What’s in a name? What is it about those four syllables that can roll off the tongue like Bolognese, but can be so damn hard to spell? Thank God for Yahoo search suggestions. Jimmy Garoppolo has no problem with his last name like some of the rest of us do; it’s likely he’s been practicing it since preschool. We’re only just learning it now. After being selected as the 62nd overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, the former Panther of Eastern Illinois and freshly-signed New England third-string quarterback, might have drawn instant comparisons to Mr. Brady, even if he hadn’t named the three-time Super Bowl champion as his favorite NFL player.
The chatter was palpable as the televised talking heads barked of a seasonal change in New England. Garoppolo was the kind of pick that signaled a possible changing of the guard in Foxboro, a locale that has been consistently incubating quarterback complacency for nearly a decade and a half, with good reason, of course. Hey, if it ain’t broke…
Aside from replenishing both offensive and defensive squads that had been depleted by injuries, free agent moves, and murder charges, of all things, there had to have been something in the back of Bill Belichick’s mind that had him thinking about the future. Tom Brady turned 37 in August, an age that many would consider to be geriatric in the NFL. For all the rock solid steadiness Brady has provided his team, there are now vocal predictions about how many years Number 12 has left in him. Will he be able to hang around long enough to win a fourth Super Bowl ring, tying Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana in the seemingly uncatchable feat? Although the New England starter has given no indication of slowing down or mentioning the ‘R’ word (retirement), the Patriots front office must surely be looking to the future.
A few years ago, many thought the future could come in the form of Ryan Mallett, the former Razorback. Until Garoppolo, Mallett was the second-highest Patriots quarterback pick, behind only former overall number one, Drew Bledsoe. Mallett has worked his way up from the practice squad, all the way to the official Brady backup since his debut in 2012. His regular season appearances, coming when New England was resting on the laurels of an unbeatable lead, have seen Mallett finish off the inevitable while providing respite to the league’s two-time MVP. However, Mallett has yet to record a single regular or postseason touchdown in his tenure at New England, which has many fans wondering, is that it?
This brings us to the excitement over the signing of Garoppolo, the Walter Payton award-winning athlete, who broke Tony Romo’s record for passing touchdowns at Eastern Illinois. For all the collegiate accolades, there is still a big question as to whether or not those honors will translate to success in the NFL.
We were able to get our first peek at Garoppolo in action during week one of the preseason when the Patriots faced the Redskins. Sitting out for the game, Brady watched as Mallett led the offense for the first half. Never quite seeming to find a rhythm, and battling a highly-ranked defense, Mallett went 5 for 12 and completed just 55 yards in two quarters. Then came Garoppolo, stepping onto FedExField for his first pro game ever. Neither as a player nor spectator had Garoppolo seen the likes of that kind of action before. He had only ever watched NFL games on TV, inside the comfortable confines of home.
With the fourth quarter clock melting to zero, the Patriots had lost 23-6. But, something else occurred in the second half; people’s eyes were opened to the promise Garoppolo had shown. Once he dug in, he looked as though he was supremely comfortable in the limelight. The rookie would go 9 for 13 and log 157 yards, including the Patriots only touchdown of the game. In the days after, Boston and surrounding area media outlets praised Garoppolo’s control on the field, though a few would still note unevenness in his debut.
When the Patriots met the Philadelphia Eagles at home the following week, Garoppolo’s stock began to rise even further as he was chosen to take the field over Mallett immediately after Brady sailed through his opening snaps. Though Mallett edged Garoppolo slightly in completions and yardage, Garoppolo upped the ante by scoring two touchdowns to Mallett’s one, which, added to Brady’s first quarter touchdown, assisted in the Patriots 42-35 victory over the miscued Eagles. As the game ended, Garoppolo’s rapid improvement seemed to be coalescing his spot behind Brady, while Mallett’s role appeared murkier than ever.
It remains to be seen what will become of Jimmy Garoppolo and his skill. Patriots owner Robert Kraft was quoted as saying he hopes Garoppolo doesn’t start for a ‘long, long time,’ echoing the sentiment of many rabid Brady fans. What is clear, however, is that in Foxboro, there is once again a young, able man in line behind a heralded quarterback who is in search for his own greatness.
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