Tom Brady’s Contract with the Patriots
When you think of the New England Patriots, one name that immediately comes to mind is Tom Brady. Brady spent an incredible 20 years as the quarterback for the Patriots, leading them to nine Super Bowls and six championships. But in 2020, things changed for Brady and the Patriots. After months of negotiations, Brady became a free agent for the first time in his career, and it was unclear if he would return to the team or sign with another one. Ultimately, he signed a two-year, $50 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While it may seem like $50 million is a lot of money – and it is – it’s important to understand how much Brady gave up by leaving the Patriots. In the final years of his time with the team, Brady’s contract was relatively modest compared to other superstar quarterbacks in the league. In 2019, his last season with the Patriots, he had a base salary of just $2 million, with another $2 million in potential bonuses. This was a far cry from the $35 million annual salaries earned by quarterbacks like Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger, and Aaron Rodgers.
But that low salary was intentional on Brady’s part. Throughout his career, he has often taken less money in order to help the team build a stronger roster. By allowing the Patriots to pay him less, they were able to use that money to sign other key players and improve the team overall. And it worked – during Brady’s tenure with the team, the Patriots won six championships and were consistently one of the best teams in the league.
However, in the years leading up to 2020, it became clear that Brady was growing frustrated with the Patriots’ reluctance to invest more in the team around him. As a result, negotiations for a new contract became more contentious, with reports indicating that Brady was seeking a higher salary and more control over the team. When the two sides were unable to come to an agreement, Brady chose to leave.
So while $50 million may seem like a lot of money, it’s important to remember that Brady gave up a significant amount of potential earnings in order to help the Patriots. Over the course of his career, he has earned more than $235 million on the field alone, but other quarterbacks who started around the same time as Brady – like Eli Manning and Philip Rivers – have earned upwards of $250 million. And of course, there are other quarterbacks who have earned even more, like Peyton Manning ($249 million) and Drew Brees ($269 million).
Despite leaving the Patriots, it’s clear that Brady will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks – if not the greatest quarterback – in NFL history. And with his new contract with the Buccaneers, he still has the opportunity to add to his incredible legacy.
The Beginning of Contract Negotiations
Tom Brady, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, has taken a major pay cut in his contract negotiations with the New England Patriots. In March 2016, Tom signed a two-year contract extension with the Patriots, which included a $28 million signing bonus. The deal lowered his cap number for the 2016 season from $15 million to $1 million, saving the team $13 million in salary cap space. However, the two-year extension that Brady signed back in 2016 could be considered as one of the worst deals among NFL players.
As the 2017 season approached, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots came to the negotiating table once again. Brady’s value was higher than ever, thanks to his impressive performance in the 2017 season, leading the team to another Super Bowl appearance at the age of 40. The Patriots knew they needed to offer the star quarterback a new contract to keep him happy, but things didn’t go as planned during the negotiations.
The team offered Brady a contract that would have made him the highest-paid quarterback in the league, but the offer was declined. According to reports, Brady believed he deserved more than what was offered. The two parties couldn’t come to an agreement, leading to a breakdown in negotiations. This resulted in Brady playing out the final year of his contract, which included a salary of just $1 million for the 2018 season.
As a result, in August 2019, Brady signed yet another two-year contract extension with the Patriots. This time around, the deal was worth a total of $70 million, with $50 million in guaranteed money. The new contract included a $20.25 million cap hit for 2020, which is lower than what other quarterbacks are earning in the league. However, critics argue that Tom Brady could’ve made much more if he had pushed harder during the negotiations.
In conclusion, Tom Brady has taken a significant pay cut in his contract negotiations with the New England Patriots. While he has won six Super Bowls, four Super Bowl MVP awards, and set numerous NFL records, his earnings don’t quite match his accomplishments. Brady’s decision to accept the team-friendly deal has allowed the Patriots to build a strong roster around him, but it has also left him underpaid compared to other star quarterbacks in the league.
The Final Deal Offered by the Patriots
After 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, Tom Brady became a free agent in March 2020. The Patriots offered him a final deal worth $60 million over two years, which included $30 million per year in salary.
However, Brady turned down the offer and chose to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he reportedly received a $50 million deal over two years, with $25 million in salary per year. This means that Brady left $10 million on the table by choosing to leave the Patriots.
The Impact of the Decision
While $10 million may seem like a significant amount of money to most people, it is relatively insignificant for someone like Tom Brady, who has an estimated net worth of over $200 million. Therefore, it is unlikely that money was the sole factor in Brady’s decision to leave the Patriots.
Instead, there were many factors at play, including his desire for a new challenge, a change of scenery, and the opportunity to work with a new coach and team. Additionally, reports have suggested that Brady did not feel appreciated or respected by the Patriots and their management, which may have influenced his decision to leave.
Despite the financial loss, Brady’s decision to leave the Patriots has had a significant impact on the NFL and the sports world as a whole. His move to the Buccaneers has created a new level of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming football season, with fans eager to see how he will perform in a new environment.
The Future for Brady
At the age of 43, many people are wondering how much longer Tom Brady will continue to play football. However, based on his performance last season and his dedication to his physical fitness and health, it is clear that he still has a few good years left in him.
In fact, Brady has said that he wants to play until he is 45 years old, which would give him another two years to achieve his goals on the football field. Whether he will stay with the Buccaneers after his current contract expires remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Tom Brady will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
