TAMPA, Fla. — Turns out, Rob Gronkowski is only the latest Buccaneer to hit a lucrative contract incentive. He may not be the lone one.
The Bucs recently tweaked veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s one-year deal that will allow him to earn an extra $1 million with another Super Bowl title.
ESPN first reported the restructured deal Wednesday morning.
To be eligible for those extra earnings, Suh first had to meet several regular-season conditions. If he played at least 65% of the Bucs’ defensive snaps and Tampa Bay improved on its 2020 NFL ranking (tied for 20th) in touchdowns on returns and recoveries, Suh would make an extra $200,000 and become eligible for the postseason bonanza.
The Bucs have two touchdowns on returns and recoveries, tying for 11th in the league, but Suh played only 64.18% of the team’s defensive snaps. Because he was so close, the team reworked the contract to allow him to be eligible for the postseason incentives.
Suh, who turned 35 last Thursday, signed a one-year deal guaranteed at $9 million last March. His late-career resurgence has continued this season with six sacks, 27 tackles and 13 quarterback hits. His 12 sacks over the last two years are more than he totaled (11.5) from 2017-19.
