“It’s important to get on the same page now and that’s what is so crucial about coming out to practice, coming out to training camp on Day 1 and just hitting it on the ground getting going”.
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The Patriots quarterback practiced alongside his teammates, including Jimmy Garoppolo, who will take over for Brady during his absence. We love seeing him like that.
“You have to go out there and take advantage of it”, he said. “When they have that edge, it makes you bring it up a notch, too”.
At first, that statement seems blasphemous.
“We’ll find out, ” he said.
Afterward, the third-year backup, a former second-round draft pick, addressed the media in the first of what will be regular press conferences that are part of his duty as the starter over the next two-plus months of summer and September action. “It’s fun, because he plays at such a high level that you have to match that level”.
The Patriots opened training camp practice on Thursday and it was like none other in recent seasons. “That just comes with experience though”.
Things couldn’t have been much better with the Eastern Illinois football team when then-head coach Dino Babers saw the potential for something even better with his developing quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo.
“I never dealt with it until I’d say a decision has been made that this is what it’ll be”, he said. “Every competitor has that mindset, so it’s a good thing to have”.
Special teams captain Matthew Slater said having Brady around during camp will be helpful. The soon-to-be 39-year-old quarterback also had nice touchdown throws to wide receiver Aaron Dobson, and he completed a missile on a deep crossing pattern to tight end Rob Gronkowski in his first throw of 11-on-11s. “That’s the whole point of not just focusing and practicing with one person”.
“If we go 0-4, I’m still not going to sweat it”, he said.
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As it stands after just one day of practice, Garoppolo said he isn’t feeling jitters over an Opening Day that is more than six weeks away. “(I’m) very excited. That’s why you play the game. “I’m going to work hard to be the best player I can be for the New England Patriots and I look forward to having the opportunity to return to the field this fall”.
