BB's "about face" on QBs

May 22:

Belichick to @SiriusXMNFL on trading Ryan Mallett: "That's not really something that we're that interested in."— Ben Volin (@BenVolin)

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Today:

Jimmy Garoppolo is the only QB other than Brady on the Patriots' payroll.

So how did we go from "You can never have too much depth at the position" to "We're not really interested in having a developmental QB3"?

I assume that's what happens when the super-raw kid you drafted, the one who played exclusively from the shotgun in a lower-level college program that barely had a playbook, progresses much faster than you could have reasonably expected. You don't "stay the course" after the course changes.

Also, if you ARE thinking of trading someone, it doesn't help his trade value to say you're shopping him. It helps more if people think your first choice is to keep him and it's up to THEM to impress you enough with an offer.

In the end, I doubt it did much to enhance Mallett's value (since we got so little), but in principle it's a smarter practice.

The first quote is from May. Garoppolo hadn't played for NE then. When he outplays Mallett handily during pre-season the decision becomes much easier. Mallett became expendable.

You're assuming Belichick went anywhere. He wouldn't tell you if you're pants were on fire, yet you expect him to truthfully tell every team in the leagues whether he might trade someone.

Sicilian said:

Also, if you ARE thinking of trading someone, it doesn't help his trade value to say you're shopping him. It helps more if people think your first choice is to keep him and it's up to THEM to impress you enough with an offer.

In the end, I doubt it did much to enhance Mallett's value (since we got so little), but in principle it's a smarter practice.

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Agreed, only a dummy would admit to wanting to trade someone.

Sicilian said:

Also, if you ARE thinking of trading someone, it doesn't help his trade value to say you're shopping him. It helps more if people think your first choice is to keep him and it's up to THEM to impress you enough with an offer.

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Very true. The same principle that happened (except in reverse) for Tampa Bay this off-season. The Bucs signed Josh McCown, reuniting him with his former coach from Chicago. Tampa Bay found multiple teams interested in trading for Mike Glennon, and decided to re-assess their initial decision to trade him for whatever they could get.

I find it interesting to compare and contrast Mallett and Glennon. Both were third round picks, though Mallett was the better college quarterback, and also played in a tougher conference. Though Mallett (in my opinion) has more upside, his lack of playing time in the NFL may have lead other teams to value Glennon more highly.

jmt57 said:

Very true. The same principle that happened (except in reverse) for Tampa Bay this off-season. The Bucs signed Josh McCown, reuniting him with his former coach from Chicago. Tampa Bay found multiple teams interested in trading for Mike Glennon, and decided to re-assess their initial decision to trade him for whatever they could get.

I find it interesting to compare and contrast Mallett and Glennon. Both were third round picks, though Mallett was the better college quarterback, and also played in a tougher conference. Though Mallett (in my opinion) has more upside, his lack of playing time in the NFL may have lead other teams to value Glennon more highly.

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BOB and his Texans held out, and got their price. They will have the last Laugh. Harvard's Fitzpatrick is an experienced journey man plus, like the Texans earlier QB, and will likely lead/manage the Talented Texans to 10 wins and maybe a division title, like his predecessor. Mallett may take his job eventually, and after suitable real world game experience, develop into an above average starter.

I never really understood what fans thought we were going to "get" for Mallett. He's going to hit free agency so really all teams are interested in giving up is a low draft pick so they get an initial look-see and the chance to lock him up if he fits with their team.

From Belichick's standpoint its better to trade him for something and direct his landing spot rather than cut him and let him latch on with a division rival. But the bottom line is he served his purpose here - sure he was a relatively high draft pick, but that equated to a competent backup QB at a fraction of what one would cost in terms of salary cap space in the backup QB market

Garropollo serves the same purpose, yes, "costing" us a 2nd round pick - as opposed to the $2 million a season some backup QBs get we have a cheaper competent backup QB with a lot of upside