Well not all players have the kind of outside income that Brady does, nor are they married to someone as successful as he is. So Brady has that flexibility. I think the players who value winning over money are fewer than we’d like to believe. Chandler Jones will be an interesting case study, with only Richard Seymour as the model for how the Pats value a homegrown defensive end. Obviously that was contentious at times and as soon as the Pats saw their chance to unload him for a first rounder they jumped.
I’m a trenches guy. I think money needs to be spent especially on the defensive and offensive lines. So I’m all for making a fair market deal for Chandler, even if it’s a bigger than expected kind of deal. That’s where games are won. Not with cornerbacks. Not with wide receivers. With defensive ends, defensive tackles and offensive linemen protecting a good quarterback.
But the bottom line is NFL players need to make money when their chance comes, though I do have a hard time putting myself in the shoes of someone who’s going to make millions of dollars either way taking an extra million to go play in a small market team where they’ll be losing games and out of the spotlight.
For someone like Chandler you could argue that you might take less money from the team, but that can be made up because you’re going to be in the spotlight.
But how long will it last? How long does Brady have left? How long does Belichick have left? Do you want to be stuck with an average contract when they’re gone and things get a little bumpy?
And it’s not like New England is an easy place to play, and you know once you’re close to the end they’re going to cut your ass.
Lots to consider, but you can’t really fault a guy for taking a less pressure/more money situation after already having a ring.