Tom Brady could have the easiest life in the world. He’s positioned himself to earn $375 million for the arduous task of spouting clichés in broadcast booths and hobnobbing with Hollywood and advertising execs.
Instead, he would rather get pulverized on the field and throw around Microsoft Surface tablets. Brady’s reckless passion for football may be endangering his marriage to Gisele Bundchen. But it’s hard to not respect him for it.
The Buccaneers beat the Saints 20-10 Sunday in a brutally physical game that sometimes resembled a backyard brawl. The Saints flustered Brady for most of the day, leading the greatest of all-time to blow up on the sideline and generally act like an enraged child.
The TB12 Manual preaches the importance of patience and meditation. That is, unless Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore gets in his face.
Then it’s time to rage. After an incomplete pass early in the fourth quarter, Brady was shouting at Lattimore, who’s been a menace in the Saints’ last four wins over Tampa Bay. Running back Leonard Fournette entered the fray and shoved Lattimore, who responded by shoving Lattimore. Then Mike Evans came in and flattened the star cornerback — just like when he came to Jameis Winston’s aid in 2017.
This time, Evans was standing up for Brady.
“That’s Tom Brady! What do you want me to do?!,” screamed Evans at the officials.
It’s hard to argue with that point.
Sometimes, it looks like playing quarterback in the NFL is glamorous work. That was the case last Sunday night, when the Buccaneers strolled into Dallas and destroyed the Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football.” Brady went an easy 18-of-27 for 212 yards with a touchdown and sweet 46-yard connection to Julio Jones.
But more often, playing quarterback is about attrition, even for the all-time greats. Brady is addicted to the challenge. At 45 years old, he still screams at teammates, slams down equipment and cuts pouty press conferences short.
It all probably makes Gisele roll her eyes. On Sunday, it was reported that Brady will take off every Wednesday going forward, in what appears to be some sort of marital compromise. Gisele admitted recently to ELLE she wants Brady to be more “present.”
Now he’s cutting back his work schedule; but notably, he’s not giving it up. For Brady, lounging around his multiple estates apparently can’t compare to jawing with Marshon Lattimore at the Superdome.
Just like us, Gisele is left to sit in awe, though probably for a different reason.
