The New England Patriots felt receiver Mack Hollins earned an incentive in his contract, even if he didn’t technically reach the number that triggered the bonus.
Hollins, 32, received a $400,000 bonus from the Patriots on Friday that would have come with him getting 50 catches this season, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He finished with 46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns, but missed the final two games of the regular season with a lacerated spleen.
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The eight-year veteran also missed New England’s wild-card and divisional playoff games, but returned for the AFC championship game and the Super Bowl. During the postseason, Hollins finished with eight catches for 129 yards and a TD. Against the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, he led the Patriots in receiving yards.
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In addition to his on-field performance, Hollins drew attention for his quirky behavior off the field. He arrived for Super Bowl 60 wearing a Hannibal Lecter-style mask on his face, along with handcuffs on his wrists and ankles.
Head coach Mike Vrabel appreciates what Hollins brings to the Patriots’ culture by being a great teammate.
“Mack brings a great spirit to work every day. He’s a great teammate,” Vrabel told Boston.com in December. “I actually showed a clip from the first game on a kickoff coverage, and Mack’s over there excited, not going in the game, but he’s into it.”
“Somebody made a tackle and Mack’s the first one cheering on the sidelines, and those are the little things that mean a lot, I think, to me,” he added. “So, again, we ask him to do a lot of different things, and again, I think just the spirit that he brings to work and the teammate that he is.”
Last season with the Buffalo Bills, Hollins would also arrive to Highmark Stadium barefoot and shirtless despite the area’s snow and frigid temperatures. Before the Super Bowl, he warmed up without shoes or a shirt despite 32-degree temperatures in Santa Clara, California.
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Hollins just finished the first year of the two-year, $8.4 million contract he signed with the Patriots. During his NFL career, he’s also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Bills. In his eight seasons, Hollins has compiled 208 receptions for 2,619 yards and 17 TDs.
