Brady happy to be staying in New England

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is happy to be staying in New England.

The former NFL MVP broke his silence on a four-year contract extension yesterday, two days after the sides agreed to terms.

"Not only have I had the good fortune of playing for just one franchise, I have also played for the greatest head coach and with some of the best teammates a player could ever ask for," Brady said.

Brady says he's uncomfortable talking about his contract, but he's happy it gives him a chance to remain with Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

Since being thrust into the starting job in 2001 when Drew Bledsoe was injured, Brady has led the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships, and was league MVP in 2007. The sides agreed to a four-year extension that guarantees Brady $48.5 million and could pay him $18 million a year from 2011-2014.

TE Davis gets 5-year extension

Vernon Davis is now the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.

Davis signed a five-year extension with the San Francisco 49ers. A person familiar with the contract told The Associated Press that Davis will get $37 million overall, with $34 million guaranteed. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract details were not released. The contract is worth $3 million more in guaranteed money than San Diego's Antonio Gates received.

Source: Union considering vote

The NFL Players Association is handing out voting cards to the players that could lead to decertification of the union.

A person familiar with the union's plans told The Associated Press that players from all 32 teams will be asked to consider decertification, which could prevent the owners from locking out the players after the collective bargaining agreement expires in March. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the union has not announced its plans.

Should the union decertify, it could have the right to sue the league under antitrust laws if the players are locked out.

All-Pro TE Ron Kramer dies at 75

Former Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions tight end Ron Kramer died yesterday at age 75. The University of Michigan said Kramer died at his home near Fenton, Mich., about 35 miles north of Ann Arbor. The cause of death was not released.

Kramer caught two TD passes from Bart Starr in Green Bay's 1961 NFL championship win over the Giants. The next season he was All-Pro as Green Bay beat the Giants in the title game again. The Packers drafted Kramer in the first round in 1957 out of Michigan. He spent seven seasons with Green Bay, then three seasons with the Lions, retiring after the 1967 season. - AP