Re: Another Brady Article
1.) Manning is perceived as having been better compensated in the recent past.
Although this is true, it doesn't really have anything to do with why Manning's contract situation is not getting nearly the amount of press that Brady's contract situation is, in spite of the fact that both parties have cited an uncertain situation with a new CBA as the reasons for why talks have slowed.
2.) Manning has already been informed, publicly, by his team's owner that he will become the highest paid QB in the NFL.
Also true, and this makes a little more sense than the first reason. I've said before and I'll say again that the Pats are their own worst enemy in this situation. Contract talks with any player in this organization are not going to become front page news because of the orgy of details coming from the ownership, coaching staff, or (in this case) the players. Because of that silence, the story has a propensity for inflating. With that said, though, for all we know, the Pats could be waiting on a contract offer from the Colts so they can set the market with Manning and offer Brady something a little better. It's highly doubtful. But with all the relative silence, it's certainly not out of the realm of possiblity.
3.) Manning's not an NFLPA rep seeing his contract used as an example of the 'goodness' of taking less money.
I don't think Brady will be taking less money this time around.
4.) Brady is more than a year younger than Manning, has won more SBs than Manning, and is a better QB than Manning, yet it's generally reported that he'll get a smaller contract than Manning, and nothing Kraft has stated has done anything to counter this assumption.
But Kraft DID state a willingness to get a contract done with Brady and all indications at this junction in the process point to Brady pulling in a large sum of cash (much larger than his last contract). Because Manning stands to make a little more than Brady again this time around speaks more for the general public and the NFL's (particularly the Colts) perception of Manning as a quarterback as opposed to Brady. It's incorrect, but it is what it is. It doesn't really answer my question of why Brady's situation is more reported than Manning's, in spite of the fact that talks from both sides have slowed down.
5.) Manning has not had an ACL injury and missed the better part of a full season as a result, although he's had other surgeries of a 'lesser' nature, including neck surgeries.
Also true, and is a pretty good reason (that I had not though of) for the press on the Brady contract.
6.) Brady has clearly pulled back from the team in the recent offseasons. You may, or may not, accept the stated reasons why, but the withdrawal itself is there for all to see.
Well, to be fair, after 2007 Belichick DID tell Brady himself to take a break from the game. On top of that, there are a lot of athletes who miss OTA's to spend time with their families in other states. Situations change. On top of that, the guy was at mini-camps. He's shown an interest for the team. It's just not the interest he had when he was a single guy. I know your stance on the matter, so I won't beat a dead horse that much. While we're on the subject about this, I'm unsure as to why there isn't as much press on these other athletes as there is for Brady.
In all, I'm buying numbers 2, 3, and 5 as reasons for the discrepency in reporting on the two issues. 1, 4, and 6... not so much.