The record straight on Brady

So with that on-the-record information as a backdrop, here is an all-encompassing look at where things stand with Brady and where they may be headed:

"Let's put it like this: Tom Brady jersey is going to be part of this franchise. He wants to be; we want him," Kraft said at the time.

In a Sirius NFL Radio interview in June, Patriots owner Robert Kraft called contract talks with Brady "complicated," a reference to the league's uncertain labor forecast and the brewing battle between owners and the NFL Players Association. In March, Kraft had expressed confidence that an agreement ultimately would be reached.

Brady's reference to a "unique time in the league" hits at the heart of why a deal has not been reached between him and the Patriots, or between the Indianapolis Colts jersey and star quarterback Peyton Manning, who is also in the last year of his contract.

"There is a lot of uncertainty with the league, and being a player rep now, I realize all the different issues that we're facing. It's a really unique time in the league, and as a team player, I don't sit here saying, 'What about me, What about me?' I'm under contract, and I'm going to go out there and play and play my butt off."

"I'm under contract, and I signed a six-year contract five years ago," Brady said on Jan. 25, reminding reporters that he is not the only player in this situation.

On that day, Brady didn't sound like a player who would consider a training camp holdout. Unless something has dramatically changed since then, and there are no tangible indications that is the case, Brady will be in his familiar spot next Thursday when the Patriots football jerseys open their 51st training camp: under center, leading the offense.

"I think we're way overpaid as it is, all of us," Brady said Jan. 25 while making a Boston-based appearance for charity. "We get to go play football for a living. I love playing, and I'm very fortunate to play. … [The contract is] not really a concern."

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Much like the Patriots' embarrassing 33-14 playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Brady buzz has spiraled out of control quickly, running counter to what Brady said earlier this year.

Whoa.

Perhaps as a result of this slow time on the NFL calendar and little tangible news to digest, Brady's status has become a sizzling media topic. A possible holdout has even been debated.

New England Patriots quarterback new Tom Brady jersey is entering the final year of his contract. Have you heard?