With training camp now looming, here’s a quick rundown of this morning’s top stories.<\/p>\n
Belichick Texted Garoppolo After Each Win Last Season –\u00a0<\/strong>Bill Belichick isn’t known for being a warm and fuzzy person, but it’s obvious that he clearly holds a high affinity for former Patriots back-up QB Jimmy Garoppolo.<\/p>\n According to a feature story<\/strong><\/a> in Sports Illustrated by Jenny Vrentas (which follows a terrific feature by Bleacher Report<\/strong><\/a>), the two began what the magazine called “a sort of weekly ritual”, which saw Belichick text Garoppolo following each of his five victories with the 49ers, congratulating him on another win.<\/p>\n That shows a bit of a different side for Belichick, who isn’t one to show much praise but it’s clear that he’s rooting for him to do well.\u00a0 Garoppolo’s mother, Denise Garoppolo, told the publication that the Patriots coach really liked her son.<\/p>\n \u201cBill really, really liked Jimmy,\u201d says Denise. \u201cNot like they were warm and fuzzy\u2014but they both knew it was there.\u201d<\/p>\n Obviously standing in the way for Garoppolo to continue on in New England before the 49ers trade was Tom Brady, who despite his age simply continued to get better and\u00a0made the prospect of Garoppolo being part of their future unrealistic.<\/p>\n It was a tough decision, with Garoppolo simply being a victim of bad timing with the Patriots.\u00a0 But he took it in stride, becoming a better player as he studied what it took to be the best under Brady and over that span.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Brady remained just as great, winning two Super Bowls over that same period.\u00a0 It worked out for the former quarterback, who has now ended up in a great situation in San Francisco and so far has put together five-straight wins to begin his career as a starter there.<\/p>\n It’s been an interesting road.\u00a0 Garoppolo’s dad, Tony, said that when he got to New England he was thrilled.\u00a0 Brady was a player Garoppolo idolized, with Vrentas spotting a Tweet by the 49ers QB that he put out just nine months before becoming a member of the Patriots where he wished Brady a happy birthday back in 2013.<\/p>\n Happy birthday to my boy Tom #livingLegend<\/a> #Brady<\/a><\/p>\n — Jimmy Garoppolo (@JimmyG_10) August 3, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n