More Brady in the future of the Patriots

Tom Brady has been with the New England Patriots since he was drafted in the 2000 NFL draft, and the former sixth-round pick has led the Patriots to four Super Bowl victories in six appearances. At 38-years-old, the Patriots are still relying on Brady to be their quarterback of future and gave him a two-year extension that will keep him in a Patriots uniform until 2019. With Brady expected to be in New England until 2019, the Patriots will remain NFL sports betting odds favorites to win the AFC for the next few years.

Before signing the contract extension, Brady had previously said he hoped to still be playing in his 40s, and this extension guarantees that it will happen. The extension also means that the Patriots will have more than enough time to groom a successor to take over once Brady retires.

The terms of the extension have not been released, but the extension is expected to free some salary cap room for the Patriots.

Brady signed a three-year $27 million extension in 2013, but the deal was reworked in 2014. Under that deal, Brady’s salary accounted for a $15 million cap hit in 2016 and $16 million in 2017.

When Brady signed the 2013 extension, it freed up $7 million in salary-cap space for the Patriots in 2013, and $8 million in 2014. According to people with knowledge of the new deal, the Patriots won’t save as much cap space this time around, but it will still make a difference.

With the extra cap room the team will have thanks to Brady’s restructured contract, the Patriots will have some cap flexibility when it comes to re-signing some of their free agents like Jamie Collins and Donta Hightower.

While the Patriots and Brady are happy with the new deal, there will be a lot of people wondering if giving Brady a contract extension was a good idea. The biggest issue most people have with the extension is the fact that Brady turns 39 in August.

Last season, Brady didn’t show any signs of his skills diminishing. Unfortunately, father time eventually catches up with everyone. Peyton Manning is a good example. Three seasons ago, he had what is widely considered the greatest statistical year a quarterback ever had, but last season, he looked like a shell of his former self and was benched during the season.

Now that Brady is tied to the team through the 2019 season, the Patriots have a big decision to make in regards to Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo was originally drafted as a future replacement for Brady, his contract with the Patriots runs out at the end of the 2017 season, and it is unlikely he would want to return to carrying a clipboard for another two years.

The 2016 season will be Brady’s 17th with the franchise, making him the only player to have played for the Patriots for that long. Brady also owns most of New England’s major passing records.

With Peyton Manning likely retiring, Brady will have a chance to break most of Manning’s records if his play doesn’t drop off and he plays out the rest of his contract.

Brady is currently 5th in all-time passing yards (58,028) and 3rd in touchdowns (428). If he continues averaging the numbers he has throughout his career, he will finish with more yards and touchdowns than Peyton Manning, and solidify his position as the greatest quarterback ever.