While several quarterbacks signed mega-deals in the past weeks, New England Patriots' veteran signal-caller Tom Brady is not worried about his contract status with the team. Brady is playing the last year of the two-year, $30 million deal and if the Patriots fail to sign him to a contract extension at the start of the regular season, it would mark the first time that the 41-year-old signal-caller will play in a “contract year.” When asked after Thursday’s minicamp about his contract, which is set to expire after this season, Brady said he doesn’t think about it too much, believing that “those things work themselves out.”
Brady also refused to say if there is an ongoing negotiation between his camp and the Patriots, jokingly telling the reporter who asked the question that “it’s none of your business.” On a serious note, Brady said he has never talked about his contract so he will not discuss it with the media.
Earlier, Brady told a television interview that he can afford to give the Patriots a hometown discount because his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, earns more money than him. Brady also said that he accepts a lesser deal to enable the Patriots to get talented players who can help him win. Despite his status as a six-time Super Bowl champion, Brady is just 19th in terms of annual average value with an earning of $15 million per year, according to Spotrac.
Brady’s salary pales in comparison with Wilson, Wentz
Brady’s salary pales in comparison with the $35 annual salary of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who recently signed a four-year deal worth $140 million. Recently, the Philadelphia Eagles announced that they signed starting quarterback Carson Wentz to a four-year contract extension $128 million that will give him an annual salary of $32 million.
Also expected to receive huge contract extension are Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys.
Brady hopes to play until he’s 45
When asked about his plan to play until he’s 45, Brady said he’s hoping he could play that long, but he’s also aware that football is a contact sport and anything can happen on the field.
“I think you set goals for yourself and you have to have short-term and long-term and the reality is, this year is the most important one and that’s the one that I’m focused on,” said Brady. The veteran quarterback said he’s working on his body to withstand the hits that may come his way. Brady also denied that his recent tweet about “treating your first like your last and your last like your first” was referring to his retirement after this season. “I think it’s a general appreciation for every year, you’ve got to come out and you’ve got to earn it,” said Brady, whose tweet created panic among Patriots fans.
