Brady gets extension, raise in ’19
Pats to pay 42-year-old QB $19M this season with new deal that runs through ’21
Tom Brady has never known what it’s like to play out the final season of a contract in his 20-year NFL career, and the Patriots superstar quarterback isn’t about to find out.
Brady, who turned 42 on Saturday, will sign a two-year, $70 million extension that runs through 2021 and includes a hefty raise this season, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
The person, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity Sunday because the Patriots hadn’t announced the extension, confirmed the NFL Network’s report on Brady’s contract.
Brady will get an $8 million raise in 2019, when he’ll make $23 million. The extension also calls for him to make $30 million in 2020 and $32 million in 2021, when he would be 44.
Brady, who led the Patriots to a 13-3 win over the Rams in Super Bowl 53, is one of just four players to win six NFL titles. The others all played for Vince Lombardi’s mighty Packers teams in the 1960s: Hall of Famers Herb Adderley and Forrest Gregg and their teammate, Fuzzy Thurston.
Brady and the Patriots open defense of their latest Super Bowl title against the Steelers on Sept. 8. Usually, the champion kicks off the season but that honor goes to the Packers and Bears this year as the NFL celebrates its 100th season.
Ngakoue ends holdout: Yannick Ngakoue’s holdout failed to land him a new contract.
The standout pass rusher reported to Jaguars training camp Sunday following an 11-day absence and is ready to play out his rookie deal. He insisted he’s not angry and not worried about risking an injury that could cost him millions.
“At the end of the day, they had a chance to sign me for a long-term deal, but it didn’t get done,” he said. “I love football, love my teammates and I’m here to play games.”
Ngakoue, 24, is entering the final year of a $3.84 million contract. He’s due to make $2.025 million this fall — far less than other top playmakers at his position. He also is facing $528,650 in fines — more than a quarter of his salary — because he skipped a three-day minicamp in June and nearly two weeks of training camp.
The former third-round pick out of Maryland had been seeking more than $20 million a year.
“I know my value, I know my worth,” he said. “That’s all I can say. Doesn’t matter about anybody else knowing my value. I showed each and every year.”
Ngakoue had 291⁄ sacks and 10 forced fumbles the last three seasons. He had with 28 tackles and 91⁄ sacks last year.
Raiders great Branch dies: Cliff Branch, one of the Raiders’ careerleading wide receivers who won three Super Bowls in 14 seasons with the franchise, died. He was 71.
Branch was found dead Saturday in a hotel room in Bullhead City, Ariz., the city’s police department said. It said an initial investigation revealed no foul play and that Branch died of natural causes.
“Cliff Branch touched the lives of generations of Raiders fans,” the Raiders said in a statement. “His loss leaves an eternal void for the Raiders Family, but his kindness and loving nature will be fondly remembered forever.”
One of the game’s top deep threats from 1972 to 1985, Branch was an All-Pro three straight seasons (1974-76) and made four Pro Bowls. He scored 67 TDs through the air, leading the NFL in TD receptions in 1974 with 13 and in 1976 with 12. Branch also had a league-high 1,092 yards receiving in 1974.
He was a force in the postseason, with 1,289 yards receiving. The Raiders won Super Bowls after the 1976, 1980 and1983 seasons — the last one in Los Angeles, where the franchise moved in 1982.