FOXBOROUGH, Mass., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is close to signing a four-year, $77 million contract extension offer, sources told the Boston Herald Tuesday.

The newspaper, quoting sources close to the negotiations, said Brady has yet to formally agree to the deal but could do so within 24 hours.

The $19.3 million annually would reportedly be in addition to the $6.5 million he's set to earn this season as the Patriots' signal-caller.

The three-time Super Bowl winner has never begun a season while in the final year of contract and has always preferred to get extensions signed before the start of the regular schedule, the Herald noted.

Both sides have stated that's their goal this time as well, but the source said Brady is unwilling to accept a contract that pays him less than New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who is making $16.4 million per season.