It is official, Tom Brady will be starting Week 1 from the New England Patriots. According to the Associated Press, Judge Richard M. Berman nullified the four-game suspension originally placed on the quarterback and now he is free to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The decision pushes Jimmy Garoppolo back into the depths of the backup quarterback job and moves Brady into the starters spot which will be welcomed news to his wide receivers.
The Patriots have kept Brady in the mix at practice while the decision was being ruled upon. While Garoppolo had been getting a fair amount of the first-team snaps, Brady was staying lose and told the media that he would be ready to play if in fact his suspension was overturned. Now he will be taking the field as originally planned.
The issue is that Brady's return does not simply fix the lingering issues still facing New England. The Patriots are getting their star quarterback, but injuries are hurting his offense. Julian Edelman might not be healthy Week 1 due to a lower leg injury. Brandon LaFell is not expected on the field as he deals with an injury. That knocks out the team's two leading receivers. Reggie Wayne is making progress along with Danny Amendola. A tandem of those receivers does little to instill confidence.
According to PatsPulpit.com, a return of Kenbrell Thompkins should not be ruled out as an option as the Patriots could use a younger receiver familiar with the playbook and the offensive system in New England. After being released from the Oakland Raiders, Thompkins is their best option if a free agent is needed.
Brady will also be without LeGarrette Blount Week 1 who will be serving a suspension. The Patriots have been getting a lot of success from their depth at the running back position which will be a saving grace for Brady given the state of the wide receivers. James White and Jonas Gray are leading the attack in the preseason and looking very capable of handling the rushing load.
The biggest loser in the Brady ruling is Garoppolo who was preparing to make his first real start in the NFL. The backup quarterback has looked decent in the preseason as he worked to get more familiar with the offense. According to Garoppolo, he is ready to play if called upon. Unfortunately the chances of that happening are slim.
"You've got to come into this whether you're a starter or a backup, you've got to have a starter's mentality, Garoppolo said, via the Boston Herald. "You never know when your number is going to get called."