Notebook: Brady's deal doesn't look like such a steal

Let's get one thing clear about the new contract signed by Tom Brady with the New England Patriots: It's not as much of a bargain for the team as some are painting it. Did he take less than he should have? Yes. But he got a hefty deal.

Perceptions aside, Tom Brady is laughing all the way to the bank. (AP)

Yet for some reason, there's this romanticizing of the Patriots in regards to the family-style way they run their team, that Brady took a deal far below what he deserved for the good of the team. Many writers and broadcasters continually insist the players don't care about themselves in New England, only what's good for the team.

That's a bunch of bunk.

The reality is the Patriots really do have something special going on. How else can we explain three Super Bowl victories in four years, two in the past two?

But don't ever forget the NFL is a business, and each of the league's players is his own private corporation.

That's why it's in their best interests to get what they can at the bargaining table. It's also why Brady didn't take nearly the hometown discount that everyone is portraying -- nor should he have.

Peyton Manning and Michael Vick were portrayed as the greedy ones when they did their new deals in the past year.

Tom Brady? The talk is he put the team ahead of himself.

Oh, really?

A closer look at Brady's deal might make you think otherwise. Brady signed a six-year deal that is worth $60 million. Manning signed a 10-year deal worth $98 million. Vick signed a 10-year deal worth over $134 million, although many of the last few years are nothing but funny money numbers he'll never see.

Vick will get $37.5 million in bonus money, while Manning received $34.5 million in bonus money and Brady will get $26.5 million. Manning's three-year average -- which is all these contracts usually last until they are torn up and done over again -- is $15.2 million. Vick's three-year average is $15 million, while Brady's is $13.11.

Taking a $9 million roster bonus Manning is due next spring out of the equation for now, Manning gets $34.5 million in bonus money, plus base salaries of $535,000, $665,000 and $1 million in the first three years of his deal for a total of $36.7 million. The $9 million takes it to $45.7 million for the $15.2 average.

Vick's deal is complicated -- he got a $22.5 million roster bonus this year -- but his average of $15 million per season for the first three years is up there with Manning.