FOXBORO, Mass. — Jimmy Garoppolo just unwittingly fed the New England media trolls looking to start controversy over the Patriots’ quarterback situation.
Garoppolo, who will start the first four weeks of the season, was asked if he’s excited that teammates will look to him as a leader now that Brady’s four-game suspension has begun.
“It’s a smoother operation, I’ll say that,” Garoppolo said Wednesday. “It’s just me and Jacoby (Brissett). All the reps are just between the two of us now. We kind of know where we sit on that. It’s different without Tom, no question about that, but it is what it is at this point.”
And that makes sense. Circumstances dictated Brady and Garoppolo essentially share the starting role over the summer, and that’s extremely difficult to ask of a young player. Garoppolo can’t exactly compete on or off the field with a quarterback who’s widely regarded as the best of all time. Now Garoppolo has the team to himself for the first four weeks without having to tiptoe around Brady.
The more controversial media types will point to these comments from Garoppolo and further the notion Brady and Garoppolo don’t like one another. And that’s entirely possible. But without any concrete or circumstantial evidence of a rift, it’s baseless speculation.
Garoppolo knows his temporary role, and Brady finally being away from the team does make it easier on him.
Thumbnail photo via Jeremy Brevard/USA TODAY Sports Images
