There has been a lot of talk about Tom Brady potentially leaving the New England Patriots this offseason, but it does not sound like the team is planning to insult its franchise quarterback with a low contract offer.
Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network Sunday morning that the Patriots are willing to give Brady $30 million or more to return in 2020.
The Super Bowl LIV @NFLGameDay Notebook with @MikeGarafolo:
— The #Patriots are willing to pay Tom Brady in excess of $30M if that's what's required to keep him.
— The #Chargers among teams expected to make a push.
— New England's fall back options include trading for a QB. pic.twitter.com/G4dxkUQmTh— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 2, 2020
Rapoport added that Brady wants the Patriots to spend to bring in more weapons on offense, so he may not even want to be paid like an elite quarterback.
Brady may also care more about long-term commitment than the dollar amount for 2020. The 42-year-old has maintained that he wants to play until he is 45, which would be another two or three seasons. He will turn 43 before the start of next season and would be 45 at the start of 2022, so it’s unclear if he plans to play the 2022 season or retire after the next two.
Brady might want the Patriots to commit to him with a two- or three-year deal, while Bill Belichick may prefer to keep taking things year by year. It’s also possible that New England plans to offer Brady a contract that is loaded with incentives, which would mean they are “willing” to pay him $30 million or more only if he plays at an elite level.
We’ve said all along that it makes no sense for Brady to suddenly care about earning top dollar when he has taken below-market deals his entire career. He simply wants the Patriots to spend the money they save at quarterback on legitimate offensive weapons, which they lacked this season. A two-year, team friendly deal would probably be best for all parties if the Patriots made a legitimate effort to improve the offensive line and get Brady some pass-catchers.
One thing that will make Patriots fans feel better is they apparently don’t have to worry about that panic-inducing photo Brady shared on social media this week.
