Tom Brady Contract: How Soon Does Bill Belichick Cut Ties and Move On?

Tom Brady is in camp, but that doesn't mean he's happy.

Brady has been letting it leak out that he's unhappy with his contract situation with the New England Patriots.

The question isn't whether or not the New England front office will sign Brady to a new contract, but just how long that contract is going to be, and how much guaranteed money will be featured.

Anyone who objectively follows head coach Bill Belichick's career should know by now that the moment he thinks a player has passed his prime, he will not hesitate to cut ties with said player and move on.

Ask Bernie Kosar and Drew Bledsoe if you don't believe that last statement.

Ask any number of ex-Patriots what they think about Belichick's draconian roster-shaping methods.

Here are the facts: Tom Brady now is 32 years old, he's blown out his knee, and the Patriots are in for a year or two of re-tooling to rehab various parts of the team.

Belichick stockpiles draft picks like new parents hoard diapers, so finding a new quarterback at any point in the draft will not be an issue for Belichick.

Plus, you have to figure the Matt Cassell experience into this scenario. Belichick managed to get a pretty good season out of the largely untested USC quarterback, who actually performed better than the guy who played ahead of him in college, Matt Leinart.

With the millions Brady already is making, many people have to wonder why he is so unhappy with his situation. The answer is Brady has deferred reworking his contract in favor of the team bringing in other pieces to help win another Super Bowl.

But now Peyton Manning is getting a new contract while Donovan McNabb, Drew Brees, and others are seeking contract extensions. The last few years have featured rookie quarterbacks getting spectacular new contracts, and Brady isn't getting any younger.

Belichick holds no loyalty to any player, no matter what they've done for him in the past. Even if he's shown a softer side toward a few players, that's only because he thought they still could contribute.

Don't get it wrong, Belichick still wants Brady there this year, and probably next year. But, three years down the road is forever in NFL years, and Belichick may not want to commit to a four- or five-year contract on Brady, especially after having one knee reconstructed.

While Brady is still "the man" in New England entering 2010, go ask Bledsoe how fast that can change, and then stop asking yourself why Brady wants a contract done sooner rather than later.