TB12 is better than TB Nothing.

ESPN.com reports that Tom Brady has yet to commit to playing the 2018 season, though those close to him expect him to in fact return. The 41-year-old has missed the Patriots’ first set of voluntary activities this week as he works with his charity in Qatar. The website reported earlier in the week that even when he does return from overseas, he will be in no rush to return to the team and would prefer to work out privately with health guru Alex Guerrero.

“My money would be on him playing football for the foreseeable future, but what goes on away from the football field, I don’t know,” one source told ESPN. “I don’t know.”

An optimistic sign appeared later Wednesday, when Pro Football Talk reported Brady has planned to get together with teammates before training camp for a passing session.

However, some of Brady’s personal life was peeled back in the recent “Tom vs. Time” documentary. And it’s clear his wife, Gisele Bündchen — concerned with the toll the sport takes on him — would prefer the quarterback hang up the cleats sooner than later, despite reports from last season that he planned to play through his mid-40s. There is also a reported rift with coach Bill Belichick that seems to be growing this offseason.

Brady is still one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and the Patriots traded away backup Jimmy Garoppolo last season. The Patriots could draft their quarterback of the future in next week’s draft, with Brady apparently touting Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.

“I believe he’s going to be there,” another person who knows Brady told ESPN. “However, having said that, we’re dealing with a human being. Things can change. But I do believe he will be playing.”