A potentially important situation that has been flying a bit under the radar is Tom Brady‘s contract. The Patriots quarterback is quietly entering the final season of his deal, and there hasn’t been any word on if there’s even been any extension talks. Right now both sides appear set to let things play out, which is interesting to say the least. If they don’t get something done then, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com points out, New England “will have a big decision to make in early 2020.” Florio writes that the Pats will have four options, “to re-sign Brady before he becomes a free agent, whether to let him become a free agent and then try to re-sign him, whether to not even try to re-sign him at all, or whether to apply the franchise tag.”
Florio writes that in the franchise tag scenario, Brady would have “a ton of leverage,” since the tag would pay him $32.4MM, the most ever on a tag. Florio speculates that the Patriots could be hesitant to pay him that much, and he wonders whether Brady will be willing to again take a discount like he has in the past. He writes that “other teams may start poking around agent Don Yee to see if Brady wants to make a late-career change of venue, and they may start throwing around numbers that Brady would not be able to refuse.” It’s all speculative at this point, but it’s fascinating to think about. Bill Belichick can be stubborn, but the thought of him letting Brady walk is still pretty hard to believe.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Speaking of Belichick and Brady’s contract, signing Brady to a new deal “that will pay him upwards of $30M for his 43- and 44-year-old seasons gives Bill Belichick the vapors,” writes Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston. Curran writes that Brady wants an extension that ensures he retires with the Patriots but that “he’s been put off, mildly placated or — in the case of last year — downright disrespected with incentive-laden ‘sing for your supper’ incentive bonuses.” Curran seems to think that there’s real tension between the two sides, that Belichick isn’t too eager to commit anything major, and that Robert Kraft ultimately might end up intervening. Curran writes that his “feeling is that he’s going to let Kraft do this deal so that Belichick has plausible deniability in case Brady faceplants.” This will be an important situation to monitor moving forward.
- The Dolphins fired offensive line coach Pat Flaherty earlier this week and replaced him with Dave DeGuglielmo, and DeGuglielmo has wasted no time retooling the unit. The “Dolphins made wholesale lineup changes in practice Tuesday,” to their offensive line, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. In DeGuglielmo’s first day as the offensive line coach, “rookie Michael Deiter and Will Holden took over the first team left and right guard spots, replacing Chris Reed and Jesse Davis,” Jackson writes. Davis kicked over to right tackle, sending Jordan Mills to the second team. DeGuglielmo received a lot of praise for his work as the Colts’ offensive line coach last year, and it was a surprise when he was ousted in January. He’s clearly taking charge in Miami, and it sounds like the only two locked in players on the Dolphins’ line are Laremy Tunsil at left tackle and Daniel Kilgore at center.
- Potentially troubling news for the Bills, as center Mitch Morse is still in the concussion protocol, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic (Twitter link). Morse is one of the league’s best centers when healthy, but he’s dealt with concussion issues and other injuries in his last two seasons with the Chiefs. In 2018 he played in only 11 games, and in 2017 only seven. Buscaglia notes that Bills coach Sean McDermott wouldn’t comment “about the amount of concern they might have with Morse suffering a fourth documented concussion,” since the protocol won’t allow him to. The Bills had one of the worst offensive lines in football last year, and signing Morse to his huge four-year deal was supposed to help revamp the unit. Normally a concussion this time of year wouldn’t be big news, but given Morse’s lengthy history of concussion issues this could be something that lingers. It’ll be important to monitor how he progresses.
the end of the pats is actually maybe true
although whenever we say this they go to the superbowl
Lol. Very true. The more garbage people write about the Patriots, another tile in title town. Brady is going to retire in a few years & he will be the highest paid QB in history, even at his age
who cares…again, he’s staying in New England or retiring. doesnt matter if he gets to free agency.
If they dont want to pay Brady 30 million a year someone else 100 percent will and he will definitely take it.
Brady isn’t going anywhere. Even if he doesn’t get offered 30 million a year, he is staying. He doesn’t want to tarnish his reputation as the best ever by going somewhere else and failing.
It depends on how much of a difference the offer is. Knowing how Bill has 0 emotion when it comes to these things you never know. Bradys reputation is untouchable no matter what he does
She will not go anywhere else!
You mean “she” with 6 rings?
Umm, yeah. He’s not leaving (obviously) and took less than $30m
I actually think Brady will play for another team for a year or two before he retires. I know it’s Brady and joe much he’s meant to that team but I really think it’ll happen. Pats are smart, wouldn’t be surprised if they trade their way into the mix for a too qb in the draft this next off season even if they do kick up Brady for another year or two though.
Can’t see Brady going to another team. I mean, I can see Brady having success on another team but the way his life is structured, he is too invested in Boston. That’s where his wife, kids, trainers, TB12, and more is located.
Why go to another team for a couple years, a team you don’t even know – where every player and personnel is new, and upset your home life and work life?
Also, why would Bill Belichick want to deal with a new QB in Belichick’s final years? They also don’t have a QB that’s ready unless they really think Jarrett Stidham will be ready by next year. (I think he needs 2-3 years)
That’s why I say Brady will retire playing with the Patriots.
I think it’s hilarious people actually think Brady will leave the Patriots. He’s not going anywhere. Kraft won’t let him go anywhere. BB doesn’t want him to go anywhere.
Wow, great reporting by that tool Florio yet again. Take every side of something to be able to say I was right again.
The last bullet item makes no sense to me. How can there be a protocol that prevents players or coaches from expressing their concerns about concussions? The Steeler’s staff and Big Ben have frequently broached the subject of his concussions in the past…why is the situation in Buffalo different?