Rob Gronkowski cleared for Patriots practice

Days after signing a re-structured, incentive-laden deal with the Patriots, Rob Gronkowski has been cleared to return to the practice field.

According to multiple reports, Rob Gronkowski made his return to the practice field for the Patriots for the first time on Thursday. Previous reports suggested Gronk’s recovery was progressing well, however this is a great sign ahead of the Patriots training camp, which opens in a few weeks.

The Patriots showed confidence in Gronkowski not only by letting him appear and “compete” during Wrestlemania, but also in the restructured deal they signed with him just two days ago.

As was previously reported, the superstar tight end’s new contract with the Patriots can pave the way for him to become the highest paid player at his position for the 2017 season. Despite another injury-plagued season that saw him appear in only eight games and catch 25 passes, Gronk’s recovery seems positive.

According to reports out of New England, Gronkowski was a limited participant in practice, and will likely sit out all of the Patriots preseason games.

The latest deal is broken into three tiers:

• ‪The first tier, where Gronk would earn the full amount of $10.75 million, would result from him either participating in 90 percent of the plays, catching 80 balls, accumulating over 1,200 receiving yards or being named an All-Pro. He is a four-time All-Pro.
• ‪The second tier, which would earn Gronkowski a nice raise to $8.75 million, would result in him playing in 80 percent of the plays, catching 70 balls, accumulating 1,000 receiving yards or catching 12 touchdown passes (he has caught 12 or more touchdowns only twice during his career).
• ‪The third and final tier makes his 2017 salary $6.75 million and would result from him playing in 70 percent of the offensive snaps, catching 60 balls, accumulating 800 receiving yards or catching 10 touchdown passes (a figure he has attained five times).

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There is still no tight end in the league that compares to Gronk when he’s healthy.  Now he’s motivated to capitalize on his structured deal and hopefully his health continues to be stable as we approach the 2017 season.