Pats draft QB Jimmy Garropolo from Eastern Illinois in the 2nd round

Snake Eyes · May 10, 2014

NE_PATS_FAN_54 said:
People are acting like this guy didn't have any pedigree going into the draft. Most "experts" had him as a 2nd/3rd round guy. He went end of the 2nd round. Simply put, I don't think there was a player available at 62 that would have stepped in and become a starter. That being said, there are few positions on the team where the Pats have less depth than at the QB positon. You have a 37 year old player who saw his numbers decline last year and a backup QB who will walk at the end of the year. Show me a position where the Pats have less depth, both long term and short term, than the QB positon. Your commenting as if Brady is 30 years old and in his prime. Just simply not the case here.

Brady's numbers declined because he had the worst receiving corp in the league. If you look at Manning move in the pocket and throw the ball and likewise with Brady I think you'd conclude that Brady's skills are at a MUCH higher level, but Manning had the best receiving corp in the league and enough protection to pay down a blanket and have a picnic while in the pocket.

SEA_Pat · May 10, 2014

Seacoast Fan said:
1. We used a second round pick on a player who is virtually guaranteed never to play a meaningful snap so long as Brady is playing. I would much rather have used the second round pick on someone who might help the team while Brady is still taking snaps.

...and who suddenly becomes the most important player on the team the second Brady goes down. As others have pointed out, we're almost certainly looking at Brady in Decline at some point during this guy's rookie contract. In which case, again, he becomes the most important player on the team.

Seacoast Fan said:
2. People are saying that Garopollo can learn from Brady. The skills that make Brady the GOAT are a gift and cannot be taught. How did the teaching angle work out with Mallett or any other backup during the Brady Era.

Brady the GOAT has always been lauded for his outworking everyone else on the team, for being prepared for any situation, for making quick decisions and for protecting the ball. Doesn't that sound a lot like the attributes of this kid? What skills exactly are the ones you're referring to?

Far as I can tell, the teaching angle resulted in the two previous backups scoring starting NFL jobs and playing reasonably well in them. And apparently there is interest in Mallett too. How many other backup QBs from other teams end up like that?

Seacoast Fan said:
3. Maybe they can now trade Mallett but not for any kind of high pick this year, and even if that is the theory they need hardly to have spent a second rd pick on a backup. If Brady goes down this year or any year (perish the thought) we are in trouble regardless of who is the backup.

Sure, but wouldn't you WANT a 2nd round talent available to take over if Brady goes down, rather than a JAG? No, nobody is going to take over from Brady like he did to Bledsoe, but wouldn't you rather have someone who might come close rather than someone who wouldn't stand a prayer? Remember, at best we've got 2-3 years of the GOAT left, I'm amazed by the guy, but if he plays great into his 40's, then he's doing something nobody else has ever done.

Snake Eyes · May 10, 2014

AndyJohnson said:
When have the Patriots been mediocre?
You seriously think that is the goal? Open your eyes, you are missing a nice run for this franchise

The team is good enough to get into the playoffs but not good enough to be the last one standing.

Texxx · May 10, 2014

JDot said:
No one who was left when the Pats picked was stepping in and making impact.

Easily one of the dumbest posts I've ever seen in here.

So essentially you're saying that beyond the 2nd round of the draft that the rest of the draft is full of a ton of crappy players that won't amount to anything in their first year. Lol! Do you even listen to yourself when some of you make these kinds of claims?

Every year there are tons and tons of players that are impact players after the 2nd round. Oh, but since BB drafted a QB, no one else could possibly have been an impact player this year. Seriously, get off of the coach's jock. One thing to like the pick, completely another thing to waive off the other few hundred players and suggest that none of them will amount to squat. There will be a ton of players that make this statement look really ignorant by the end of this year.

Snake Eyes · May 10, 2014

AzorianPats said:
Pats just took Stork at the fourth round....All you guys *****ing for interior O line help, there you go!

