FOXBOROUGH -- He can’t help but notice.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has seen the deals signed by the Quarterback Class of 2004 -- six years and $93 million for Philip Rivers, six years and $97 million for Eli Manning and eight years and $102 million for Ben Roethlisberger. Almost $300 million in money to three young quarterbacks who have as many Super Bowl rings as Brady does combined.
With his contract set to come to an end after next season and Brady at the stage of his career where the 32-year-old likely ready to cash in on one last time before retirement, has he allowed himself to think about the implications those deals could have on his next big -- and perhaps, final -- payday?
“I mean, I think we’re all probably underpaid, don’t you think?” he said with a smile when asked Tuesday morning. “I mean, we all wish we were paid more, but that’s not the reality. We’re focused on this. I’m focused on this year. I’ve thought about it and I just want to go out and have a great year.
“Believe me, nothing is guaranteed; that’s what I learned last year.”
Historically, Brady has always been fair with the Patriots. While he and agent Don Yee haven’t exactly operated with a hometown discount in mind, the quarterback has always managed to negotiate in his own best interests while keeping the bigger picture in focus. In 2005, he signed a six-year contract worth roughly $60 million that made him one of the highest paid players in the game. A great contract at the time for both the team and the player, he was also able to leave some money on the table in hopes the Patriots would try and keep their well-established salary structure in place.
“To be the highest-paid, or anything like that, is not going to make me feel any better,” he told Sports Illustrated in 2005. “That’s not what makes me happy. In this game, the more one player gets, the more he takes away from what others can get. Is it going to make me feel any better to make an extra million, which, after taxes, is about $500,000? That million might be more important to the team.”
Even after signing that deal, he’s shown a willingness to be flexible -- he restructured the deal in the spring of 2007 so New England could absorb the initial $9.75 million charge for wide receiver Randy Moss.
But right now, it is a very good time to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. The first-round quarterbacks always get the big deals, and this year is no different: First overall pick Matthew Stafford -- who has yet to take a snap in a regular-season game -- got a six-year, $72 million deal with Detroit, $41.7 million of which was guaranteed. Another first-rounder, Mark Sanchez, got a five-year contract that could be worth as much as $60 million, with $28 million guaranteed.
And over the last 12 months, many established quarterbacks are also flashing new gaudy new contracts. Rivers and the Chargers announced their deal this week, a contract that will take the San Diego quarterback through 2015, with $38 million guaranteed. Manning and the Giants agreed to the contract earlier this summer, a deal that included $35 million in guaranteed money. And Roethlisberger -- who will make $36 million in guaranteed money over the course of his contract-- agreed to his deal last year.
“I think it’s great -- it’s great for those players,” Brady said. “They’ve worked hard to deserve those. Any time a guy gets a contract, it’s a pretty cool thing. I’ve had that experience a couple times.”
Despite the talk of looming labor uncertainty, the dollars will continue to flow for the big name QBs: Brady and Peyton Manning are both up after the end of the 2010 season, and both will likely continue to raise the bar. And there’s already talk that new Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler -- whose deal still has three years remaining -- could take things to a new level when he sits down at the negotiating table with the Bears.
For the moment, Brady certainly doesn’t sound like he’s worried about the situation.
“Those contract things always work themselves out one way or another,” he said. “I think the important part this time of year is to focus on the most important priority, which is having a great season. I’m committed to that and I know my teammates are committed to that. Hopefully, if we all go out and play well, we’ll all be playing for a long time.”
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