Brady on reportedly voidable new deal: 'It is what it is'
Tom Brady's immediate NFL future was cleared up by a reported two-year extension that will give the New England Patriots quarterback an $8-million raise for the upcoming season.
However, despite Brady's new $70-million deal running through 2021, the contract is apparently expected to be renegotiated every year he continues to play.
The final two years of the pact - which would pay him $30 million in 2020 and $32 million in 2021 - will become automatically void on the last day of the current league year, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That essentially leaves the star signal-caller playing year-to-year.
"I mean, it's really the reality for most guys in the NFL," Brady told reporters when asked about his contract Monday. "I don't want to think that I'm any different than everyone else. Football's a tough business. It's a production business, and I'm ready to go this year, and that's really what matters and that's where my focus is.
"It's a unique situation I'm in. I'm (in my) 20th year with the same team and I'll be 42 years old. So, (it's) pretty much uncharted territory I think for everybody, and I'm going to go out there and do the best I can this year and see what happens."
As part of the new agreement, the Patriots reportedly won't be allowed to use the franchise or transition tags to retain Brady in 2020.
That means Brady will officially become a free agent after this season, though if he opts to keep playing, he's all but certain to return to New England, according to Rapoport.
"Someone can call Tom Brady at 4:01 (p.m.) at the start of the league year in 2020 and try to sign Tom Brady," Rapoport said Monday on NFL Network. "All of this is factually correct. I would also add (that the) relationship between Brady and the Patriots is very good, I know the Patriots want to do everything they can to make sure that he plays for only them, so you have to think that they will figure this out.
"But still, Tom Brady will be, if for just one second, a free agent after this season."
Rapoport explained the deal is essentially a compromise between the two parties.
Brady gets a raise for 2019 and will be able to negotiate next year without the threat of a one-year tender, while the Patriots gain cap space and didn't hamstring themselves financially if the future Hall of Famer decides to retire after the upcoming campaign.
When asked if he's relieved to get his extension done, Brady said he'd come to terms with the reality of the situation.
"It is what it is. That's a good line," Brady said after a pause. "So whoever said it, it's very pertinent. Like I said, there's a lot of guys who have one year left on their contract(s), so the situation - I've got one year to go and we'll see what happens."
Brady will reportedly take home $23 million in 2019, tied for sixth among veteran quarterbacks, after leading New England to its sixth Super Bowl title.
But it appears that he and the Patriots will back at the negotiating table this time next year.