Dale Arnold Claims Patriots Told Tom Brady They Can Only Offer Him One-Year Deal

Last week, conflicting reports surfaced about a phone call between free agent quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. One side said that the phone call went terribly, while another side said that it was fine and just business as usual.

Now, Dale Arnold of Boston sports network NESN and WEEI radio claimed on Thursday that both sources are right because they're coming from different points of view. Arnold said that the Patriots only offered Brady a one-year contract because that's all they could offer. From the Brady side, that's terrible. From the Patriots side, it's simply the business of the NFL.

Per Arnold, the call between head coach Bill Belichick and Brady included no actual negotiations and that it was just Belichick informing Brady that all that could be offered was a one-year deal for less money than Brady made last year. They just couldn't pay him more considering the $13.5 million hit they'll absorb against the salary cap based on the terms of his previous contract.

If you're coming from the Brady corner, this is terrible. To Belichick and the organization, it's just math.

Arnold finished off his report by saying that if this story is true, there's no doubt Brady is leaving New England.

TB12 will surely be one of the most sought-after free agents ever, as he may be the single greatest football player of all time. If this phone call really did put the Pats out of the mix, then football fans need to get strapped in for a blockbuster free agent season.