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New England had a pair of Pro Bowl tight ends last season, and they've now extended them both this offseason, as the Patriots have reportedly reached a long-term deal with Aaron Hernandez.
Hernandez, much like Rob Gronkowski, has been a perfect fit in the Patriots offense. The third-year man out of Florida was a fourth-rounder, but immediately proved his worth as a target for Tom Brady, nabbing six touchdowns in his rookie season. He tacked on seven more in his second year, finishing with 910 yards and also recording a score in the Patriots' Super Bowl appearance.
After making sure that Gronkowski would be around for a while by reaching a deal with him in June, the Pats needed to lock up the second star of their double tight end sets. It's not clear what the terms of the deal are, but its known to be long-term. Brady will have no shortage of targets with Hernandez, Gronkowski, and the Pats' usual bevy of wide receivers.
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