NFL: Garoppolo about TB12: “Thought I was better”

Jimmy Garoppolo spoke in an interview with Bleacher Report magazine about his time as rookie quarterback with the New England Patriots and surprised with statements regarding his attitude to the quarterback situation at the time.

“When I got here, I thought to myself,’You’re better than the guy,'” Garoppolo said about his arrival with the Patriots and the competitive situation with star quarterback Tom Brady. He had been fully aware that it had not been so, after all, the distribution of roles had been clear. “But that’s exactly the attitude you have to show to want to be a starter,” says Garoppolo.

After Tom Brady had to serve a four-match suspension at the beginning of the 2016 season due to the deflategate, Garoppolo came to his first two starts as quarterback of the Patriots and convinced. However, he suffered a shoulder injury in the match against the Miami Dolphins and only got fit again after Brady’s return.

Garoppolo was traded to the San Francisco 49ers last season and is still unbeaten as starting quarterback (1542 YDS, 6 TD, 5 INT). Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is said to have reluctantly accepted the departure.