Getty Tom Brady's new team-friendly deal could help the Patriots capture another Lombardi Trophy.
Talk of a new contract for Tom Brady can finally be put to rest as the 42-year-old inked a two-year contract extension on Sunday with the New England Patriots, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Brady, who was originally slated to make only $15 million this year, will now make an additional $8 million as part of the terms of the deal, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. Brady is now the sixth-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
Patriots’ QB Tom Brady is signing a two-year extension that will pay him $23 million this year, per source. It makes him the 6th highest-paid QB in the league.
Brady’s new deal was forecasted after the quarterback opened up about his contract situation during a post-training camp press conference last week. The quarterback shouldered responsibility onto the front office, and the two parties were able to quickly work out a deal.
Follow the Heavy on Patriots Facebook page for the latest breaking news, rumors and content!
Despite his age, Brady remains in good physical condition and has put up similar numbers over the past eight seasons as he had between the ages of 24 and 33. He even clocked a faster 40-yard-dash time in the offseason than he did at his NFL combine 20 years ago.
The contract is set to expire just a few months shy of his 45th birthday.
Brady’s numbers took a bit of a dip last season, only throwing 29 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He also amassed 35 yards rushing to surpass 1,000 career yards on the ground.
His overall QBR also took a dip, falling to 68.8 and with 272 yards per game.
The deal will earn Brady $23 million this season, $30 million the next year, and $32 million in 2021, according to Ian Rapoport. Both sides also have the ability to adjust should the situation justify.
The #Patriots and QB Tom Brady are in agreement on a 2-year deal worth $70M, source said, thru 2021. He gets $23M this year, then $30M and $32M in the following years — though both sides are amenable to adjusting it if the situations warrants. It’s essentially year-to-year.
With the last two years of his contract adjustable, ESPN’s Field Yates suggests the deal is mainly designed to alleviate the cap burden for this season. Brady’s contract will likely be renegotiated in the offseason should Brady decide to continue playing past this season.
The deal is a team-friendly one as well, creating an additional $5.5 million in cap space for the Patriots. With New England engaging in trade talks, most recently for left tackle Trent Williams.
And here’s the kicker to Tom Brady’s two-year contract extension with New England: it creates an additional $5.5 million of cap space for the Patriots this year, per source. Both sides win.
Reports indicate the deal is set to help free up money for the Patriots to trade with Washington for Williams. It’s also enough to sign Rob Gronkowski should he come out of retirement, though the first option seems more likely and fills a need.
Tom Brady has talked about his team-friendly contracts in the past, doing so on Jimmy Kimmel Live back in the offseason. He quipped about how his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, does well for herself before. But he later answered the inquiry by talking about how he enjoys winning and to do so you need a team effort.
This mentality is another example of why Brady is among the best to ever play the game. His accomplishments speak for themselves. While he certainly deserves to be the highest-paid player in the league, he is willing to take a pay cut for the betterment of the team.
UPDATE (4 p.m. on 8/5): New reports emerged on Monday stating that Brady’s extension, which includes the two void years, will still make him a free agent after the 2019 season. According to Ian Rapoport, the deal includes a provision that does not allow the Patriots to apply a franchise or transition tag on Brady.
Sources: #Patriots QB Tom Brady’s new deal includes a provision that does not allow NE to franchise or transition tag him for the 2020 season. The final two years automatically void on the last day of the 2019 league year, but he cannot be tagged. Brady will be a free agent.
READ NEXT: Patriots’ Secondary Shines Through Up-and-Down Training Camp