Bucs keep title gang together
Brady leads teams to wins off field too
Tom Brady doesn’t merely lead teams to Super Bowl wins on the field. He also helps keep together championship teams that have salary cap issues.
So sackmaster Shaq Barrett, fellow standout linebacker Lavonte David — and who knows who else — will remain in Tampa Bay.
Just as he had done several times in New England, Brady reworked his big-ticket contract last week to free up money in free agency. The Buccaneers used it to keep David, and on Monday, the first day of “legal tampering” before the NFL’S business year begins on Wednesday, the 28-yearold Barrett agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract with $36 million guaranteed, agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed.
Meanwhile, back in Brady’s former stomping grounds, the Patriots were spending wildly in an attempt to recapture the glory he produced before heading south last season.
Joining them are linebacker/edge rusher Matthew Judon (4 years, $56 million) from Baltimore; tight end Jonnu Smith (4 years, $50 million) from Tennessee; nose tackle Davon Godchaux (2 years, $16 million) from Miami; and defensive back Jalen
Mills (4 years, $29 million) from Philadelphia.
Joe Thuney, a 28-yearold guard, lefts the Pats for a five-year, $80 million contract with Kansas City.
Jets: New York got its longelusive pass rusher, a No. 1 wide receiver and a playmaking linebacker. And that was just one day into the start of NFL free agency. The biggest splash came Monday night when the Jets agreed to terms on a threeyear deal with former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson, according to a person with direct knowledge of the move. New York also agreed to deals with former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis and former Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis, according to people with direct knowledge of the decisions.
Browns: Cleveland might have found a gem in Rams safety John Johnson III. His three-year deal reportedly is valued at $33.75 million, with $24 million guaranteed.
49ers: San Francisco resigned 29-year-old cornerback Jason Verrett for one year.
Lions: Detroit brought back 25-year-old Romeo Okwara, who had 10 sacks last season.