‘Lioness’ roars: Tom can play on
Gisele backs Brady’s plans
If Tom Brady ever falls off that metaphorical cliff, Gisele Bundchen will not be the one pushing him.
The lingering “How long will Tom Brady play?” question has finally been resolved.
“As long as he wants” is now the answer.
During an interview with Robin Roberts of “Good Morning America” while sitting barefoot, crosslegged and face-to-face across a really big couch, New England’s resident monarchical retired supermodel addressed the issue of her hubby’s retirement during the publicity blitz surrounding the release of her new tome, “Lessons.”
Mrs. Brady has adopted a “what will be, will be” philosophy when it comes to Mr. Brady and his career in the NFL.
“When you love someone, you want them to be happy. I’ve never seen someone love something as much as he loves football, and it makes me happy,” Bundchen told GMA.
That means Tom Brady’s playing days in New England are tentatively scheduled to continue through age 45, or the 2022 season. (Health and Bill Belichick permitting, of course.)
This marks a substantial reversal from multiple statements in the past in which Bundchen lobbied for Brady to quit playing sooner rather than later.
Bundchen set the NFL ablaze in June 2017 when she told CBS that Brady “had a concussion last year.” Brady’s agent Don Yee carefully countered by saying: “Tom was not diagnosed with a concussion last year.” The NFL added, “There are no records that indicate that Mr. Brady suffered a head injury or concussion or exhibited or complained of concussion symptoms.”
Brady, wisely, never contradicted his spouse.
“She’s there every day. I mean, we go to bed in the same bed every night, so I think she knows when I’m sore, she knows when I’m tired, she knows when I get hit,” he deftly responded in his first public comments after Bundchen’s concussion grenade. “She also knows how well I take care of myself. She’s a very concerned wife and very loving.”
Then there was the Molotov cocktail Bundchen lobbed during what turned out to be the penultimate episode of “Tom vs. Time.”
While driving, she lamented about Brady’s disaffection with the vibe in Foxboro, in a seemingly random yet perfectly staged moment.
“These last two years have been very challenging for him in so many ways,” she said. “And he tells me, ‘I love it so much and I just want to go to work and feel appreciated and have fun.’ ” Boom.
Cut to her new-and-improved attitude this week.
“If I said anything in the past it’s because you have a concern,” Gisele told Roberts. “The mama bear comes out of me. … No one is going to hurt someone I love. You know? You just feel very protective of them. So, obviously, if someone hurts my children, my husband, anyone I love, I get like a lioness.”
She then flashed metaphorical claws and added “I get like grrrr.” “The Lioness” fits so perfectly. We have a real-life extended run of “The Lion King” playing in Foxboro. Simba reigns over an adoring kingdom in his No. 12 jersey. Uncle Scarlichick lurks, presumably scheming for all the glory. We even have our own Timon and a Pumbaa in Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. During the GMA interview, I half expected Bundchen to tell Roberts that her family eats pressed salmon and kale for lunch while they serve Gronk triple-decker Fluffernutters.
Meanwhile, we can all get back to a state of “hakuna matata” at Gillette Stadium — as long as the Patriots win again tonight.