2. A win-win for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots
Not only did Brady win his appeal of the four-game suspension the NFL levied against him, but the Patriots also got an extra long look at second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who sure looks like he’s the team’s quarterback of the future. Not knowing who was going to start Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Patriots needed to make sure the former second-round pick was ready in case Brady’s appeal failed.
Because of this, Garoppolo played the fifth-most snaps of any quarterback this preseason. Proving he has the talent and needs just a bit more seasoning, the young signal caller completed 76 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and two picks. He might not be ready to take over the reins just yet, but another year or two of experience could do the trick. Acquiring the ability to get this extensive look only puts the Patriots personnel team in a better position to judge Garoppolo moving forward.