It's a start.

AzPatsFan · May 10, 2014

Texxx said:
You clearly aren't rooting for a SB for this team. I am. So, have fun looking at the future every single year, but you have no clue about understanding the weaknesses and the holes on a football team based off of your spin on this pick and the words from this post.

How did this work out with Mallet? What did they get out of wasting that pick? Absolutely nothing. This team is very close right now, and they're drafting nothing but project players. Only an buffoon would draft a ton of project players and future players when they have a HOF QB that has only between 1-3 years left potentially. I have no idea why Brady hasn't ripped Bellicheck a new one the last two off seasons.

Same thing I've repeated for years on this site which is that Bellicheck is a great coach, but one of the worst GM's in the league. He stockpiles picks and then makes all these high risk picks that don't' amount to a whole lot. Brady makes the team over achieve with his leadership and preparation.

The Broncos have schooled the Patriots on building a team since Manning got there. Stole two of their best players on offense and defense and have done everything to help Manning get another ring and to break BRady's records. Elway trumps Bellicheck as a GM and it's sad at this point. Brady had Manning wipped as far as being the greatest QB of all time, but when it's all said and done people might be saying different things in a few years if the Broncos win a SB and then Pats don't. The reason will be the difference in the management of both teams. One team does everything possible to build a SB, the other team just constantly builds on a future.

And you think Lefell was effectively addressing the WR situation? Lol! Go back and watch the last few years of football man. He is another average free agent WR that Bellicheck threw in there like Amendola, Johnson, and Lloyd whom you probably said the same stuff for the last few years.

I don't see the line of new Lombardi trophies that the Broncos have won recently.

Respectfully, insert cranium in maximus glutemus and cogitate on your reflections. They don't compute.

NE_PATS_FAN_54 · May 10, 2014

Snake Eyes said:
Brady's numbers declined because he had the worst receiving corp in the league. If you look at Manning move in the pocket and throw the ball and likewise with Brady I think you'd conclude that Brady's skills are at a MUCH higher level, but Manning had the best receiving corp in the league and enough protection to pay down a blanket and have a picnic while in the pocket.

To say that Brady is at a MUCH higher level in terms of skill than Manning is an absolute stretch. Obviously Brady played with a bunch of misfit toys last year, but he's on the decline of his career (as is Manning) and you need to have depth at the QB position going forward. Garropolo gives you that.

SeanBruschi54 · May 10, 2014

@oldskool138 lol why did you downvote me for saying 6'2 isnt short?

Snake Eyes · May 10, 2014

NE_PATS_FAN_54 said:
To say that Brady is at a MUCH higher level in terms of skill than Manning is an absolute stretch. Obviously Brady played with a bunch of misfit toys last year, but he's on the decline of his career (as is Manning) and you need to have depth at the QB position going forward. Garropolo gives you that.

Manning throws ducks, Brady can still throw lasers! We could have had depth late in the draft and still vastly improved our odds of winning a Lombardi.

DropKickFlutie · May 10, 2014

"This year is a so so year for QBs in the draft. There are a couple of guys with the talent and mental ability to make it big. The first is Chad Pennington followed closely by Chris Redman and Giovanni Carmazzi. After this group there are some that will make backups for some teams such as Tee Martin and Marc Bulger. After that there are longshots that may make the practice squad such as Tim Ratty or Tom Brady, depending on what team takes them. This is not a great year for QBs."
Russell Lande in Feb. 2000 in ESPN interview.

Hopefully Garropolo isn't another Carmazzi. McCarron still on the board...

zipster9 · May 10, 2014

NE_PATS_FAN_54 said:
To say that Brady is at a MUCH higher level in terms of skill than Manning is an absolute stretch. Obviously Brady played with a bunch of misfit toys last year, but he's on the decline of his career (as is Manning) and you need to have depth at the QB position going forward. Garropolo gives you that.

AJ McCarron selected by Bengals.

