There's less than a week until the legal tampering period begins, and it appears the Patriots and Tom Brady are no closer to a deal than they were at any point last season.
According to multiple reports, several teams are expected to be interested in the 42-year-old if the Patriots do not re-sign him before he can become a free agent next Wednesday. Teams at the top of that list are the Titans, Chargers, Raiders, Buccaneers and 49ers.
Brady is reportedly seeking commitment by way of a multi-year deal, but there was an interesting report Sunday night, which indicated the Patriots had already offered one last summer.
ESPN's Field Yates said last summer during training camp, a new deal, including a multi-year extension was discussed between the two sides, but Brady's preference was to not add any years and thus become a free agent. This counters some other reports which said the quarterback would have accepted a multi-year deal last summer, similar to Drew Brees' two-year, $50 million contract.
Could the money over multiple years have been so low that Brady did not want to accept? Possibly. But, it does seem rather noteworthy the team was willing to give him multiple years.
Additionally, Yates said the Patriots need an answer from Brady on if he wants to return, not the other way around. That angle is the team presented Brady a multi-year deal last year, but he said he wanted to test the market, so now it's up to him to say he wants to come back.
New England needs that answer soon because if Brady is not signed by March 18, his cap hit for 2020 is $13.5 million, opposed to $6.75 million if he is signed before then.
Based off this report, the two sides are very far away from a new deal and it's getting closer and closer to Brady playing elsewhere in 2020.
