The New England Patriots have no experience behind Tom Brady at the quarterback position. While the same could be said for most contenders around the league, it’s still important to note that if Brady goes down, the Patriots will be in trouble.
There is absolutely no reason to believe that free agent journeyman Brady Quinn could be a viable short-term replacement should Brady go down, but the Patriots are kicking the tires on the former first-round pick.
The Patriots worked out QB Brady Quinn on Monday. Quinn worked with OC Josh McDaniels in Denver (via @FieldYates) pic.twitter.com/HMaJzPtEI8
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) August 1, 2014
With Ryan Mallett and rookie second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo as the only two viable quarterbacks behind Brady on the roster, New England thought it made sense to workout a player with some in-game NFL experience.
At this point, it’s safe to say Garoppolo is guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster. Mallett, a third-round pick back in 2011, is the true wildcard here. He’s set to be a free agent following the 2014 season and has drawn rave reviews for his arm strength and an upgrade in mechanics, which seemed to plague him heading into the 2011 NFL draft. If Mallett bolts in free agency next spring, the Patriots won’t get anything back in return.
As you already know, young quarterbacks with potential are valued assets around the NFL. New England may very well be considering trading Mallett and inserting Quinn as the No. 3 quarterback behind Brady and Garoppolo. It might be a less-than-ideal scenario, but something that seems to make sense at this point. Remember, Quinn worked with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels when they both were with the Denver Broncos. There is a match here.
Quinn, long considered a bust, has thrown 12 touchdowns compared to 17 interceptions in 20 career starts. He last threw a regular season pass with the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2012.
Photo: NY Post