Tom Brady

According to Sports Illustrated's Peter King, Tom Brady:

... is signing a contract with New England that will pay him significantly less money than the market will bear, in large part to help the Patriots stay competitive for the next five seasons.

Amazingly, according to the source, the deal is for an eye-poppingly conservative $27 million, which is less than half his worth by any measure.

By agreeing to take less, Brady allows the Patriots to spend more, under the NFL's salary cap rules, on the kind of players he will need around him if he is to lead the Patriots to another Super Bowl.  So, then, Brady is taking one for the team, right?

Well, yes and no.

ESPN is reporting:

While Tom Brady's contract extension lowers his average base salary and creates significant salary-cap space for the New England Patriots  to surround him with a team capable of challenging for a Super Bowl, the quarterback also nearly doubled the guaranteed money owed him over the next five seasons ...

There was talk, once upon a time, that Brady might be interested in a career in politics after his illustrious football career. Washington could use him.