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For months, fans of the New England Patriots and the NFL sat wondering what would become of the Deflategate controversy. Despite the Wells report lacking clear and sufficient evidence linking Tom Brady and the Patriots to any wrongdoing, Roger Goodell came down hard on both Brady and the team today.
The Patriots have been fined $1 million and will also be robbed of two draft picks, a first-round pick in 2016 and a fourth-round pick in 2017. As for Brady, he has been suspended for a total of four games. He will be eligible to return in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts.
As harsh as these punishments may seem, especially the losses of significant draft pick compensation, the Patriots could actually benefit from the Brady suspension. How? Two words: Jimmy Garoppolo
Knowing that the Patriots will be forced to sit Brady now, Garoppolo will have a chance to face four legitimate teams in real games, not preseason games that don’t matter. In doing so, he will have the chance to not only get some valuable experience as a starting QB, but also show both the Patriots and the other teams in the league what he can do.
Garoppolo playing well during this stretch could serve the Patriots very well for a couple of reasons. First, should he impress, leading the Patriots to an undefeated record (or at least close to it), the organization would sleep better at night knowing they have the heir apparent to Brady. Doing so would not be a huge stretch for him either, since the Patriots will face the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that they have owned in the past, Buffalo Bills, a team that isn’t much of a threat offensively, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Dallas Cowboys, who are a solid team, but are known for mental lapses and just lost DeMarco Murray in free agency.
The Patriots should still have a decent chance to score points offensively even with Garoppolo under center. The weapons around him in Rob Gronkowski, Brandon LaFell, Julian Edelman, Scott Chandler, Danny Amendola, Fred Davis and others should further help ease his transition. The Patriots’ running game with LeGarrette Blount, Jonas Gray and others should help him out significantly.
The Patriots could also use Garoppolo (or even Brady given his age) as a premium trade chip if he were to dazzle other teams across the league. The QB position is tough to fill, and if Garoppolo looks impressive, there should be no shortage of suitors willing to pay the Patriots top dollar for his services. However unlikely it may seem, the possibility of Brady losing his spot to Garoppolo if he shines should not be totally discounted. Either way, if Garoppolo excels, the Patriots would have tremendous leverage for the future of their franchise. If not, then the Patriots can either discount his performance being that it’s only a handful of games, or they can determine that he simply isn’t their guy.
While the likelihood is still that Brady will start for the Patriots until the day he retires and Garoppolo will serve as a backup, having Jimmy G. carry his team to victory in impressive fashion could only serve to benefit the team, both now and in the future.
Will Gellman is a New England Patriots’ writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
Related Links:
New England Patriots’ Tom Brady Justly Suspended Four Games By NFL
New England Patriots’ Punishment For Deflategate Is Unimpressive
Patriots Confidence In Garoppolo Shows That Tom Brady Suspension Is Inevitable
