Jacoby Brissett Says He Conducted Contract Negotiations with Colts on New Deal

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett is the team's leader now that Andrew Luck has retired, but he also preferred to take the lead in his own contract negotiations. 

On Monday, Indianapolis gave Brissett a two-year extension worth $30 million, with $20 million guaranteed at signing, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. And the new Colts starter said he landed the deal himself. 

"Yeah, I do it myself," Brissett told Mike Chappell of CBS4 on Tuesday. "I don't like people to B.S. on my behalf. I try to say it for myself. ... All you can be is honest. I did my rookie contract too, so I kind of had the gist of it." 

Brissett spent his rookie season with the New England Patriots after the franchise drafted him in the third round (No. 91 overall) out of North Carolina State in 2016. The Patriots then traded him to Indianapolis in September 2017.

After arriving in Indy, Brissett started 15 of 16 games as Luck recovered from a shoulder injury. He threw for 3,098 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 58.8 percent of his passes. 

Luck returned in 2018 to win Comeback Player of the Year, and Brissett took the backup gig, appearing in four contests.

On Aug. 24, Luck announced his surprising retirement after dealing with injury woes throughout his career—most recently a calf strain that developed into an ankle problem. Two days later, Brissett spoke to the media to address the change:

The Colts could have been left in a much worse situation. According to Andrew Walker of the team's official website, head coach Frank Reich confirmed the 26-year-old Brissett has taken "more than 1,200 snaps over the course OTAs, minicamp and training camp" with the No. 1 offense. 

Reich also said of Brissett: "He is the man. He's our answer."

"Jacoby Brissett is a winning football player in this league, and he is ... a rare, rare, leader. He is," general manager Chris Ballard added. "He is a rare human being, man. That locker room loves Jacoby Brissett. They love him. I think you saw it last year when as we went through the season—just a special guy man, and I'm excited to watch him play."

The Colts have put their money behind those sentiments with Brissett's new extension, but the fourth-year signal-caller said the increased salary isn't what's most important.

"Money doesn't define me, so it therefore wouldn't change me to where I would be anybody different," he said, per Chappell. "Just go out there and play football. That's what I'm excited for."

Brissett relayed a similar message on Twitter Tuesday evening:

Indianapolis opens the regular season against Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center.