With Tom Brady’s four-game suspension likely to be upheld, the New England Patriots will have to survive sans their leader. However, Brady’s absence may be a good thing for the Patriots.
After months of deliberation, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has — seemingly –accepted his fate, and will serve his four-game suspension. However, Brady himself gave up, so that doesn’t mean the entire situation is resolved.
According to New England Sports Network’s Zack Cox, Brady granted the NFL Players Association permission to continue the “Deflategate” appeal.
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There’s certainly a modicum of hope that Brady’s suspension is overturned, but there’s probably a better chance it remains.
So Brady will likely be gone for New England’s first four games. But don’t fret, Patriots fans. Having Brady suspended for the first four games of the season is good for two main reasons.
First and foremost, the Patriots will get a chance to evaluate their future at the quarterback position. As good as Tom Brady has been, he’s going to be 39 by mid-August. He can’t play forever. The suspension will be the perfect, authentic way for New England to value what its future looks like at the quarterback position.
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Yes, Jimmy Garoppolo is an early round draft pick. And yes, he certainly looks like he could be the heir to Brady’s throne.
But does anybody really know what New England has with the third-year pro? I would bet ‘no,’ as Garoppolo has only appeared in 11 regular-season games, starting zero.
So if Garoppolo is, in fact, thrust into the starting lineup for the first four games of 2016, then the Patriots will get a chance to firmly evaluate the Eastern Illinois product. Instead of having a small body of work to pick apart (a body of work that would be littered with preseason play only), New England will have substance when determining if Garoppolo can be the guy post-Brady.
If he comes in and plays well, then the Patriots will know they have a solid solution when Brady decides to retire. If he comes in and plays poorly, the Patriots still benefit. One way or another, New England is going to know if it can roll with Garoppolo.
If the Patriots don’t deem Garoppolo the solution, then maybe rookie Jacoby Brissett gets a shot. It’s also entirely possible poor play from Garoppolo would warrant drafting another quarterback.
Basically, if you want to break it down into layman’s terms: this measly four-game suspension has the potential to positively impact the Patriots’ future. I’m pretty sure that’s not what the NFL intended.
The second reason New England is going to benefit from a Brady suspension is because of the team’s history of overcoming adversity.
In 2001, with starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe sidelined with an injury, things were uncertain. Or at least they were before Brady stepped in and won a Super Bowl.
In 2004, the team’s cornerbacks were decimated. Wide receiver Troy Brown shifted over to the defensive side of the ball, finishing second on the team in interceptions. New England hoisted its third Lombardi Trophy that year.
In 2014, after a 41-14 trashing at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs, many were wondering what Brady had left in the tank. After the game, a reporter asked head coach Bill Belichick if the quarterback position would be evaluated. Belichick scoffed, and the Patriots went on to win Super Bowl XLIX.
This team, in typical Boston-style, thrives when the odds aren’t in their favor. During the whole “Deflategate” process, I found it almost comical how anti-Patriots fans vehemently wanted Brady suspended.
I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to give one of the, if not the, best quarterback in NFL history extra motivation.
If — and it’s a big, big “if” — New England starts the season 0-4, I’m willing to bet they won’t lose another game for the rest of the year. Brady plays with a fiery, I-don’t-care-if-you-like-me attitude to begin with, so playing with an entire bag of chips of his shoulders isn’t going to bode well for teams playing the Patriots.
While New England haters can bask in the glory for the time, the long-term ramifications that come from letting Garoppolo play, as well as extra motivation for the Patriots means the “villains” are actually coming out on top.
So like it or not, angry, motivated Tom Brady will be back with a vengeance.
must read: New England Patriots: Tom Brady's 16 Greatest Moments
Side Note:
Tom Brady is not going to get “Tom Brady-ed.” Stop it.
Even if Garoppolo wins all four games, I don’t think there’s any shot Belichick keeps Brady on the bench. Unless Garoppolo throws 20 TDs and no INTs in that span, don’t count on him holding on to Brady’s spot.