Brady v. Sanchez: Tale of the QB contract tape

Brady signed a three-year, $27 million extension,
while Sanchez inked a three-year, $40 million deal.
Credit: Getty Images

It’s a tale of two cities and, more aptly, a tale of two quarterbacks.

Earlier this week, the Patriots made a very Patriots-like move, re-signing Tom Brady to a deal that not only ensures the greatest quarterback of his generation will retire in New England, but a deal that also frees up cap space to keep a nucleus in place around him. Down in New York, reports surfaced out of the NFL Combine that Jets receiver Santonio Holmes would not consider restructuring his own long-term deal to help create cap space.

Inexplicably, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was given a contract extension last March, just a couple weeks prior to the team trading for Tim Tebow. The deal was given by then general manager Mike Tannenbaum even though Sanchez was coming off a season of regression and had two years left on his rookie deal.

Metro looks at the ugly details:

» Original salary (2013):
Brady: $21.8 million
Sanchez: $12.8 million

» Restructured salary (2013):
Brady: $13.8 million
Sanchez: $12.8 million

» TDs/INTs (2012):
Brady: 34/13
Sanchez: 18/8

» Wins (2012)
Brady: 12
Sanchez: 6

» AFC East titles (career)
Brady: 10
Sanchez: 0

» Super Bowl titles (career)
Brady: 3
Sanchez: 0

» Butt fumbles (2012):
Brady: 0
Sanchez: 1

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.