Pats Lock Up Aaron Hernandez With 5-Year Deal
Added on Aug 27, 2012 by Scott in
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It appears the most prolific tight end duo in the NFL will be wreaking havoc for years to come. Two months after handing Rob Gronkowski the most lucrative contract for his position in league history, the Patriots have inked a five-year extension with Aaron Hernandez that will pay him a reported $37.5 million. Both he and Gronkowski were Pro Bowlers following the 2011 season.
The decision to extend the 22-year-old Hernandez was a no-brainer for Pats brass. The offense is a pass heavy attack that shifted focus to getting the ball to both tight ends in 2011. The twosome combined to catch 169 balls for 2237 yards and 24 touchdowns a season ago.
Hernandez also brings a versatile skill-set, having been used as a receiver, blocker and runner. His unique size and speed creates matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. For a team that lacks deep threats at wide receiver, Hernandez and Gronk are their best big play options.
The deals for the tight ends has left Wes Welker’s contract negotiations in limbo. He’s been angling for a long-term extension for months, but thus far the Patriots have moved him to the back burner, forcing him to play the 2012 season on a franchise tender.
It seems unlikely Welker would be allowed to walk. He’ll be 32 next May, but has shown no signs of slowing down, especially after posting career numbers in 2011. Brandon Lloyd was given a three-year deal in March, but he can’t do the same things Welker does on offense.
As for Hernandez, he will look to take another step toward entering the elite category of tight ends. With defenses paying so much attention to Gronkowski and Lloyd, he could be in line for a monster campaign. Whatever the case, accounting for all of the Pats weapons will prove difficult when they’re all on the field. Good news for Tom Brady, bad news for the rest of the league.
Source: NFL.com