I would've thought AJ would be a better fit in NE.

NE_PATS_FAN_54 · May 10, 2014

Texxx said:
And you think Lefell was effectively addressing the WR situation? Lol! Go back and watch the last few years of football man. He is another average free agent WR that Bellicheck threw in there like Amendola, Johnson, and Lloyd whom you probably said the same stuff for the last few years.

Your wrong on so many levels levels, its hard to figure out where to start.

Texxx said:
You clearly aren't rooting for a SB for this team. I am.

Yep, your right. I want them to tank next year. I hear the 2015 draft is stocked.

Texxx said:
So, have fun looking at the future every single year, but you have no clue about understanding the weaknesses and the holes on a football team based off of your spin on this pick and the words from this post.

Oh cut the crap. Guy, your a fan just like anyone else on this site. Stop acting like you have some advanced knowledge of "the weaknesses and holes on a football team". Get over yourself.

Texxx said:
Same thing I've repeated for years on this site which is that Bellicheck is a great coach, but one of the worst GM's in the league. He stockpiles picks and then makes all these high risk picks that don't' amount to a whole lot. Brady makes the team over achieve with his leadership and preparation.

Show me a coach/GM/team with a perfect draft record. I'll wait for this one. BB and crew have had their busts, not a doubt about that (i.e. the 2009 draft). Past few years, however, his drafting has been excellent.

Texxx said:
The Broncos have schooled the Patriots on building a team since Manning got there. Stole two of their best players on offense and defense and have done everything to help Manning get another ring and to break BRady's records. Elway trumps Bellicheck as a GM Yoand it's sad at this point. Brady had Manning wipped as far as being the greatest QB of all time, but when it's all said and done people might be saying different things in a few years if the Broncos win a SB and then Pats don't. The reason will be the difference in the management of both teams. One team does everything possible to build a SB, the other team just constantly builds on a future.

The most ridiculous statements of them all. Manning inherited a Broncos team that won a playoff game with TIM TEBOW. Manning handpicked the Broncos because they had a stacked roster that he could walk in and contend for a championship with (the majority of which was built by Josh McDaniels). Elway has been splashy, yes (Welker, Talib, etc) but they haven't won a damn thing. Pats got crushed by the Broncos in the playoffs, yes (at Denver under absolute perfect weather conditions). Let's not forget the absolute choke job they pulled in Foxboro earlier in the year and the other choke job they pulled in the SB. Broncos are far from a perfect team and had the teams both been healthy, I'd take the Patriots any day of the week. Also, you seem to be side-stepping this past free agency period and the addition of the best CB in football along with the addition of Browner, re-signing of Wilfork, etc. Give me BB the GM any day of the week of Elway.

Oh and btw - take a look at the 2012 draft (one of Elway's first drafts as GM). Right after having Manning fall into their laps, in the 2nd round they took a ...... (oh, don't say it) ....... Quarterback. And somehow they didn't collapse.

NE_PATS_FAN_54 · May 10, 2014

Snake Eyes said:
Manning throws ducks, Brady can still throw lasers! We could have had depth late in the draft and still vastly improved our odds of winning a Lombardi.

So the 62nd player in the draft is going to"vastly" improve your odds of winning a SB? Show me a Patriots 2nd round draft pick from the past 3 years that "vastly" improved the team during his first year.

Snake Eyes · May 10, 2014

NE_PATS_FAN_54 said:
So the 62nd player in the draft is going to"vastly" improve your odds of winning a SB? Show me a Patriots 2nd round draft pick from the past 3 years that "vastly" improved the team during his first year.

There were some stud linemen available at that stop, guys that could have made a real difference, JG is going to be holding a clipboard.

Feel free to look at previous drafts to see guys selected after 62 that were very good players and contributed a lot to their team's success.

hwc · May 10, 2014

I have to chuckle over the collective hand wringing, pearl clutching, and ranting about the Garrapolo pick by NE fans. It reminds me of a typical Sunday night "sky in falling because we won ugly" meltdown around here.

