Ask, and in Rob Gronkowski’s case, you shall receive.
Before the Buccaneers tight end bagged $1 million in bonuses during Sunday’s game against the Panthers, he told longtime friend and teammate, quarterback Tom Brady, he needed one more catch to unlock the jackpot.
“Let’s go, I need one more,” Gronkowski said to Brady on the sidelines, who replied, “One more catch?” before the two fist-bumped.
Entering Sunday’s season finale against Carolina, Gronkowski needed seven catches and 85 more receiving yards to secure two incentives worth $500,000 apiece. By the fourth quarter, Gronkowski had the yardage bonus locked up, according to For the Win, but needed one more reception.
With a little over six minutes to go in the game, in which the Buccaneers held a 14-point lead over the Panthers, Brady remained in the game to make sure Gronkowski got his catch.
Tom Brady (#12) passes to Rob Gronkowski (#87) during Sunday’s Buccaneers-Panthers game on Jan. 9, 2022. Twitter/CBS“Tom! Good pass, dog,” Gronkowski said to Brady, who replied, “Thanks, baby. I had to get you.”
Gronkowski needed 55 receptions and 750 receiving yards this season to receive $500,000 per incentive, according to Spotrac. He missed out on an additional $500,000, however, only scoring six touchdowns this season instead of the nine needed.
Following the game, in which the Buccaneers wrapped the regular season at 13-4, Gronkowski joked about taking his teammates to dinner, sans Brady. The 44-year-old quarterback responded to Gronkowski’s snub Monday on his SiriusXM podcast, “Let’s Go!”
Rob Gronkowski thanked Tom Brady on the sidelines after the quarterback helped the tight end earn $1 million in bonuses. Getty Images“I don’t know, man. That’s OK. I know what he eats. Let’s just say it’s not along the guidelines of TB12 so he can have his dinner without me,” Brady said.
Prior to teaming up in Tampa Bay in April 2020, Brady and Gronkowski won three Super Bowl titles together in New England. They’re now chasing back-to-back championships with the Buccaneers and will get things rolling Sunday in an NFC Wild Card game against the Eagles.
