Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's preseason debut on Thursday wasn't exactly a resounding success.
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Garoppolo may start the first four games of the Patriots' season if Tom Brady's suspension holds. He took seven sacks, averaged only 5.3 yards per attempt and failed to consistently move the offense against the Packers. While Garoppolo was critical of his performance, Patriots coach Bill Belichick stayed positive in his day-after conference call with reporters.
"I think Jimmy did a good job to recognize that situation; whether he should or shouldn't have been in it, that's really not the point," Belichick said. "The point is that once it came up, I thought he handled it well. I thought that was a good, quick decision on his part. It gave us an opportunity to attempt a field goal at the end of the half and Steve came through on a 56-yard kick. ... He saved us three points on that."
If Garoppolo is going to be ready for the start of the regular season, he needs to get used to this type of in-game situation.
