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Despite varying reports around the Interwebs, Tom Brady is assuring his teammates and New England Patriot fans that he isn’t concerned with his contract. At least not enough to hold out. The possibility of a Brady holdout was raised on July 13 in an AFC East blog on ESPN.com by John Clayton. Since that post, various websites and media outlets (among plenty of others) have run with Clayton’s story as an ESPN declaration that Brady will indeed hold out if the Pats don’t pay the man his money. Apparently everyone is illiterate.

Clayton never quoted Brady, nor did he provide any sources, as he simply cited that Brady’s options are 1) Show up to camp and B) Hold out. Then he sprinkled some chicken feed on the ground and had his lunch.

Hey John, how do contract negotiations work again?


Brady has a decision. Does he simply report and hope something gets done or does he try to make a statement with a holdout? A Brady holdout could be the biggest story of the NFL this summer. Over the past couple of years, Brady and his teammates have watched a few key members of the Super Bowl teams — such as Asante Samuel and Richard Seymour — leave in free agency or trades. (Source)

Clayton’s ESPN.com peer Mike Reiss also weighed in on the situation, putting an end to any idea that this is going to develop into a huge story heading into training camp. Reiss spoke with Brady, who stated that money is not the most important thing to him right now, what with that whole winning thing that he’s been pretty good at over the years.

“I’m under contract, and I signed a six-year contract five years ago,” Brady said on Jan. 25, reminding reporters that he is not the only player in this situation.

“There is a lot of uncertainty with the league, and being a player rep now, I realize all the different issues that we’re facing. It’s a really unique time in the league, and as a team player, I don’t sit here saying, ‘What about me, What about me?’ I’m under contract, and I’m going to go out there and play and play my butt off.” (ESPN.com Boston)

Brady is referring to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement for 2011, which makes it pretty darn tough for any teams to sign their stars to big contracts right now. Peyton Manning is also in the final year of his contract, and even Jamarcus Russell has been storing food rations in his body in case of a work stoppage.

In related news, I heard that John Clayton has a really long ponytail that he tucks away for his TV appearances. That’s still not as cool as shaving a Christmas tree into your hair like Sean Salisbury, but to each his own, I guess.