Patriots Save $4 Million Against the Salary Cap by Paying Rob Gronkowski in Beer and Meats SportsPickle Follow Aug 4, 2015 · 2 min read

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The New England Patriots found another way to circumvent NFL rules today by restructuring Rob Gronkowski’s contract to pay him in beer and grilled meats instead of U.S. currency. The move will save the team more than $4 million against the cap and could allow them to bring in more players to their already talented roster.

As with many of the Patriots maneuvers, other NFL teams have complained — but there is no rule prohibiting a player from being compensated with food and drink instead of money.

“It’s one of those things that no one ever thought they’d have to make a rule banning,” said a league office source. “Who could of conceived of a moron that would, instead of $4 million, accept the equivalent in meat and beer? The framers of the CBA simply never conceived of someone as dumb as Rob Gronkowski playing for a team that looks to bend the rules as much as the Patriots.”

Gronkowski’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said his client was more than happy to restructure his deal.

“We sat down across the table and they asked him what he wanted,” said Rosenhaus. “He said: ‘Gronk want MEAT! Gronk want BEER!’ And they said they’d get him both. That was that. I wish all negotiations went that easily.”

Support SportsPickle. Get your tickets here →

Rosenhaus said he wouldn’t advise most clients to not be paid in money, but stressed Gronkowski is a special case.

“He has the mind of a 4-year old,” said Rosenhaus. “No one in their right mind would or should allow a 4-year old to have millions of dollars.”

Without an income, Rosenhaus expects Gronkowski to lose his condo, but he doesn’t believe that is an issue.

“He goes home with a different woman, or women, every night,” said the agent. “I don’t know the last time he actually slept at his place. It was a waste of money anyway.”

Until the NFL closes the loophole that allowed the Patriots to pay their tight end in beer and meat, the organization will likely look to restructure even more deals to get farther under the cap.

“We’ve already reached out to Tom Brady’s agent about partially compensating him with cell phones,” said a Patriots front office source. “Even for a guy making his kind of money, getting a new $650 phone all the time can really add up.”