INDIANAPOLIS — While there have been some conversations between the Patriots and Tom Brady, and or his agent, Don Yee, there hasn’t been anything substantive with respect to a new contract for the Patriots quarterback.

That might change this week. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the two sides are expected to meet at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The feeling is it might be a “starting point” for real dialogue about a contract going forward for Brady, who hits free agency March 18.

The biggest question is whether that dialogue has the Patriots expressing a desire to keep Brady for more than a year, and for how much? The 42-year-old quarterback isn’t looking for a one-year-at-a time proposition. He’s also looking for some assurances of better weapons for the offense.

Yee probably has a good idea of the market for Brady, and what teams are willing to pay. If he’s unsure, he’ll likely get a better impression during the week. But the negotiations with the Patriots and, presumably Bill Belichick, could get underway in the coming days and continue on right up until free agency opens.