AMBER ATHEY: Gisele spoke for every exploited wife who put her life on the backburner

Well Tom, I guess you couldn’t take a hint.

After weeks of swirling rumors, it looks like the arguably greatest quarterback in the history of professional football may be facing third and long when it comes to his marriage.

Sources have now told CNN that Brady and his fashion model wife Gisele Bündchen are dealing with ‘marital issues’ and are now ‘living separately.’

I take no pleasure in seeing a marriage suffer, but it wasn’t a stretch to see this coming.

In a new interview with Elle Magazine, Gisele dropped this bombshell: ‘I’ve done my part, which is [to] be there for [Tom].’

‘I moved to Boston, and I focused on creating a cocoon and a loving environment for my children to grow up in and to be there supporting him and his dreams,’ she said.

Then she went even further adding that she’d like Brady to be more ‘present’ for her and the children.

Oof!

Any married person knows that’s no passing comment. It’s more like a blindside sack from a 350-pound defensive lineman.

What would it take for arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of professional football to retire? (Above) Tom Brady celebrates with the Vince Lombardi trophy after winning the Super Bowl LV in 2021

Gisele was clearly frustrated with her husband’s decision to return to the NFL.

And who could blame her?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former New England Patriots quarterback announced at the start of 2022 that he would retire after 22 years.

Then, shockingly, he unretired just 40 days later.

The promise of spending more time with his former Victoria’s Secret angel wife and their three children apparent wasn’t enough.

Come on – there’s something up with this guy.

Brady’s decision and a steady stream of gossip from ‘insiders’ sparked rumors that the couple may be headed for divorce.

Then last month, Brady missed practices for ‘personal things,’ and Bündchen did not attend the Bucs season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Instead, the 42-year-old headed up to New York Fashion Week in a bid to relaunch her own career.

‘I feel very fulfilled… as a mother and as a wife,’ she told Vanity Fair. ‘And now it’s going to be my turn.’

‘There’s a lot of tension. She was so happy when he announced his retirement, and she wasn’t thrilled at all when he went back on that,’ a source told People Magazine.

In early September another informed blabbermouth told the New York Post that the two were drifting apart, but there was hope.

‘Tom is still hoping they can reconcile,’ the source said. ‘Gisele has told him she’s leaving him before, and they always made up when she cooled down.’

Let’s be honest.

Bündchen had good reason to be upset with her husband.

The retirement carrot was dangled in front of her face only to be cruelly snatched away.

Bündchen’s highly lucrative and successful modeling career was put on the backburner for years as she raised her and Brady’s children.

So far, the promise of spending more time with former Victoria’s Secret angel Gisele Bunchden and their three children hasn’t been enough.

Brady has admitted as much, stating in June, ‘things have always taken a back seat’ to football.

It’s understandable that Bündchen wants to be rewarded for her sacrifice and for her husband to show some gratitude and finally spend uninterrupted time with her and the children.

Just read what Brady said about the commitment that he makes to his career.

‘I haven’t had a Christmas in 23 years and I haven’t had a Thanksgiving in 23 years, I haven’t celebrated birthdays with people that I care about that are born from August to late January. And I’m not able to be at funerals and I’m not able to be at weddings.’

‘I think there comes a point in your life where you say: ‘You know what? I’ve had my fill and it’s enough and time to go on, to move into other parts of life.’

Yeah – do you think?

Marriage is about compromise, and it seems Brady only ever wants to take and not give.

As Gisele notes in her interview, playing in the NFL over the age of 40 comes with serious risks.

Brady has suffered concussions in 20 of his 22 seasons; God forbid he develop CTE before he gets to settle down with his family.

Brady even admitted in a podcast interview after his Buccaneers steamrolled the Cowboys that he’s feeling his age.

‘When you’re 45, your body changes a lot. So, what am I dealing with now? I woke up today going, ‘Holy s***, there was a few hits.’

He’s the most winning QB and is the NFL player with the most Super Bowl rings — he has seven, two more than former linebacker Charles Haley.

What is left for him to accomplish? What could possibly be worth the physical gamble?

‘Obviously, I have my concerns—this is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,’ Bündchen told Elle.

‘I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again. But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them]. He needs to follow his joy, too.’

Football is obviously Brady’s passion.

But he needs to recognize that very few people ever get the opportunity to live out their passion for two decades and make hundreds of millions of dollars doing so. He is unbelievably blessed.

Gisele speaks for any spouse or significant other – female or male – who feels that their loved one has ignored the needs of their family.

But unlike the average American who has to work until their 60s to provide for themselves and their family, Brady keeps playing for himself.

His inability to give up the game suggests he needs the adoration he gets from the fans. That’s a problem.

‘We’ve got a hell of a team,’ Brady said ahead of the 2022 season.

Okay, but what about the team who has spent more than a decade cheering you on from the sidelines, following you around the country, and adapting to your bizarre schedule?

One of those teammates has a ring on her finger, and the other three share your DNA.

An honorable man keeps his promises to them.

I’m sure it’s difficult for Brady to give up such a huge part of his identity.

‘Obviously, I have my concerns—this is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,’ Bunchden told Elle. 

On the football field, he’s a hero. At home, he’s just ‘dad.’

But all of the money and rings in the world can’t reverse time.

His youngest child is already nine years old. By his own admission, he has missed half of her childhood.

Brady said on a podcast this week that he is ‘close to the end,’ fueling speculation that this could very well be his last season playing professional football.

Perhaps his row with Bündchen has given him the kick in the ass he needs to step away from his beloved sport.

Brady’s illustrious career is one for the history books. But the first word in Brady’s Twitter bio is not ‘football’ — it’s ‘family.’

It’s time he started acting like it.