Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady hasn’t gotten to this point by ignoring the financial realities within the context of the modern NFL.
Having shown himself to be pretty outspoken since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season after two decades with the New England Patriots, Tom Terrific is not holding back.
Forbes released its annual team valuation list on Thursday, indicating that the average NFL franchise has seen its value grow 14% over the past calendar year despite the downtick in revenue created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For his part, Brady took to Instagram to absolutely blast “ignorant” NFL players over the financial situation around the league. Again, he did not hold back.
“The salary cap dropped by 20%…and the new media deals were announced the day AFTER 2021 salary cap was set…NFL players better wake up @NFLPA. NFL players are ignorant,” Brady wrote in an Instagram Live Story.
That’s not subtle.
However, it’s hard to argue against Brady’s point. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has seen NFL commissioner Roger Goodell run loops through him since the brief work stoppage back in 2011. The Forbes’ team value estimates coupled with the downtick in this year’s salary cap and a record-breaking NFL television contract all add another layer to that.
NFL team values and Tom Brady’s overriding point
- Dallas Cowboys ($6.5 billion)
- New England Patriots ($5 billion)
- New York Giants ($4.85 billion)
- Los Angeles Rams (4.8 billion)
- Washington Football Team ($4.2 billion)
- San Francisco 49ers ($4.175 billion)
- Chicago Bears ($4.075 billion)
- New York Jets ($4.05 billion)
- Philadelphia Eagles ($3.8 billion)
- Denver Broncos ($3.75 billion)
With a 14% average increase in team value, Brady has a major point. The NFL salary cap was set at a mere $182.5 million in 2021 — an 8% decrease compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, the NFL just signed a record-breaking $112.6 billion deal with its broadcast partners. Said contract was announced one day after the 2021 NFL salary cap.
Brady saw through that. And he’s unlikely to be the only player in that camp.
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