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Brady, Garoppolo split reps as Pats No. 1 QB

Despite being sidelined for the first four games of the regular season, Tom Brady joined the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts Thursday for the start of the team’s training camp.

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He’d be a defensive coordinator, most likely. It would not be the first time Patriots fans have called for Brady’s job, but after the shouted defenses of his honor in the wake of Deflategate, it would be the funniest time.

Asked if this had to do with the supporting cast consisting of first-team players like tight end Rob Gronkowski as opposed to the depth receivers Garoppolo usually worked with, the de-facto starting quarterback gave a response that would make Belichick proud: “I’ll do my best either way”.

“I’ve been preparing to be the starter since the first day I walked in here and that’s just the mindset (you need to succeed in the NFL)”, said Garoppolo.

The reporter followed with, “So there’s no….”

“I love coming out here to these fans”. The Patriots apparently weren’t proud of it; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been scrubbed from the official transcript. Sure. Is there a way to be a little more respectful (or a little less disrespectful) to someone who asks a stupid question?

Belichick is surely dreading getting this question in one form or another repeatedly until Brady returns. The media promotes the sport at no cost to the sport, and those involved in the sport benefit from that. Short, vague answers with a clear “you don’t need to know” vibe are the norm, and things will surely be no different this year.

And on his first day in the stiflingly hot glare of the spotlight that will surround his every on field move during the first quarter of the National Football League season, Garoppolo kept his cool while performing under the watchful eyes of Bill Belichick, his teammates and the fans.

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And that’s what the reporter got from Belichick on Friday. Then again, someone with the Patriots apparently agrees with me.

FOXBORO MA- JANUARY 16 Fans hold a sign depicting head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and the words'Get Some during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium