Mike Florio jokes Gisele Bundchen is behind Tom Brady’s absence

Tom Brady's absence has been the talk of the NFL world in the first week of preseason. According to CNN, the quarterback will miss the first two preseason games.

The absence is for personal reasons and is uncharacteristic of a starting quarterback. This has prompted questions as to why the quarterback couldn't take care of whatever it was during the six-month break.

It has also led some to believe that it wasn't his decision to take time off. One NFL analyst joked that the quarterback's wife was the one pulling the strings.

The analyst, Mike Florio, jested that the request was written in Gisele Bundchen's handwriting, but didn't walk back the implication. Here's how he put it on Pro Football Talk Live:

"Bucs fans, I know you don't want to hear this. He was quitting your team to go play for the Dolphins. That door got slammed in his face. He kicked the tires on finally going to San Francisco. That door got slammed in his face for whatever reason and now he's back. But before he came back, he leveraged his situation."

He went on to give examples of how Brady may have used his leverage.

"'I want a new head coach'. Don't get mad at me. I'm just throwing out an example of what he's in a position to ask for. And 'Hey, here's my schedule for the offseason program and training camp. Here's when I'll be here. Here's when I won't be here. Never mind that it's in my wife's handwriting. This is my schedule of when I'll be here and when I won't be'."

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Tom Brady deals with retirement, tampering scandal, broadcast deal, all in one chaotic offseason

Tom Brady at a Carolina Panthers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers game

All said and done, this is the state of Tom Brady's life in 2022. At the start of the year, Brady announced his retirement. He ended up stepping away for just over a month.

It was later rumored that Brady was talking behind the scenes with the Miami Dolphins and was looking to strike a deal that would have made him a minority owner.

However, after the Brian Flores lawsuit, the quarterback backed out of the deal. With free agency looming, he returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the team started haemorraging pieces.

Even though Brady was back in town, he was still thinking about what he wanted to do next, ultimately signing a deal to join FOX as a commentator for 10 years following his retirement from the NFL.

No one knows when that will take place, although many are pointing to his preseason absence as a big indication that 2022 might be the end.

If any of the above quotes are used, please credit Pro Football Talk Live and H/T Sportskeeda.