The new FX series American Sports Story depicts Aaron Hernandez's rise and fall as a superstar NFL tight end and convicted murderer. Josh Rivera leads the American Sports Story cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015.
Hernandez's rookie contract was valued based on his fourth-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. His teammate and fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was selected by the Patriots as the 42nd overall pick in the second round, received a more sizable rookie deal. Gronkowski signed a 4-year contract worth $4,440,000 which included a $1,760,000 signing bonus. $2,530,000 of the contract was guaranteed and Gronkowski would receive an average annual salary of $1,110,000 .
Hernandez's 5-year, $39.6 million extension would have kept him on the New England Patriots through the 2018-19 season and would have made him a three-time Super Bowl Champion. Gronkowski also received a similar 6-year, $54 million extension in 2012. Hernandez's deal would have issued him an annual salary of $5.65 million and a total signing bonus of $12.5 million. Hernandez was given a salary of $3.29 million for the 2012-13 season and received $9.25 million of the $12.
While there was some brief consideration of keeping Hernandez on the Patriots' active roster as his 2013 murder trial played out, the Patriots swiftly released him from the team just 90 minutes after his arrest."Hernandez was to receive $2.5 million in guaranteed base salaries over the next two seasons, and his contract does not have language to void that money if he fails to practice.