Nobody saw that coming.
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No one is saying he’s creating a quarterback controversy in New England – Bill Belichick has made it clear that Brady will be the starter when his suspension is over – but Garoppolo is vindicating the Patriots puzzling decision to take him with a second-round pick (64th overall) in the 2014 draft. Originally the defense was going to “roll” coverage, or play zone, but when the Patriots motioned one of the the receivers, the call changed to man. Williams was to stay guarding Chris Hogan. Most pundits had already ticked a “1” in the L column for the old Pats. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Today’s game, at the Patriots’ Gillette Stadium, has the Patriots listed as a 6.5 point favorite. “(Last Sunday) was the same kind of game, and we won. And he was absolutely Bradyesque in leading the Patriots to the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, completing five of seven passes for 62 yards, including two pivotal third-down conversions that helped set up Stephen Gostkowski’s 32-yard field goal with 3:44 left. They went on to lose at Denver in the AFC championship game.
Jimmy Garoppolo has spent most of his 24 years in the shadows. What if, people will ask, Brady replaces a thriving Garoppolo and proceeds to play poorly for his first few games?
Tom Brady went quietly in the night for this last suspension and while his mini-vacation has or will be filled with trips to MI and twitter posts and checking in on social media, you can bet the fire will be burning by the time he assumes the starting position.
When Brady and Welker were together on the Patriots, they were almost unstoppable. Rest assured, he is angry right now.
Like Brady, Garoppolo also showed the ability to move in the pocket, either stepping up to avoid the rush or simply running. Start Foster vs. the Patriots. This trend obviously starts with Tom Brady and continues to Matt Cassel who started multiple seasons for the Chiefs, Bryan Hoyer who started for the Browns and Texans, Ryan Mallet who split time with Hoyer in Houston and finally Jimmy Garoppolo. He didn’t become a quarterback until his junior year in high school.
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Welker, who played for six season with Brady in New England and is now a free agent, will be in New England this weekend for the Patriots’ home opener against Miami. Okay, well, I’m going to play catch and talk football with an ex-teammate.
