One of the final lingering mysteries of Tom Brady’s retirement is what happens to the bonus money he’s owed later this week.
On Feb. 4, the Buccaneers owe Brady $15 million deferred from his $20 million signing bonus from their deal last year.
While there was a rumor that the Bucs would not have to pay this money if he retired before that date, that is not accurate, according to both ProFootballTalk and The Athletic.
The Bucs must send that money to Brady regardless. However, they can also ask for it back because Brady is not playing out the duration of the contract that he signed with the team.
PFT’s Mike Florio believes the fairest outcome would be a proverbial splitting of the baby.
“Will they ask for all of it? Some of it? The most fair outcome would be to reclaim $10 million of it since it was basically a two-year deal, and he played one year of it. So pay him $5 million on February 4 and call it a day,” Florio wrote.
It does stand to logic that Brady and the Bucs will come to some type of agreement for him to keep part but not all of the deferred bonus money.