If the unthinkable happens and the Patriots are unable to retain Tom Brady beyond the 2010 season, the team’s owner, Robert Kraft, has set himself up to look pretty bad. We all know I think Brady’s staying right where he is, as I pointed out when dicussing how the media is blowing NFL quarterback contract situations out of proportion. It would appear that Kraft couldn’t agree more and if you put any stock into the guarantees of a team owner, you should have no doubts that Brady and the Patriots will reach a long-term deal.
Kraft recently gushed about his franchise quarterback to the New York Times in a way that we’re almost not accustomed to hearing from an owner. Here’s what he had to say about Tom Brady’s contract situation, courtesy of Pro Football Talk:
He’s going to be here,” Kraft told Judy Battista of the New York Times. “I love the guy. We’re so lucky to have him. I have an emotional attachment because I remember him coming in as the fourth quarterback, being a skinny beanpole of a kid.”
In my mind, he will be [here],” Kraft said. “One way or another. I believe he wants to be here. We want him here. We have a complicated situation we’re dealing with. There are a lot of forces at work. One way or another it will work out.”
I can’t imagine Bill Belichick wants to see Brady leave, as he’s still one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL and Belichick probably shares some of the same emotional attachment to No. 12 that Kraft has expressed. When the man who’s cutting the checks talks about a specific player the way Kraft is talking about Brady, I think it’s safe to assume something will be worked out.
Sources:
Revamped Patriots Want Brady to Remain [New York Times]
