Patriots
Sixty Million Dollar Man
Reports surface that team has signed star QB to
long term deal
The New England Patriots have come to terms with their
starting quarterback, Tom Brady, on a new contract. According to reports, both
sides reached an agreement earlier in the week on a deal worth $60 million over
6 years.
Brady, who recently told the media he wasn't worried about the
extension, has been low key about the entire process. When the team wanted to
shift a larger percentage of the contract into non-guaranteed money, Brady's agent
took issue with that tactic, talks to bog down. Since that time, Brady and his
agent have been quietly working with the team to come to an agreement on a new
extension which would pay the league's most successful quarterback something close
to the top compensation earned by other superstars such as Peyton Manning and
Michael Vick.
Although he's been low-key about the process, Brady admitted
to reporters that he was concerned about the pace of progress in negotiations
during a recent visit to the White House. "I'd love to be here for the rest
of my career, but it's not entirely my decision," he said.
According
to ESPN's report, Brady's contract will include a $14.5 million signing bonus
and a $12 million option bonus due in the spring of 2006. In addition, the base
salaries in the contract are: $1 million in 2005, $4 million in 2006, $6 million
in 2007, $5 million in 2008, $2.3 million in 2009 and $3.5 million in 2010.
Brady's
teammates are glad for the star quarterback, commenting to the press at the Boston Celtics playoff game this weekend. "It's fantastic for the organization,
for the city and for the team," Doug Flutie, said. "I'd love to see
him play his entire career here."
Flutie, a former Boston College standout,
joined the team recently and has been a stalwart supporter of the local teams
over the years.
In accordance with their media policy, a team spokesman
declined comment on the restructuring of Brady's contract.
Brady was a
sixth-round draft choice out of Michigan, and became the starting quarterback
for the Patriots when former starter Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury after
a vicious sideline hit by Mo Lewis. Bledsoe suffered from internal bleeding and
a collapsed lung. By the time he was able to return, Brady had laid claim to the
job, and Belichick decided to keep the Michigan quarterback as his future starter.
Brady
has a 9-0 record in the playoffs, and a 48-14 record as a starter during the regular
season. He's led his team to victory in three of the last four Super Bowls, and
is in now mentioned the same light as former NFL greats Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw,
and Troy Aikman. With the win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX,
Brady joins that esteemed group as only the forth quarterback in the NFL history
to have won at least three Super Bowls.
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