted.
 

OnWisc

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Only another fun loving guy, Cassius Marsh.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/28/cassius-marsh-to-patriots-fans-sorry-if-you-cant-handle-the-truth-but-thats-how-i-feel/

Preceded by an observation that JG in practice routinely went through our first team defense like shit through a goose.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/sports/cassius-marsh-garoppolo-shred-england-021302394.html

Edit — by the way, Marsh received $107,000 for the Pats going to the SB, even though he was cut by the no-funners the third week of November. I’d have probably kept my mouth shut.
Marsh isn't alone. I didn't have a whole lot of fun when he was on the team either.
 

InstaFace

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Just like Nick Foles and Blake Bortles did when the games counted.
Yeah, Bortles' total of 2 FGs in the second half really exposed our soft underbelly.

Full credit to Foles, but the Patriots' defense was good enough to win 15 games last year and gave up the 5th-fewest points. They badly needed Hightower, and some investment in the DL, but they were not turnstiles out there all year.
 

lexrageorge

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Yeah, Bortles' total of 2 FGs in the second half really exposed our soft underbelly.

Full credit to Foles, but the Patriots' defense was good enough to win 15 games last year and gave up the 5th-fewest points. They badly needed Hightower, and some investment in the DL, but they were not turnstiles out there all year.
The Pats defense wasn't very good last season, and it got worse once Hightower went out.

However, my remark was mainly just to poke fun at Cassius "I had no fun playing like replacement-level shit for the Pats" Marsh's claim about JG. Marching the team downfield in practice against the Patriots defense isn't anything that screams "reserve a spot in Canton".
 

Van Everyman

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Only another fun loving guy, Cassius Marsh.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/28/cassius-marsh-to-patriots-fans-sorry-if-you-cant-handle-the-truth-but-thats-how-i-feel/

Preceded by an observation that JG in practice routinely went through our first team defense like shit through a goose.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/sports/cassius-marsh-garoppolo-shred-england-021302394.html

Edit — by the way, Marsh received $107,000 for the Pats going to the SB, even though he was cut by the no-funners the third week of November. I’d have probably kept my mouth shut.
Let’s also not forget his comment that Jimmy is “a much better athlete than Tom. He’s super disciplined and works hard. I’m very happy to have him as my quarterback.”

The best reason we should be pissed they lost this fucking game is that it gave license to these d-bags to mouth off all winter.
 

dcmissle

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Honestly, I can’t get over mouthing off in the wake of a $107,000 bonus you really did nothing to earn, apart from occupying a roster spot the requisite number of weeks. I am embarrassed for him.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Marsh was one of my least favorite Pats ever. Couldn’t had the edge to save his life, continually in the wrong place. For two picks —maybe as bad a trade as B.B. ever made.
 
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