Rob Gronkowski had a mission in mind before the Buccaneers’ final regular-season matchup against the Panthers, but he wasn’t taking it so seriously that he couldn’t make a few jokes.
Cameras captured Gronkowski during the Buccaneers-Panthers game Sunday making joking comments about securing his seventh catch of the game. That mark would give Gronkowski 55 for the year, allowing him to earn $ 500,000 in contract incentives. (He had already hit one of his incentives earlier in the game, also valued at $ 500,000, by dwarfing 750 receiving yards for the year.)
He was also seen talking to quarterback Tom Brady, who refused to sit on the bench in the fourth quarter as he tried to help Gronkowski take advantage of his incentives during a 41-17 win against Carolina.
“If I don’t get the seventh catch,” Gronkowski joked, “I have to get a real job.”
Rob Gronkowski was Mic’d up on Sunday as he tried to reach his $ 1 million in incentives.
“If I don’t get the seventh catch, I have to go find a real job.”
Tom Brady got the message and made sure to give him the ball. ????????
(via @NFLFilms)
– Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 11, 2022
With 6:29 left in the game, Brady completed that seventh pass to Gronkowski for 7 yards, giving Tampa Bay the second and 3 from the Panthers’ 20-yard line. The Bucs finally kicked a field goal to extend their lead to 34-17. More importantly, the catch allowed the 32-year-old tight end to earn his second incentive of the night and increase his overall earnings for the season.
According to SportracGronkowski can still earn more incentives if the Buccaneers this season. He can earn an additional $ 500,000 if he gets three more receiving touchdowns (needs nine in the year) and an additional $ 250,000 if Tampa Bay makes it to the Super Bowl again.
Before Sunday’s game, Gronkowski had two schedules to win an incentive of up to $ 1 million. He needed to make seven receptions and log at least 85 receiving yards to earn an additional $ 1 million in incentives for the season. Brady refused to sit on the bench in the fourth quarter before giving the veteran tight end one last chance to earn his second incentive.
Sunday’s victory also helped the Buccaneers secure the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Tampa Bay is scheduled to face the No. 7 Eagles on Sunday in the first round of league wild-card games. A victory at Raymond James Stadium will allow the Buccaneers to advance to the divisional round.