Untested backup Jimmy Garoppolo will take the snaps in his absence, and both quarterbacks put in work with the other offensive starters during the first practice of training camp on Thursday.
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Assuming that Brady will totally miss the first four games because of the Deflategate verdict, the Patriots will must have a quarterback to win at least a game or two.
“His preparation, the time he spends at it, he cares deeply about getting better each day”, McDaniels said.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett is the third quarterback in camp.
It’s not as if the question broke any new ground; Belichick explained on Wednesday that Brady would return as the starter on Week 5 against Cleveland. First, “Oh my God, just let it die, Goodell” and “We’re on the Jimmy G”.
Cassel had made around $1.5 million over his first four seasons, including the season he started for the Patriots. So I think, you know, it probably would be good for Tom to say something, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t hear from him until October. “Training camp is a grind, but we’ve got to get through it”.
There’s a slim chance for the New England Patriots to get Ryan Fitzpatrick, who now is in negotiation with the New York Jets with the big possibility of a failure.
“It’s a great opportunity”, Garoppolo said earlier this week. Perhaps he was anxious that Bill Belicheck is cold blooded enough that if Jimmy Garoppolo plays well, he will find his spot on the bench just like Drew Bledsoe did.
He said the priority now is to get Garoppolo ready for the season opener against Arizona, but then added that “Tom will return as the starting quarterback when he comes back”.
“That’s why we play the game”, he said. I’m not talking about putting it on a guy’s body, you put your hand out there and he’s sticking the ball right in the middle of your palm. He played well in preseason a year ago – before Brady’s suspension was overturned prior to the 2015 season – completing 61 of 80 passes for 554 yards, two TDs and two INTs while posting a solid 92.4 passer rating. It’s probably why the packed bleachers at Thursday’s practice erupted when he channeled his inner Brady during a drill by threading a pass in the back of the end zone to Rob Gronkowski.
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The first practice of many leading up to Garoppolo’s first NFL start on the road against a Cardinals’ defense that is one of the best in the league went well.
