Updated

BOSTON (Reuters) - Talk about a contract extension was the last thing on Tom Brady's mind when the New England Patriots quarterback spoke to reporters on Wednesday.

Brady is set to earn $6.5 million this season in the final year of his current deal and is widely believed by local media to be on the verge of a three-year contract worth $58 million.

"Who wants to talk football?" the 33-year-old asked with a broad smile after being swarmed by reporters at Gillette Stadium where he expressed his excitement for the start of a new season.

Asked how important it was for him to sign a new contract before the Patriots open their season at home on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, Brady said it was not on his mind.

"I really haven't thought about it yesterday, today. I'm just thinking about the team we've got to play. I owe that to this team here. They have a lot of things going on too, but when they come into work, they're focused on the team."

Brady, who has led the Patriots to three Super Bowl victories, said he had always been much more motivated by his love for the game and winning than by money.

"We're fortunate to get paid for something that we love," he added. "There's no better job in the world that I'd rather have. That's why I want to do it for a long time.

"For me in my life, everything else really pales in comparison to how much I love this. In that sense, it's about winning games. That's what we're here for. We're expected to go out and win games. That's the real motivation for all of us."

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)