The College Fix

I’m not sure if there is a NFL football player richer than Tom Brady, but apparently he’s not one to pass up a pile of cash.

The Boston Herald reports on the athlete’s May 7 talk:

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady basked in the glow of fan adoration at Salem State University at the height of the “Deflategate” controversy — and took home a cool $170,000 speaking fee for his trouble, the university confirmed last night.

“There was no public money used,” insisted Salem State spokeswoman Karen Cady, who said Brady’s six-figure speaking fee was paid for by the nonprofit Salem State University Foundation with ticket sales and corporate sponsorships as part of the school’s annual speaker series. Cady said about 4,000 people attended the event, paying about $100 for premium tickets, while students paid $15.

Of course, once word of his payout spread, outrage ensued – because everyone knows that Brady does not need $170,000 from a public university that has plans to raise tuition. But, there’s another side to the story. The Boston Globe reports:

Salem State, which costs about $9,000 per year, said the event and fee were funded entirely by sponsors and ticket sales, and that the evening generated a $40,000 profit for the foundation.

It’s unclear whether Brady donated his proceeds to charity. Governor Charlie Baker said he did, but has since walked back the statement, the Globe reports.

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