Tom Brady reacts to the Patriots trading Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers

When the New England Patriots drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, head coach Bill Belichick referenced a succession plan for Tom Brady, due to Brady’s “age and contract situation.”

Well, three and a half years later, Brady has outlasted yet another back-up quarterback and he was on Westwood One Radio with Jim Gray to share his thoughts on the trade.

“Jimmy was a great teammate and a great friend and he always will be,” Brady said about Garoppolo going to the San Francisco 49ers. “I want nothing but the very best for him. He’s earned the trust of his teammates and the respect of his teammates and that’s all you can ask for as a player.”

Brady is also a believer in Garoppolo’s potential as an NFL starter and believes that he could have a solid career.

“He’s put in all the effort,” Brady said about Garoppolo. “I’ve watched him for the three and a half years and really enjoyed working with him and hopefully he goes on and does a great job.”

Patriots Nation no longer has to wonder about whether or not Garoppolo will be the heir to Tom Brady as the face of the New England franchise, or whether there will be a quarterback controversy. That conversation is officially over, until the Patriots draft a quarterback in the first or second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Brady, for his part, isn’t taking the trade as a sign of his permanence with the Patriots.

“This is a week-to-week league,” Brady said. “Things change so quickly from week to week, year to year, everyone is concerned, in my mind this is all about this season and us trying to win. I’m trying to do the best I can do for our team like I always do. I am going to bring it every single day like I’ve tried to do for the last 18 years so you know I’m focused on this season and I’m sure everyone else in the organization is focused.”