Patriots kickoff 2016: A look at Jimmy Garoppolo
Third-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo wears the No. 10 jersey for the New England Patriots, so he is the subject of discussion as we mark 10 days until the Patriots open 2016.
Size: 6-foot-2, 226 pounds
College: Eastern Illinois
NFL experience: Two seasons
Since being selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Garoppolo has appeared in 11 of 32 regular season games. In that action, he’s notched a total of 19 completions on 27 throws with 188 yards and a touchdown. Most of that came in his rookie season, when Garoppolo saw a healthy amount of playing time in the season finale against the Buffalo Bills.
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Although he didn’t factor directly into the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX victory, Garoppolo received credit for simulating the threat of Russell Wilson in the practices leading up to the big game. Garoppolo must have learned a ton in two the past two seasons, simply through osmosis by holding the clipboard between Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels and in one-on-one talks with Tom Brady.
Recent installments in Patriots kickoff countdown profile series:
11 days – No. 11 Julian Edelman
13 days – No. 13 DeAndre Carter
Speaking of the man Garoppolo is hoping to replace as the Patriots’ starting quarterback in the near future, Brady will be missing the first four games of the regular season (you may have heard). As a result, Garoppolo has quite the prospect in front of him; complete a four-game sample size as a starting NFL quarterback, and watch as the accolades and criticism and overreactions roll in.
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Furthermore, Garoppolo has rookie Jacoby Brissett breathing down his neck; not in the short-term, but over the coming months and years, Brissett will be just as intent on securing the post-Brady reins as Garoppolo. For Jimmy G, the time is now to show the league what he’s got.
Next: These 8 players will help Jimmy G win
Since there is no current owner of the No. 9 or No. 8 jerseys, this series takes a break in the next few days. But be sure to stop by Musket Fire on Sunday morning as we mark 7 days until kickoff by profiling the owner of the No. 7 jersey, quarterback Jacoby Brissett.