It will be weird seeing Tom Brady sidelined for the first four weeks of the NFL season, but order will be restored when he returns to the field in Week 5.
Or will it?
The New England Patriots quarterback officially is suspended for Weeks 1 through 4, meaning backup Jimmy Garoppolo likely will take the reins for the first quarter of the season.
That Brady will replace Garoppolo once his suspension ends is a virtual certainty that shouldn’t be up for debate, even if Garoppolo plays exceptionally well. But that didn’t stop ESPN’s “First Take” from stirring the pot Monday morning.
What percentage chance do you give @JimmyG_10 to win the @Patriots starting job in his 4-week audition? pic.twitter.com/v6USBYY2cU
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 18, 2016
Apparently, just because Skip Bayless has left the building doesn’t mean the hot takes will stop.
Garoppolo’s four-game stint should give the Patriots a valuable preview of what life will be like after Brady, but even if the third-year pro puts up, well, Brady-like numbers, it’s pretty unfathomable to imagine Bill Belichick keeping one of the best quarterbacks of all time on the bench in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns.
But since a ridiculous question was asked, we’ll supply a ridiculous answer: Third-round draft pick Jacoby Brissett will win the starting job from Garoppolo in training camp, then go on to start all 16 games. Why not, right?
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