I don't find the pick odd at all. Mallett is gone after next year. The Pats will need a backup QB. With the new league rules against off-season workouts and the limited number of practice sessions, I don't know if you can wait til next year to draft your backup QB. I think that's what Belichick was getting at with his comment that it's better to draft the QB sooner.

If Garappolo is a viable back up QB for three years to an aging veteran, then that's worth a late 2nd round pick. Or, I guess we could always go and sign a Josh Freeman or a Mark Sanchez or some other flotsam from the reject pile....

The mistake, IMO, is thinking of every draft pick as a starter. Belichick clearly thinks of filling roles on a team. Back up QB is an important role to fill. 3rd down running back so Vereen can move into the primary back rotation is an important role to fill. A versatile D-lineman who can rotate into multiple spots along the line and spell Wilfork and Kelley is an important role to fill.

SuperStang83 · May 10, 2014

That's a nice highlight video VJC. One thing that sticks out to me is his feet in the pocket. They remind me a lot of watching Peyton's feet moving around in the pocket.

VJCPatriot · May 10, 2014

I'm hoping that Jimmy turns into what we hoped Kevin O'Connell would be - the modern hybrid pocket passer with mobility to make plays with his feet on occasion.

Garapollo has drawn comparisons to fellow Eastern Illinois alum - Tony Romo:
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/38548/qb-coach-sees-a-little-romo-in-garappolo

Coach42 · May 11, 2014

We should get him a ParsFans account. Plenty of motivation for him here.

SaCaCh said:
"proving someone wrong...that's what I live for...."

SEA_Pat · May 11, 2014

Texxx said:
How did this work out with Mallet? What did they get out of wasting that pick? Absolutely nothing. This team is very close right now, and they're drafting nothing but project players. Only an buffoon would draft a ton of project players and future players when they have a HOF QB that has only between 1-3 years left potentially. I have no idea why Brady hasn't ripped Bellicheck a new one the last two off seasons.

So you'd advocate not having a backup QB? Or alternatively just plugging in any old JAG so that should Brady go down for a couple of games then we'd be basically throwing them away? Most NFL picks don't work out at all; we got a backup QB (something you MUST have) for three years and may well get a draft pick out of it to boot. Good deal.

Texxx said:
Same thing I've repeated for years on this site which is that Bellicheck is a great coach, but one of the worst GM's in the league. He stockpiles picks and then makes all these high risk picks that don't' amount to a whole lot. Brady makes the team over achieve with his leadership and preparation.

As per my response earlier in this thread, review 2010, 2011 and 2012 since these are the last drafts where we have at least two years of playing time.

2010 - McCourty and Gronk (two All-Pros) plus 4 starters. Not good enough for you?
2011 - Our starting backfield (Ridley and Vereen) plus Solder.
2012 - Chandler Jones, Hightower, Dennard plus four bench guys who are still on the team.

So what standard is it that Bill the GM needs to achieve to get out of your doghouse? That's pretty good drafting from where I'm sitting. Did you think last year's draft was a disaster then? You don't like Dobson, Ryan and Collins?

Lastly - who was it that was going to turn the team around and win us the Super Bowl that was available in the 2nd round for that pick? Go on, you're calling everyone names, tell us who they SHOULD have picked who would have led us to the promised land.

PatsFanSince74 · May 11, 2014

ctpatsfan77 said:
Only in the sense that Mallett is unlikely to be the one to take over for Brady; I don't think this is Brady's final year as a starter.

I can't disagree with either statement.
My view is that if the Pats draft a QB in Round Two after they've had three years to look at Mallett then they have decided to go in another direction. I wouldn't be surprised if they trade him now so they can get something for him before he becomes a FA; his trade value declines with every month and will be negligible in a few months.

Pats draft QB Jimmy Garropolo from Eastern Illinois in the 2nd round

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Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

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