Updated: May 7, 4:30 PM ET Brady now among the NFL's highest-paid players By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady already has established himself as one of the NFL's brightest stars by virtue of three Super Bowl victories. This validation went to a higher level Saturday.
Brady signed a new six-year contract, worth nearly $60 million, through the 2010 season, sources say.
The contract replaces the two years that Brady had remaining on his previous deal. Under that contract, Brady was scheduled to earn base salaries of $5.5 million in 2005 and $6 million for 2006.
According to documents obtained by ESPN.com, the contract includes a $14.5 million signing bonus and a $12 million option bonus that is due next spring. The base salaries are $1 million (for 2005), $4 million ('06), $6 million ('07), $5 million ('08), $2.3 million ('09) and $3.5 million ('10). There are roster bonuses of $3 million each in the final three years of the contract.
Brady will have a salary cap charge of $8.429 million for 2005, which is between $1.5 million and $2 million less than under his old contract. But his cap number for 2006 jumps to a prohibitive $14.423 million, meaning the contract will have to be revisited probably by converting the option bonus into a signing bonus, which can then be prorated.
There are also guarantees, such as injury guarantees in the 2007 and '08 seasons, in the deal. Over the first three years of the contract, a measuring stick that is often used now by many agents and teams to gauge comparative value, the deal averages $13.111 million.
Patriots officials and agent Don Yee worked several months on the contract. It was reported two months ago that a deal was imminent, but that contract was not completed at the time because of issues over structure, distribution and guarantee of bonuses.
At the Super Bowl three months ago, Patriots owner Bob Kraft acknowledged the team was seeking to complete an extension with Brady, but also suggested that New England was not likely to pay bonus money commensurate to that received by Peyton Manning of Indianapolis and Atlanta's Michael Vick in their recent extensions. Last month, when the Patriots visited the White House, Brady allowed that he was concerned about the pace of the negotiations and conceded he was unsure when a deal might be struck.
By nearly every method of calculation employed in NFL circles, though, the deal still makes Brady one of the highest paid players in the league.
And, given his sterling resume, deservedly so.
The five-year veteran, selected in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, has led the Patriots to victories in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX. His record as a starter, a role that he assumed two games into the 2001 season when Drew Bledsoe was sidelined by a severe chest injury, is 48-14 and he is a perfect 9-0 in postseason play.
Brady was named the most valuable player in each of New England's first two Super Bowl wins.
The former University of Michigan star has completed 1,243 of 2,018 passes for 13,925 yards, with 97 touchdown passes and 52 interceptions.
So much for the "Brady takes less to play for Patriots" talk. . .
Amazing that he was selected in the 2000 draft and already has 3 Super Bowls victories under his belt. I don't particularly like him all that much (probably because of his success), but I have to admit that the guy is a stud.
Personally, I think he's worth more. I mean, he was a sixth round pick and he's taken them to TWO superbowl wins. That's pretty impressive.
"I was on the sideline and guys were talking about the score, and then it hit me -- we won by 21. I came in the locker room and I yelled it out, and immediately I just kind of broke down in tears. Because I miss Sean, you know."
hatsOFF2gibbs wrote:Personally, I think he's worth more. I mean, he was a sixth round pick and he's taken them to TWO superbowl wins. That's pretty impressive.
Actually, he's lead them to 3. The guys a stud, even though I can't stand how some analyst make him out to be joe montana.
Definitely an awesome avatar, just noticed that. Back to the topic, I think that $60 mil over 6 years is fairly reasonable, given that the contract will be restructured/extended before the 6th year is up.
vtfootball07 wrote:Definitely an awesome avatar, just noticed that. Back to the topic, I think that $60 mil over 6 years is fairly reasonable, given that the contract will be restructured/extended before the 6th year is up.
JPFair wrote:I'll keep it on topic by saying that Brady deserves the contract he got.
I'm gonna go off topic for a minute and compliment hatsoff on the avatar. That's AWESOME!!
Don't give me compliments guys, NCHog and Boss deserve it! They did a great job!
"I was on the sideline and guys were talking about the score, and then it hit me -- we won by 21. I came in the locker room and I yelled it out, and immediately I just kind of broke down in tears. Because I miss Sean, you know."
FanfromAnnapolis wrote:So much for the "Brady takes less to play for Patriots" talk. . .
I disagree. He is worth A LOT more than that! 3 SBs, no interceptions in any Super Bowl, two MVPs (I believe)!
IMO, after this year's victory he is DEFINATELY in the Montana league. It sounds funny saying this but I think he's one of the most UNDERRATED players in the NFL. He IS the best QB in the league! He will not put up the numbers that Manning does or make the exciting plays like McNabb and Vick but at the same time he doesn't perennially choke like those guys do. He has never lost a playoff game! He's 57-14 (.803 ) if you include postseason play. IMO, he is the best player in the league by a fair margin. He may not be the flashiest but he is the most consistent and obviously a winner.
This is why you want good character guys on your team, they put their own interests second to those of the team. It is a bit perverse to say that because the contract is still huge by our standards as fans but he is being paid well below market value.
He deserves every penny and more. Good move by the Pats and well earned by Brady.
His contract extension should keep the Pats competitive for many years to come, despite their losing key components of their coaching staff. Congrats to Brady; he got a well-deserved raise!!
) if you include postseason play. IMO, he is the best player in the league by a fair margin. He may not be the flashiest but he is the most consistent and obviously a winner.
