The New England Patriots are trying to bring a familiar face back to the franchise after their sad first season without defender Tom Brady.
In an episode of his podcast last week, Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal reported that Jimmy Garoppolo – whom the Patriots traded with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 – is “away” from “Patriots” “Plan A” at quarterback.
“If he had to make it, exactly the optimal situation for the Patriots for next season, it’s Jimmy G coming back here,” Bedard said. “And, of course, it all depends on the 49ers doing something.”
The Patriots signed Cam Newton to be their starter before the NFL 2020 season. New England finished the year 7-9 and missed the playoffs.
Newton, who spent nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers, had 2,657 yards, eight touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in 15 games. He also had 12 hurried touchdowns.
A second Patriots season for Newton seems unlikely, and New England doesn’t seem to be selling Jarrett Stidham as their future starter either.
Last month, The Athletic reported that the Patriots called each team with a potential quarterback goal, although those activities never won an effort. According to the publication, the Patriots are “strongly researching” the first defenders of the NFL Draft 2021 class.
But it looks like these are backup options, while the Patriots are looking for a reunion with Garoppolo, whom they selected in the second round of the 2014 draft. Just over three months after the 2017 Halloween deal, Garoppolo he signed a five-year, $ 137.5 million contract with the 49ers. He has two more years on that business.
His first full season as a Niners starter in 2018 ended abruptly in Week 3, when he suffered a broken ACL. Garoppolo returned in 2019 to help San Francisco reach a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance, which the 49ers lost to the Chiefs.
The injuries limited 29-year-old Garoppolo to six starts in 2020. There were noises during the season that the Niners were ready to move from Garoppolo, and talks about the divorce continue despite public support from the organization.
“Do I think 49ers general manager John Lynch when he claims that Garoppolo will be his owner in 2021? Of course not, “NFL insider Michael Lombardi recently wrote in The Athletic. “They are too active, too aggressive to withdraw him for another year with someone they do not fully trust.”
The 49ers called the Panthers about Teddy Bridgewater, according to The Athletic, another sign that they are looking for a new defender.
If the 49ers are really ready to throw Garoppolo, it looks like Bill Belichick will be waiting with open arms to welcome him back to Foxborough.