CSNNE’s Mike Giardi is speaking with scouts, execs, and players around the league about various topics relating to the New England Patriots and two subjects include the abilities of Tom Brady and why the Patriots didn’t trade Jimmy Garoppolo.
Both of these topics are married by the position of debate and it’s always interesting to hear what people around the league think about the Patriots.
As it relates to Brady, one scout says that outside of Rex Ryan’s days with the Jets and Ravens, “I can’t really remember a time when you popped in the tape and said, ‘S—t, they fooled him for a series, or a half or a game.’”
Another scout said that, “Brady has a way about him -- we’ve had former Pats come through here and they back my opinion -- that [Peyton] Manning didn’t have. Slows it down when Manning would seemingly let it speed up, especially in those big moments.” This scout wondered why we don’t have any game-winning drive stories about Brady, like when Joe Montana pointed out John Candy in the stands to calm down his teammates.
It’s probably because Brady’s too laser-focused.
The exec that Giardi spoke with highlighted Brady’s work ethic and commented on recent discussions that Brady’s arm strength faded over the course of the season.
“You think Bill and [Josh McDaniels] aren’t paying attention to what his arm looks like, how it responds?,” the exec asked. “I think in some of those conditions, he still managed to cut it through the wind and the elements. He doesn’t have the arm of, say, a Blake Bortles or Aaron Rodgers, but it’s obviously more than good enough to win with. He’s done that better than anyone in league history.”
Brady doesn’t have the arm of Bortles in the same way that Brady doesn’t have the arm of Pedro Martinez or Serena Williams. Bortles is playing an entirely different sport so it’s hard to compare the two.
Whatever struggles Brady might have- or that people might think he has- will only fuel the quarterback to new heights. Another scout attributes Brady’s resurgence over the past three years to the addition of Jimmy Garoppolo; anyone or anything that challenges Brady’s abilities will only send Brady back to the practice field until he’s the best.
“You wondered about [Brady’s] long-term viability several years ago when they drafted Garoppolo,” the scout said. “It looked like the end was near. Maybe it lit a fire. Sometimes even Tom Brady needs that push. Now what can you say? ...Brady was the best QB a decade ago and he’s the best QB now. That’s not how it’s suppose to go when that QB is 40 [years old].”
Brady is holding down the starting position not out of history, but because he’s staving off the competition. Garoppolo is good in his own rights and Giardi also spoke with the scouts, players, and execs about the young quarterback.”
“I played against him every day in practice. He's all that,” a former Patriots player said. “He can make all the throws. He can process all the information. He is a gamer. He can slow it down. He can spin it. I'm going tell you this, if he had gotten traded to Cleveland, they're a borderline playoff team. I really believe that.”
The scouts and execs talked about why Garoppolo was still with the Patriots after fielding offers from other teams.
“I know teams called and got nowhere,” an NFC scout said. “Easy conclusion is they see Garoppolo as the next QB. But I think it could be as simple as the value there. He's the player one snap away.”
“The job Bill and [offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels] have done with him, the work he clearly has put in, wrap all that up and it makes all the sense in the world to keep him,” an AFC scout said. “They can win with him. That's all you need to know -- in my opinion -- as to why they kept him. The moment that Brady guy starts to show cracks, the next guy is in already there, already knows the locker room, the system, the environment. I think it's genius.”
“He's Bill Belichick. He doesn't give a [damn] about what you, or me or anyone else thinks,” a third scout said. “I know teams called about Garoppolo. I don't believe they were ever given a realistic price. Why? To me, the answer is simple: Bill thinks he's got the next great one.”
The exec added that Belichick is one of the few coaches in the league that can think about the franchise “two, three, four years down the line,” and that holding a starting-caliber back-up at quarterback for a couple more years instead of taking a couple early draft picks is a decision that only a person with incredible job security can make.