Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks drafting Jimmy Garoppolo, future of Ryan Mallett
By Jack Crosby
There is always talk around the NFL surrounding the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick. This weekend at the 2014 NFL Draft, they certainly created a lot of buzz with a bit of a potential shake up to their quarterback roster.
No, there is not talk of anyone replacing Tom Brady any time soon –although that day will be here soon enough –rather the talks this weekend was about the back up position. Prior to the event getting kicked off Thursday night, there were rumors spreading that the Patriots were in discussions to trade back up Ryan Mallett to the Houston Texans who were in the market for a quarterback.
That trade never came to fruition, however Belichick did add a quarterback to his team in the form of Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo whom he selected in the second round at 62nd overall.
Right after the draft, Belichick sat down with the team’s official website to discuss not only what drew him to Garoppolo, but also the future of Mallett in New England.
On Garoppoplo:
"I mean, I think he’s worked hard. He’s a hard worker in the weight room, prepares well. Seems like he had a real good grasp of what they were doing and could explain it very thoroughly and the adjustments they had to make and so forth. I’m sure he’s on top of it, but this is a whole different level than that, with all due respect to the program he was from. I’m not trying to minimize that, but it’s a little bit different level."
When asked about whether or not Mallett will be a part of the QB competition this season, he responded in the most Belichick way possible.
"He is."
No, I did not miss any of the above quote, that’s all that he said.
Now whether it’s via a trade soon, or whether they just wait until his contract is up this year, Mallett will not be a member of the team for much longer, so drafting Garoppolo was the smart move to make.
Now we just have to see whether or not in a few years when we do have to talk about Brady’s time in the NFL is done, if Garoppolo is the man ready to be inserted into one of the more unenviable positions in the history of the NFL.