New England Patriots Rumors: With Tom Brady Reportedly Being Suspended To Start Season, Who Will The Patriots Turn To?
Tom Brady is expected to miss the start of the 2015 NFL season as a result of his involvement in DeflateGate.
Gary Myers of the New York Daily News reports that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will announce Brady’s punishment next week. Myers said that the big question now is not if Brady will be suspended, but for how long.
“In conversations I’ve had with several key sources who always have a good sense of what goes on at 345 Park Ave., there is little doubt that Goodell considers Brady’s role in DeflateGate a serious violation.”
Speculation of the length of Brady’s suspension has ranged from as long as a full season by the Miami Herald to a short as two to four games. According to Mike Giardi of Comcast Sports New England, the Patriots fear that Brady will be forced to sit six-to-eight games.
Myers added that Brady will likely not be the only one punished as a result of the NFL’s investigation. The Patriots will also likely be fined, but coach Bill Belichick is not expected to be punished as he was not specifically implicated in the Wells Report.
If Brady does indeed get suspended, the Patriots’ options at replacing him are currently limited, as the only other quarterbacks they have on their roster are a pair of second year pros — Jimmy Garappolo and Garrett Gilbert.
Garappolo has thrown just 27 NFL passes since being selected in the second round of the 2014 draft out of Eastern Illinois. He completed 19 of those 27 attempts for 182 yards and one touchdown in six games. He finished with a 101.5 passer rating and is considered to have decent mobility but did get sacked five times and only had nine rushing yards on 10 carries.
Garappolo was extremely effective at Eastern Illinois. He was named the top offensive player in the FCS during his senior season, after completing 66 percent of his passes for 5,050 yards with 53 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Despite Garrappolo’s lack of pro experience, his personal throwing coach, Jeff Christiansen, told the Boston Herald that he will be just fine if called upon, a result of the tutoring Brady has provided.
“From the exchanges I’ve had with Jimmy, I can tell you Tom’s been great with him, and helping him understand NFL defenses, along with the offense. He’s got nothing but great things to say about the whole situation. He feels very fortunate.
“With Tom’s professionalism and willingness to help the kid.I’m sure he’ll do real well if that happens.”
Gilbert, who is the son of former NFL quarterback Gale Gilbert, was a sixth-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams out of SMU in 2014. He has not thrown an NFL pass, as he was placed on the Rams practice squad and subsequently cut on October 30. The Patriots signed him to their practice squad on December 17.
Prior to attending SMU, Gilbert spent two seasons at Texas. He holds quarterback records at both Texas and SMU.
The Patriots also could bring in some veteran free agents to training camp to give the youngsters some competition. Jake Locker, Matt Flynn, Michael Vick, Brian Hoyer and Mark Sanchez are among the free agents currently available.
New England will open its season at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, September 10. The Patriots then will travel to Buffalo on September 20 and host Jacksonville on September 27. The Patriots bye comes in week four.
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