Kraft - Brady ultimatum?

Not sure if anyone else caught this. Brady clearly took below market value back in 2013 but a half price or else ultimatum for the GOAT QB? Luckily he accepted but what was the plan if he didn't? Brady hides many of the teams flaws and shortcomings. A lot of it is make due and hope Brady bails us out.

http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2015/05/tom_brady_new_england_patriots_7.html#incart_story_package

Kraft told Brady on a shared flight to California that if he wanted get paid what he's worth in a year or two, it probably wasn't going to be tenable for the team. The Patriots did not want to pay 18 percent of their cap to a quarterback (they were at the time), even one as great as Brady. Kraft told Brady that he was basically going to have to play at half price.


Not to mention the respect factor. Half price or else leaves seems like a slap in the face. Have they held up their end of the bargain? Forfeiting a 1st rounder without a fight. Now letting him twist in the wind. Wonder what he'd do if he had to do it all over again?

Going to be a tough sell to pull this off on anyone else now that Kraft has shown his true colors.

Money first, team second.

I don't think it was an ultimatum in the normal sense of the term; after all, it's not like the Pats held all the cards (remember, he still had two years on his deal at that point).

One of the things that bugs me with crediting any portion of Brady's reduced contract to that conversation is you have to assume Brady couldn't come to the conclusion that a lower cap hit on a QB=more money elsewhere on his own.

In his mind Kraft just projects his own stupidity on everyone else (see statement to fans) , and assumes he was the impetus behind this "revelation" in Brady's mind.

When is Brady's contract up? My guess is that, if they want to do another contract with him, they will use the age card and lowball him again. If they do that, he should tell BK to pound sand and run, not walk, into the Pats history book. Et, tu, BK?

He said that if he wanted to be paid what he is worth it was ot going to be tenable. I understand since Brady is worth 25+ Mi / year. This is the expect contract they will give to Luck, the QB who never won against Brady.

The Boston Patriot said:

When is Brady's contract up? My guess is that, if they want to do another contract with him, they will use the age card and lowball him again. If they do that, he should tell BK to pound sand and run, not walk, into the Pats history book. Et, tu, BK?

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He should take a below market deal with a stacked team if that happens and go try to win one more before he rides out into the sunset.

I don't understand what this thread is all about.

Brady signed his contract. His contract is fully guaranteed through the 2017 season.

No one is focusing on Brady's future for the 2018 season.

I suppose that Brady could be traded at some point, but that is not going to happen in the next year.

Eh, I take that with a mountain of salt. Bedard is pretty good about analyzing what happens on the field, but I don't trust him even a little re: off-field information. If this happened, I doubt he would have the scoop on it, and if he did he would have reported it before now.

My guess would be that some kind of conversation happened, but that it was far more of a mutual discussion than Bedard is indicating. I'm sure Brady knew the benefits of taking less money without Kraft having to ambush him during a coast-to-coast flight.

That said, if that ultimatum actually happened the way Bedard described, then yeah that's colossally dumb by the Pats and they're lucky Brady is the ultimate team player.

Brady holds all the cards. "Bob.....I'm done doing you favors......lets adjust my contract. You like home playoff games Bob?? Free money for you, your sons, your niece. Let me know when you get it done. Then I'll let you know what day I'll report. "

Armchair Quarterback said:

Not sure if anyone else caught this. Brady clearly took below market value back in 2013 but a half price or else ultimatum for the GOAT QB? Luckily he accepted but what was the plan if he didn't? Brady hides many of the teams flaws and shortcomings. A lot of it is make due and hope Brady bails us out.

http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2015/05/tom_brady_new_england_patriots_7.html#incart_story_package

Kraft told Brady on a shared flight to California that if he wanted get paid what he's worth in a year or two, it probably wasn't going to be tenable for the team. The Patriots did not want to pay 18 percent of their cap to a quarterback (they were at the time), even one as great as Brady. Kraft told Brady that he was basically going to have to play at half price.


Not to mention the respect factor. Half price or else leaves seems like a slap in the face. Have they held up their end of the bargain? Forfeiting a 1st rounder without a fight. Now letting him twist in the wind. Wonder what he'd do if he had to do it all over again?

Going to be a tough sell to pull this off on anyone else now that Kraft has shown his true colors.

Money first, team second.

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Pretty big jump from "probably won't be teneble in a year or two" to an ultimatum to take half.

borg said:

Brady holds all the cards. "Bob.....I'm done doing you favors......lets adjust my contract. You like home playoff games Bob?? Free money for you, your sons, your niece. Let me know when you get it done. Then I'll let you know what day I'll report. "

Click to expand...

Bob: I have actually been thinking that too many Patriots home playoff games is not good for the 32. Your move Tom.

mgteich said:

I don't understand what this thread is all about.

Brady signed his contract. His contract is fully guaranteed through the 2017 season.

No one is focusing on Brady's future for the 2018 season.

I suppose that Brady could be traded at some point, but that is not going to happen in the next year.

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Clearly you don't.

Brady won another ring. What's he got to complain about?

1. Men don't gossip nor do we care about gossip.
2. Men don't like drama nor do we care about drama.

Far too many men on this board whine, gossip, create and search for drama that isn't there. I realize we also have some female members on this board....so may I ask one of you to tell these men to frikk'n relax?!

This is football, not life....and I guarantee you no one here makes a living from the NFL...Ian excluded.

PatriotsReign said:

1. Men don't gossip nor do we care about gossip.
2. Men don't like drama nor do we care about drama.

Far too many men on this board whine, gossip, create and search for drama that isn't there. I realize we also have some female members on this board....so may I ask one of you to tell these men to frikk'n relax?!

This is football, not life....and I guarantee you no one here makes a living from the NFL...Ian excluded.

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YEE-HA! Look kids, a real life internet tough guy! And look, he 's armed with a what men do list.

I read the article, but I am a little lost as to why this statement regarding an ultimatum is credible. Does Kraft do the deals now? I thought that was BB and his people. Second, did Kraft or Brady relay this information along to Bedard? Has it ever been published before? No source, just "Kraft told Brady". Bedard does not say he was there, so where does the story come from? This is the first time I have heard this one, so maybe someone can enlighten me as to the 2013-2013 source containing this information.

I do believe Brady has worked with the team in order to enhance the team's chances of winning, but given the chip Brady has repeatedly demonstrated in getting to where he is, I seriously doubt "take it or leave it" would work. He feels he has earned his status, so I cannot see him saying "yes sir" to any ultimatum. He simply has too many options that would pay him substantially more if pushed out the door.

There are plenty of reasons to be unhappy with Kraft right now. This sounds manufactured.

Kraft has defied Belichicks advice every step of this rocky road. Brady has followed it to a tee. If there ever was any question as to who is a team player...... Quite an embarrassment for us....... New owner time.

KontradictioN said:

He should take a below market deal with a stacked team if that happens and go try to win one more before he rides out into the sunset.

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He'd fit like a glove in SF, but the only "stacked team" is the Pats, in spite of the efforts of the Parity Police.

Why is the article entitled "rumors?" Was Bedard on that flight sitting between Kraft and Brady?

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