Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has agreed to a three-year $27 million extension with New England, according to SI.com. The reason for this extension is to give the Patriot's much-needed salary cap relief to potentially re-sign slot receiver Wes Welker and chase defensive free agents.
The $9 million per year Brady will be making with the Patriots is a surprisingly low total for a player of his stature and caliber. Brady's chief rival throughout his career, Peyton Manning, will make $20 million in 2013, and that is two years removed from missing an entire season and having multiple neck surgeries. Brady would be outside the top ten in base salary in 2013, behind lesser lights such as Carson Palmer ($13 million), Matthew Stafford ($12.5 million) and Philip Rivers ($12 million). The reigning Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco is expected to command a six or seven year deal worth $20 million a season.
According to Yahoo!, the NFL free agent market and overall landscape will soon be changing as television networks have nearly maxed out the available money they can spend on the NFL. This year's salary cap is expected to be $120 million and is not expected to move much, so Brady's sacrifice will give his team the ability to improve the team around him. This is likely good news for Welker, whose relationship at times last year seemed contentious due to the fact that he was sure to demand a nice payday and the front office appeared loath to hand it out. Now, with Brady having taken less for the good of the team he likely will expect the team to take care of his favorite target.
Brady is 17-7 in his playoff career, has won three Super Bowls and aside from John Elway is the only quarterback in NFL history to bring his team to five Super Bowls. Brady, who is 35, threw 34 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, putting himself in the discussion for his third MVP award.
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