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Almost famous Brady on cusp of being latest media darlingPosted: Monday February 04, 2002 5:45 PMUpdated: Tuesday February 05, 2002 6:51 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- On the first day of the rest of Tom Brady's life as a Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback, he made the requisite pilgrimage to Disney World. But those who know the young New England star best say that Brady won't be climbing on the roller-coaster ride of fame anytime soon. "We got calls [Sunday] night from every network morning show, plus Letterman and Leno," said Steve Dubin, who along with California-based agent Don Yee represents Brady. "But Tom doesn't want to do all that right now. He doesn't want it to be overkill. He just wants to let the dust settle a little bit. "Tom's not going to change from all this. He's a genuine kid. He's not going to rush anything. He just wants to take his time and enjoy the moment right now." At 24, Brady is the youngest quarterback to ever win the Super Bowl, and his Super Bowl XXXVI MVP award made him the second-youngest player to claim that distinction, behind only Pittsburgh Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann. But when asked Monday morning if he's prepared for becoming the NFL's "Next Big Thing," Brady flashed the gee-whiz look that has seldom left his face the past four months. "I'm working on it," he said. "I'm working on it. It's new to me. I'm like a kite in the wind, just kind of going with the flow. It's hard to turn a lot of people down. ... To be in this position -- I don't know what I was doing last year at this time, but it wasn't standing at the podium answering questions at 8 o'clock in the morning. "But it's been a great ride. And it's going to continue to get better, because I know myself and our team is going to continue to push on. The mark is set pretty high at this point. We've got to keep going after it." With his cover-boy good looks and All-American image, Brady could own Madison Avenue for the foreseeable future if he cared to. But he doesn't. Even though many would be prompted to strike while it's hot and cash in on his out-of-nowhere-to-the-Super-Bowl storyline. "You name the industry sector and they've made overtures," said Dubin, who is expected to handle the bulk of Brady's business and endorsement opportunities. "We've heard from banks, soft drink companies, and others. But I don't see him wanting to do a bunch of stuff. "He'll want to look at a bunch of offers and meet the people behind the offers. There are a lot of opportunities for him. But he doesn't want to rush things. During the season he felt like he wanted to just take care of things on field, and then everything would take care of itself off the field." Consider that task half-completed in spectacular fashion. The biggest off-field question that Brady will face this offseason pertains to his contract. As a second-year veteran who was a lowly sixth-round pick in 2000, Brady's base salary this season was a paltry $298,000. He earned another $30,000 in playing time incentives. Knowing that they got the bargain of a lifetime, the Patriots are expected to renegotiate Brady's deal. But what's the price range for a soon-to-be-third-year quarterback with a 14-3 record in 17 career starts in the NFL and a Super Bowl title already under his belt? Opinions are going to vary, but given Brady's variables -- his youth, his career's potential upside, and his too-good-to-be-true image -- a yearly salary in the range of $6 million to $8 million is not out of the question. Unheard of? Maybe not. Consider that there are two recent examples of quarterbacks who burst onto NFL stardom while their clubs still held their exclusive rights. In 1999, his second season, just like Brady, Rams quarterback Kurt Warner went from a no-name to Super Bowl MVP at the age of 28. St. Louis could have made him play for the third-year minimum in 2000, but instead tore up his deal and gave him a long-term contract calling for about $6 million per year. And last year, San Francisco rewarded third-year quarterback Jeff Garcia, 30, with a long-term deal that pays in the neighborhood of $5 million per season. And Garcia hasn't won anything yet in the postseason. His 49ers made the playoffs this season for the first time in three years, but lost in the opening round at Green Bay. The Patriots, of course, will have to part ways with veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe and his puffed up $103 million contract this offseason before they deal with Brady. But that eventuality moved into the dead-lock-cinch category with Brady's heroics in New England's 20-17 conquest of the heavily favored Rams. If the Patriots don't come at Brady with a deal to his liking, it's possible that he could roll the dice and not sign a new contract with New England, waiting until he's a restricted free agent after the 2002 season. That calculated risk could make every game he plays next season a little more exciting. Then again, with Brady having already entered New England professional sports lore -- he's already vaulted ahead of Yaz and ranks somewhere well behind Larry Bird and Bobby Orr in the pantheon -- the Patriots could face a fan revolt if Brady isn't secured via long-term deal. But for now, Brady is content to enjoy the spoils of his success without focusing on the big pay day to come. "Fame is a double-edged sword," Yee said Monday. "And a lot of Tom's appeal comes from his sincerity and genuineness. We're cognizant of that. It's really refreshing to see someone simply having fun doing their job and not worrying about the ancillary things. He’s 24. There'll be time for lots of other things in his life. Right now he's focused on becoming a better football player." Asked to describe his meteoric rise, Brady on Monday morning returned to a Disney World-esque analogy. "The emotional ride, as far as I'm concerned it's been straight up," he said. "There hasn't been a downer yet. Except this morning about 6 a.m. when the alarm went off. Other than that, it's been pretty awesome." Don Banks covers pro football for CNNSI.com.
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