Rob Gronkowski went to four Pro Bowls with Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.
Like many past Pats and NFL fans, they watched the Las Vegas Raiders fire McDaniels on Halloween night following a 3-5 start. “Gronk” became vocal about it, specifically on the aspect attached to McDaniels that brings about a conflict between player and coach financially.
Rob Gronkowski Speaks on Josh McDaniels’ Contract
Speaking with Kay Adams on “Up and Adams,” the Super Bowl winner first showed sympathy for his former coordinator. However, one aspect of the firing doesn’t sit well with the legendary tight end.
“I feel for him a little bit emotionally, but when you really think about it, this guy signed a six-year deal as a head coach. He’s gonna be paid out for those six years,” Gronkowski began. “So, he’s getting head-coaching money for the next four years of his life. That’s total BS. That’s absolutely absurd.”
Gronkowski revealed that there’s a disparity when it comes to player and coach contracts when the latter ends up losing his job.
“These coaches should only be getting contracts that are only like halfway fully guaranteed. Us players, we only get two or three years fully guaranteed out of a six-year contract,” Gronkowski shared. “These guys get six years totally guaranteed. I don’t feel bad for him at all in that sense.”
MORE: Tom Brady Opens Up About Raiders Josh McDaniels Firing on Latest Podcast
Gronkowski concluded how, even after McDaniels’ removal as Raiders head coach, he’s still financially secured after losing his job.
“The guy’s gonna be living life. He can go to the beach for the next four years at a five-star hotel and not have to worry about that bank account,” Gronkowski said.
Is McDaniels’ Name Mentioned for Other Coaching Opportunities?
The Raiders are the lone prominent NFL opening as Antonio Pierce takes over on an interim basis.
A lot can still happen for Pierce and the Raiders with seven games left, including if Pierce gets the interim tag removed and becomes the full-time head coach.
But has McDaniels’ name been mentioned for future openings?
As of Nov. 11, McDaniels hasn’t been mentioned for any NFL or collegiate gigs. Obviously, a lot can change during and after the season.
Are There New Names Attached to the Raiders’ Opening?
As for potential Raiders replacements, two names were mentioned by Bleacher Report NFL analyst Alex Ballentine as ones to watch: Bengals DC Lou Anarumo and Ravens DC Mike MacDonald.
Regarding Anarumo, Ballentine wrote how he’s a high-standard coach known for forcing takeaways. But he adds that the Bengals coordinator will become a needed change from what the Raiders have looked for.
“Teams will often target the opposite of the coach they just had, so it would make sense for the Raiders to take a look at Anarumo. It wouldn’t be flashy, but that’s the point. After hiring Jon Gruden and Josh McDaniels back-to-back, the Raiders could use a defensive-minded coach who isn’t going to draw too much attention to himself,” Ballentine wrote.
For MacDonald, Ballentine added how his defensive background can become potentially welcoming in Sin City.
“The Raiders just got done learning that an offensive mastermind isn’t always the answer. The Silver and Black haven’t finished in the top half of the league in scoring defense since 2002. With Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in the division, Macdonald would make sense in Vegas,” he wrote.
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