Patriots Should Start Garoppolo Next Sunday

Everyone that absolutely needs rest shouldn't play. Brady will. This team has looked like trash offensively for several weeks now. It's very important they go into the playoffs with some momentum. Sitting starters in the last game of the season is a great recipe for one and done in the playoffs.

They are on the cusp of finally getting to make a playoff run with a healthy Gronkowski. I say sit Gronkowski, give Edelman another week off to heal up from the concussion and any other player that has been playing with a nagging injury.

I guess I would like to see Brady and the oline get some reps for 1 or 2 quarters.

They should handle this the way they did with Hoyer a few years ago when Week 17 also didn't matter. They sent Hoyer in at random times to make sure he was ready to go. They should do the same with Garoppolo.

ewg_gestalt said:

They should handle this the way they did with Hoyer a few years ago when Week 17 also didn't matter. They sent Hoyer in at random times to make sure he was ready to go. They should do the same with Garoppolo.

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Absolutely. IIRC Brady started. Hoyer came in. Brady came back in for a bit then gave way to Hoyer for the rest of the game

Grapes needs some game reps anyway.

Treat as a pre-season game in terms of playing time. Play the starters 1 quarter and maybe one drive in the 2nd and then take out Brady, Gronk, LaFell, Vereen and Blount. Edelman should not play at all to make sure he is recovered from his concussion.

I don't want to see Revis out there at all. Play Dennard, Butler, Ryan and Browner. No Hightower or Collins. They have played well and could use the rest. Same with Wilfork and Ninko. Play Chandler Jones 1 quarter max.

In the 2nd half I just want to watch the Jimmy G / Tyms show. Maybe feature Tim Wright a bit to make the playoff teams worry about him again.

Double TE said:

Treat as a pre-season game in terms of playing time. Play the starters 1 quarter and maybe one drive in the 2nd and then take out Brady, Gronk, LaFell, Vereen and Blount. Edelman should not play at all to make sure he is recovered from his concussion.

I don't want to see Revis out there at all. Play Dennard, Butler, Ryan and Browner. No Hightower or Collins. They have played well and could use the rest. Same with Wilfork and Ninko. Play Chandler Jones 1 quarter max.

In the 2nd half I just want to watch the Jimmy G / Tyms show. Maybe feature Tim Wright a bit to make the playoff teams worry about him again.

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I mostly agree with this. However keep the first unit out there until/unless they show something. If they're rolling at the end of Q1 then their day's over, enjoy the view from the sideline. But I'd like to see them get a full half, they're facing a playoff-level defense and I'd like to see them have some success, give them some tape to break down and some confidence going into the bye.

Only thing I'd alter in the first half is no passes to Gronk down the seams, that's when he's most vulnerable to the low shots. And he'd be the first guy I'd put on the bench, followed by Brady and the rest of the important guys on the offense. Give Edelman some time out there to shake the minimal rust off.

I do want to see Jimmy G get a lot of play in this game, but let's not kid ourselves...if we're winning a SB it's with Brady, Gronk and friends, give them some time against a very good defense, pull them by the half or earlier if they're kicking ass.

Let Brady practice the deep balls.

brady should play 25-50% of the game, however keep some of the other guys off the game day roster.

Sit minitron, revis, collins, chandler jones, gronk, lafell.

Let brady get wright involved in the offense.

Give Jimmy G PT. What if 2001 repeats itself when Brady went out and Bledsoe came in. It may be for one half only but if a b/u is needed I want Jimmy G to have some added regular season playing time under his belt.

Football players play football. Football players prepare for games by playing games.
Sure, the top players will get reduced snaps, but they need to prepare as if they are playing every snap, start the game that way, and then be sit down at some point in the second half.

I would play Brady and maybe Edelman for a half to three quarters, if Edelman is good to go and passes the concussion protocol. Or until Brady absorbs his first big hit. I would, without a mmoent's hesitation, sit Gronk whether he likes it or not. Maybe Revis too. This is an absolutely meaningless game but Brady has stated he would like to "kick some butt" next week so if he wants to play that badly, play him. But not for the entire game. Just give the other receivers (Wright) opportunities to get on the same page as #12 during real game action against a good defense. Gronk and maybe Revis should have no reason to see the field.

Play Brady and have him throw deep 12 times in a row.
Then bench him

do we still have a roster spot? I would start him, yes, Jake Bequette

I'm generally against the philosophy of sitting starters just to avoid random injuries. If a player has something already that would benefit from rest, definitely rest them. Otherwise, you want to keep guys sharp, especially with a bye week coming up. They don't need to play the whole game, but probably into the 3rd quarter (pulled about halfway through ideally).

I've seen a couple posts here that suggest we should sit members of the OL, and I'm not sure I could agree with something LESS. The last thing this OL needs is to miss the opportunity to gel more and get their issues sorted out (as best they can) before the playoffs. If Connolly is good to go, I want to see the starting five out there for most of the game, with Flemming brought in as the 6th guy ala the Colts games. That is our best combination at this point in the season, and I want them feeling confident and rolling going into the postseason.

They need to start Brady and any starter who is healthy. They need to pull the key starters early though. Let them last a few series to a half. A two week layoff is risky because they can come out really rusty in the division round.

Patriot Missile said:

They are on the cusp of finally getting to make a playoff run with a healthy Gronkowski. I say sit Gronkowski, give Edelman another week off to heal up from the concussion and any other player that has been playing with a nagging injury.

I guess I would like to see Brady and the oline get some reps for 1 or 2 quarters.

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Couldn't have said it better............Gronk is a game changer. Most of us feel we'd already have ring #4 if Gronk were healthy for the entirety of the 2011, 2012, or 2013 playoffs. Do not mess with this! Rest up, we will need him.

Gronk looks tired to me. Rest him. Lets see what Wright can do.

Given that you can no longer have contact in practices, getting everyone on the field is important.
2 weeks in a row without seriously preparing for a game, playing one, or hitting anybody is not a good formula for playoff success.
The chance of losing a player to injury is heavily outweighed by the chance of losing because your team is out of sync after sitting on its collective butt for almost 3 weeks.
Players who sit out sunday will go from Dec 20 to January 10 without hitting. (which would mean they are more likely to get injured on Jan 10th)

Patriot Missile said:

They are on the cusp of finally getting to make a playoff run with a healthy Gronkowski. I say sit Gronkowski, give Edelman another week off to heal up from the concussion and any other player that has been playing with a nagging injury.

I guess I would like to see Brady and the oline get some reps for 1 or 2 quarters.

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I honestly can't see us moving the ball very far minus gronk and Edelman. LaFell and Vereen would be our only targets. Might be better not to play Brady at that point.

I'd treat it like one of the later preseason games. Have the starters play (aside from Edelman, Blount, Arrington, Connolly, and maybe Wilfork) until we are happy with their execution then sit them, however long that takes.