When quarterback Tom Brady signed a revised contract with the New England Patriots, the veteran signal-caller hoped that he would earn more from incentives, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
According to the two-year, $30 million deal that he signed with the Patriots before the start of this season, Brady will earn an additional $1 million each if he finishes in the top five in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer rating, completion percentage and yards per attempt. Last season, Brady made it to the top five of the aforementioned categories after he finished with 4,577 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 66.3 percent completion percentage, 102.8 percent passer rating and 7.9 yards per attempt in 16 games.
However, Smith said that it looks like Brady won’t hit any of those marks with one game left in the regular season. Meaning, Brady would go home empty-handed in terms of incentives from his contract.
The closest that Brady could reach is the passing yards category, but it will be a long shot as he is 311 yards out of the top five. However, even if Brady throws for 311 yards, he cannot surpass the top five occupants in that category as Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers), Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons), Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams) and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers as they are all expected to play in Week 17.
Brady 12th in passing touchdowns
If he wants to barge into the top five of the passing touchdown category, Brady has to throw eight more touchdown passes than Ryan and Roethlisberger when the Patriots face the Jets.
The task is daunting as the passing touchdown record in an NFL game is seven.
In terms of passer rating, Brady is No. 17 so there’s no hope that he will get into the top five of the category that is currently dominated by Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers, who has a passer rating of 107.7. When it comes to completion percentage, Brady is currently 19th in the NFL at 65.4 percent and 14th in yards per attempt with 7.6 yards per throw.
Brady to play in 2019 and beyond
Despite a down season, Brady insisted that he plans to play in the 2019 season and beyond. In an interview with Jim Gray of Westwood One radio, Brady said he absolutely believes that he will play in 2019. “I have goals to play not only next year, but beyond that, and I’m going to try to do it as best I possibly can.
I’m going to give it my all like I always have,” said Brady, who turned 42 this year. Earlier, Brady's wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen said she will not interfere in her husband's decision to retire.
