Lol as much scrutiny as they are under I would think if anything nefarious was going on somebody with more knowledge of the cap would have investigated this already. I think he just bet on himself being on the roster and getting that 24 million
The latest "restructuring" actually pushed his salary up. What the move did was change the basis of guaranteed money (roster based vs. skill based), which allows the Pats to cut him without any further cap hit, which in turn would allow him to become an UFA as opposed to being traded somewhere he doesn't want to go. Definitely a more team friendly deal from the perspective of a post-Brady team, but did nothing to existing cap space.
It's confusing because of all the changes and that includes bonuses. I could be wrong but they might have after 2013 started and then stopped and were changed. So I don't think just adding totals based on the Sportac numbers is accurate. Again what I read was the numbers are way under what other elite Qbs are making. He's rich but he should be getting paid market value.
He's getting an extra 1 mil per season (for 3 years or 3 million) to drop his performance guarantees. And that frees up 24 that the Patriots can spend. Again that's why players hate to be franchised. They want the guarantees over the extra money and 3 mil isn't that much. The plus part of this deal when he signed it was that it was all guaranteed. Then he all of a sudden recently gives that back.
They can now cut him with no cap hit if he's healthy. The only hit they'd take for cutting him is if he's injured. Being on the roster increases the cap hit by $1 million more than before, but does not reduce it to allow to sign other players. The only way they gain cap space is if they cut a healthy Brady, which would make him an UFA allowing him to go wherever he pleases.
Yes, it freed up $24 million in escrow that was pegged to his guaranteed money. Yes, they have now $24 million to spend now, but not on players. Seat upgrades, stadium improvements, paving the parking lot etc. yet, but not on players. Players are all that matters, not that they have additional money to spend on chowder pots.
Here again is the ESPN article http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story...ive-new-england-patriots-24-million-more-cash which says that NEP can spend the 24 mil on players. Again to me it looks like financial shenanigans that either stretches or breaks the rules. The indicator is that he's getting a below market salary. Plus he just gave up his guarantees for not that much. IMO he got an informal assurances from Kraft that he will never get cut for performance or if he is they'll find a way to pay him off. No proof but denials (ie. lies) and shenanigans on and off the field is the true Patriot way.
There's ESPN, and there is reality. His cap hit went up. His guarantee is now only if he is injured. No cap space will be freed up unless they cut a HEALTHY Brady. The money held in escrow against his original guarantees is now available for the team to buy push pops and Tommy Boy bobbleheads. Does not help their cap space.
Although Brady hates the Jets guts and visa versa and like Kraft is sanctimonious and boring he's a better human being and quarterback than Rapelisberger. No argument there. But even if his average annual salary plus bonuses is as Sportstac says around 14 it's not a competitive salary for a franchise QB with four rings. Ok so a fully guaranteed contract is worth more than a partially guaranteed deal. So then why give up your guarantee for chump change. You can't start giving your team sweetheart deals without suspicion. Esp an organization like that!
I thought the consensus on Brady was that he was over-rated/wimpy/gay/Trent Dilfer with hair plugs/lucky/the beneficiary of massive, cabalistic cheating. Underpaid? I've never heard him accused of that...
It doesn't really matter if Brady wants the money or not. And he does because who doesn't. Why should he sign for 5 or 6 mil below his market value. But if there's a rule that's been agreed on by the players and the owners including Kraft. And you make a secret agreement with a player to get around the rule and get an unfair advantage than you're a cheater. Of course they're used to getting their way. And if they don't get their way they're blowharts and bad sports. Like yesterday at the owners meeting when they voted down a rule change Belichick wanted them to adopt. Belichick reportedly went into an expletive filled rant that people present called unbelievable. He should have been thrown out.
It was later reported that he maybe swore one time... http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/25/sources-there-was-no-profane-tirade-from-belichick/ Three different sources who were in the room at the time say Belichick did not engage in a profane tirade. One source said there may have been a single F-bomb uttered by Belichick while sharing his views on the league’s reluctance to invest the money necessary to install fixed cameras along the sidelines and goal lines, but the source added, “I’ve heard much worse in that room during discussions.” “The quote was something like, ‘Let me get this straight, we can bring this game to Brazil and effing China but we can’t afford to put a camera in a pylon?'” one of the sources said. Another source said he heard no profane language at all, which suggests that any profanity was uttered with a classic Belichick mutter, not as rant. Belichick’s point was that the notion that cost prevents the use of additional cameras seems to be a pretext for the real reason, and that the folks resisting the increased use of cameras should just provide the real reason. ..and I agree with him.
Belichick is right in that instance. It is a fucking joke the NFL makes so much money and spends so much money on the stupidest shit.. theres no reason they shouldn't have proper camera angles in the end zone, especially if they are going to waste their time with instant replay. The real reason is either A) it'll further show how shitty of a job the referees are doing or B) The NFL likes controversial plays in the end zone as it has people talking. either way its fucking stupid. If you are going to have replay challenges and a rulebook longer than the magna carta.. at least don't do it half assed and give them the proper camera angles
Schefter said one thing and PFT another. There's ways of talking to people: respectfully or disrespectfully. I guess he thinks after 4 rings he can do and say whatever he wants.
If you want positive feel good stories about Kraft, Belichick, Brady and the Patriot Way I suggest you go back to your home board where you can read about the wonderful things they do for the world (for example: Aaron Hernandez). To Kraft everything (is) about himself (and) all is peaches and cream. But on the Jets board if there are two stories about Belichick and one says he's a skunk that's the one I'm going to believe.
