You are going to blame the messenger? They will have no problem keeping him because he is going to play. It is not Schefter's team LOL.
I blame the messenger when he isn't giving the entire message. He has yet to mention how they are planning on working out the logistics of keeping Garoppolo. As far as I can see it, these are the options going forward:
1.) Keeping Garoppolo for 2017 and letting him walk in FA, most likely netting the Patriots a 3rd round comp pick in 2019. (I think most of us would agree that this is the least likely scenario, but technically still a possibility)
2.) Keeping Garoppolo for 2017 and keeping him on the roster in 2018 by franchising him. (Again, possible, but I've yet to see anything from anyone, anywhere that suggests that this situation is at all likely, but again, not impossible.)
3.) Keeping Garoppolo for 2017, and signing him to an extension. For this to be a possibility, Brady realistically would have to be traded, released or retired 1 year from now. Because of Tom's God-like status, this is unthinkable for some, but given his age it should be a consideration for all of us. For Schefter to be so adamant that Garoppolo will not be traded, he has to believe this is the most likely scenario. My problem with this idea, sentimentality aside, is that it runs counter to everything we have heard from Brady on this.
4.) Trading Garoppolo now. I believe this is the most likely scenario for several reasons. First, his value will most likely never be higher. Sure, they could trade him next year after franchising him, but I have a hard time believing that a team would pay more at that point given they will have one (very expensive) year of control vs. one very cheap year plus the ability to franchise, as a team trading for him now would. Second, I trust in their ability to develop a QB. That's why I find Schefter's comment about the Browns to be so absurd. There is a lot more to the organization than Tom Brady, and I think he knows that too. Even if Tom does show his age rapidly, and Brissett show's absolutely nothing, the team may suck for a year or two, but then they will just have access to more talented potential replacements at the top of the draft.
tl:dr Schefter's story only makes sense if you think Brady is gone after next year, I don't
