Bruce Arians Wanted To Pay Gronk Without His Final Catch
January 12th, 2022
“Jason, where the hell were you?”
Bucco Bruce Arians painted a picture of himself hustling to find general manager Jason Licht on the sidelines late in Sunday’s game.
The head coach was getting a little frantic. He wanted his Hall of Fame tight end out of the game even though Rob Gronkowski was just one catch shy of many hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonus cash. (Joe wrote a bit about the bonus situation this morning with video from Gronk.)
Arians told the Buccaneers Radio Network yesterday that he didn’t care about the money. He wanted Gronk safe. And he wanted him and Tom Brady out of the game immediately. Arians said he went to ask Licht if they could pay Gronk the big money without a final catch; you know, make a deal right there with the game in progress. But Arians said he didn’t find Licht in time.
Brady refused to leave the game — even though Arians said a play was set up in advance for Blaine Gabbert to throw to Gronk.
Of course, the completion happened and Gronk took a hit. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.
Considering Gronk was mic’d up, that would have been a fun conversation to hear between him and Licht on the sidelines. Joe wonders if Licht would have FaceTimed Gronk’s agent.
January 12th, 2022 at 9:37 am
It wasn’t just about Gronk getting the last pass.
It was ~also~ about *Brady* getting it to Gronk.
January 12th, 2022 at 9:39 am
I was wondering why Brady wasn’t pulled a series earlier. Mystery solved.
January 12th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Gronk is a team guy. Goes up against lineman regularly. Gets tackled by 3 guys a lot of times cause 1 usually needs help. Took the shot to the back in rams game. They rushed back for saints game too soon
Glad they want to take care of team guys
AB probably fuming right now. 😂
January 12th, 2022 at 9:59 am
I heard Gronk said that if he did not get the last catch, he needs to find a real job….. hahahaha….. GO BUCS!!!
January 12th, 2022 at 10:16 am
I feel like that scene of saying no he is going to make the throw was a lash back at Antonio for accusing him of not trying to get him his incentive money.
January 12th, 2022 at 10:34 am
And him saying “Yeah, Gronk is my boy!”
January 12th, 2022 at 10:36 am
Gronk wouldn’t pull that baby needs his pacifier stunt AB did. That’s where it’s at.
January 12th, 2022 at 10:44 am
Coach was technically right but Brady was right to refuse in order to help out Gronk. BA did not push it.
January 12th, 2022 at 11:13 am
Glad Tampa can enjoy Tom & Gronk, like we did up in New England for years. Sure miss them. Go Bucs!!!
January 12th, 2022 at 11:20 am
That’s another good illustration of the negative effects of individual incentive contracts on the game. Shouldn’t happen.
January 12th, 2022 at 11:26 am
Read between the lines.
This quote is for AB PR damage control.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
Incentives are difficult. Imagine being the QB trying to get everyone their money and trying to win games at the same time. Gronk had incentives, Brown had incentives, Brady has his own incentives and Mike Evans looking to extent his record. Not as easy as it sounds. GOBUCS!
January 12th, 2022 at 1:12 pm
P.S. I don’t think Gronk would have taken off his shirt and walked off the field, if he didn’t get the last catch.👍
January 12th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
These incentives certainly affect the game plan and the efficiency. Opponent coaches know that Tom will target on AB, so they will double him instead of ME.
January 12th, 2022 at 2:03 pm
BA should, he put him in to early after his injury and cost him some games.
January 12th, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Of course the Bucs would pay him without the final catch, the Bucs have always done that. If a guy is close, and in particular if he’s taken out of a game because they’re winning, the Bucs pay up.
Heck, if stupid AB hadn’t melted down and got close, and the Bucs pull him because they’re up big, he’d have got his money as well.
It’s a fun storyline, a fun video of Gronk saying he needs another catch or he’ll have to get a real job — but in reality, like with Suh, the Bucs were going to pay him either way.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
HC Grover……..”Coach was technically right but Brady was right to refuse in order to help out Gronk. BA did not push it.”
Yeah and if Brady is slammed and injured, so many would be roasting Brady and BA and J Licht lololololol and a Super Bowl is gone without 1 game being played in the post Season.
Easy to say that now about Brady going in, but in reality, Gabbert could have completed 1 pass to Gronk.
GO BUCS!!!!!!
January 12th, 2022 at 4:55 pm
Maybe BAs comment was a direct shot at you know who….
January 12th, 2022 at 7:04 pm
Licht and BA should discuss before the game and tell the players about that. AB would not burst out if he got the incentives. He was actually underpaid and that irritated him.