“Tom will return as our starting quarterback when he comes back”, Patriots coach Bill Belichick told reporters Wednesday.
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So the Patriots won’t have Tom Brady for the first four games of the upcoming 2016 season.
Eastern Illinois lit up the scoreboard in losing just two games over the rest of the season, which ultimately led Garoppolo to be selected by the New England Patriots in the second round (62nd overall).
When the morning practice concluded, it was Garoppolo who was whisked off to the side for media interviews, while Brady faded off into the distance after spending time working intimately with tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett. I’m trying to get out there, take advantage of my opportunities and play to the best of my abilities. He will be out the first four games, which is a nice little segue into the schedule breakdown.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Brady this month, and the quarterback said he would not pursue an unlikely appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. He has not missed a regular-season start since 2008, when a torn knee ligament on opening day cost him 15 games. Or maybe we’ll see Jason Bourne team up with Affleck’s Batman to rescue Brady from the evil Commissioner Goodell. Three years in the same offense, same team, same organization you just get used to things and things come more naturally to you.
“As a defense, we want to be a dominating defense no matter what the situation is and no matter who is out there on offense”.
Belichick, as you already know, isn’t a guy who thinks a move or two ahead of his opponents, as one might do in chess. The same is true for Garoppolo, who has only played in 11 games, and who only has one National Football League touchdown pass under his belt thus far.
At a press conference at Gillette Stadium the day before the official start of training camp, Belichick was asked repeatedly about Brady’s suspension and what he’ll do to get backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo ready to fill Brady’s shoes. And Brady, look, Brady went first in 11-on-11’s today, so it’s not like Brady’s not getting the majority of the work, and obviously everybody knows he’s the starter. I have a feeling the Seahawks game will be one of the most intense games of the year, and since it’s Sunday Night, it will be like playing at 5pm for the visiting team.
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Just because Garoppolo is the starter doesn’t mean he will alter his mentality. “We’ve got four preseason games and everything until we get there, so we will take it one step at a time”.
