Robert Kraft isn’t losing sleep over the fact Tom Brady has not signed a contract extension this offseason, and he says Brady isn’t, either.
The New England Patriots owner addressed the quarterback’s contract status in an interview with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe that ran Tuesday.
“(Brady will) be 41 when the season starts,” Kraft told Howe. “Neither side has an issue with (the contract). If it becomes an issue, we’ll deal with it.”
Brady, who earned NFL MVP honors for the third time last season, has two years remaining on his current contract, which carries salary cap hits of $22 million in both 2018 and 2019. The pattern he has set throughout his career — four of his five previous extensions were signed with two years remaining on his deal — suggested he was in line for another extension this spring, which would provide the team some cap relief.
So far, though, the sides have not engaged in “any negotiations of note,” per Howe’s report.
“However, Brady would most certainly entertain contract negotiations,” Howe wrote, citing a source, ” … so it might behoove the Patriots to take a more proactive approach.”
Brady has said in numerous interviews that he hopes to play until his mid-40s. But the conclusion of his documentary series, “Tom vs Time,” raised questions about his NFL longevity, with his wife, Gisele Bundchen, stressing how “challenging” the last two seasons have been for the NFL’s oldest offensive player.
Howe asked Kraft whether he believes Brady’s mid-40s estimation will prove accurate.
“I hope he plays,” Kraft responded. “He’s at a different point in his life. He talked about it. It’s interesting to see that ‘Tom vs Time’ and see where he’s at, his kids growing up. But that is something for he and his family to decide what is right for him. Me personally, I’d like to see him play as long as he can.
“I don’t think anyone would have believed 10 years ago that he would have played this year, gone to the Super Bowl and been MVP of the league at 40 years old. It’s just unbelievable. It speaks to the way he takes care of himself, the way he trains, how much film he watches, one of the hardest working guys. He is driven to excel. I think as long as he feels he is like that, he’ll keep playing. We’re so lucky to have him in our system.”
