New England Patriots: Tom Brady not mad about team holding on to Garoppolo

The New England Patriots decided not to trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason. How does Tom Brady feel about this?

To start the 2016 season, the New England Patriots were without quarterback Tom Brady due to a four-game suspension. While some might have thought this would hurt the Patriots immensely, they were able to overcome it.

One of the big takeaways from the Patriots being without Brady was the skill of his backup, Jimmy Garoppolo. The Patriots selected Garoppolo in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Garoppolo was victorious in his first start of the season against the Arizona Cardinals and looked good in the win.

Following the win in Week 1, the Garoppolo played well against the Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately, Garoppolo was injured in the win, and Jacoby Brissett came in to finish the game. Even though it was just about a game and a half of football, Garoppolo looked like a capable starter.

When Brady came back, the Patriots rolled and eventually won their fifth Super Bowl. However, Garoppolo became a hot commodity this offseason. Despite having a high trade value, the Patriots decided to hold on to Garoppolo. Despite being a good quarterback, Brady isn’t worried that the Patriots decided to hold on to Garoppolo.

"“When you’re a member of a team sport, the best guy plays,” Brady said to Ian O’Connor of ESPN.com. “So I always want to make sure I’m the best guy, and I give our team a great chance to win. But if you’re ever not [the best guy], part of being a great teammate is letting the other guy do that, as well. Competition is what has always driven me. I’ve never been one that was hand selected, to be this particular player. … In high school, college, professionally, I think the greater the competition, the more that it really allows me to dig deep and bring the best out of me.”"

Seeing what teams were willing to give up in the NFL for questionable quarterback prospects, the Patriots holding on to Garoppolo makes a lot of sense. In the NFL, it is extremely difficult to find a franchise quarterback. They rarely hit free agency and few are perfect prospects.

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Even though Garoppolo is entering the final season of his contract, he provides the Patriots with excellent insurance in case something happens to Brady. With Brady getting older, father time could catch up to him at any time. Having Garoppolo on the roster not only pushes Brady to better, but it also provides the team with insurance.