Jimmy Garoppolo on starting Week 1: ‘That’s why we play the game’
Garoppolo got many of the first-team reps during the first practice of training camp.
Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t appear to be balking at his big break.
After two seasons of backing up Tom Brady, he’s “excited” get the chance to start for the Patriots in the first four games of the season during Brady’s suspension.
“I’ve been preparing to be the starter since the first day I walked in here, and that’s just the mindset.” Garoppolo said Thursday after the first day of training camp. “That’s why we play the game. We play to get out there and get your opportunity, and when it comes, you’ve got to be ready for it.”
That opportunity started quickly during team drills on Thursday. While Garoppolo took second-team reps during 7-on-7 drills, he took over first-team duties in the 11-on-11 drills that followed. In the end zone portion of the drill, he showed off a quick release, and threw 3 for 6 with touchdown passes to Martellus Bennett and Aaron Dobson. Garoppolo then led the first-team on the 2-minute drill.
He brushed aside the difference between running the first and second offense.
“We don’t really have the ones, twos, three,” Garoppolo said. “We all rotate in and out, first group, second group, everyone’s rotating. It’s really good, though, because throughout the season there are going to be injuries, you know things are going to happen, so you have to be able to play with whoever is in there with you.”
Last season, Garoppolo rotated in and out of the first team as well. Though, there wasn’t the same clarity over the starting job, as Brady’s suspension was still under appeal. The legal process is now over for Brady, and Garoppolo is firmly slated to start. Does that make him calm, nervous, or excited?
Garoppolo said: “Excited, man. I’m excited for Week 1.”
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