The New England Patriots are doing their best to carry on like normal following the suspension of Tom Brady for four games. As Jimmy Garoppolo takes the field with the first-team offense, players are stressing their full confidence in the backup quarterback while simply returning to football as normal. Garoppolo stressed that he is not thinking about starting and is just worried about learning the offense.
"We're really not looking that far ahead, I don't think anyone is," Garoppolo said, via ESPN.com. "It's the first day of training camp with the guys and it felt good to get out here again. Stay focused on what I can control and what I'm trying to learn right now and improve on."
Garoppolo and the rest of the New England is doing a good job of downplaying the offseason issues around the team and are staying focused on building the offense to repeat as Super Bowl contenders. Gronkowski told the media following the first day of camp that he is focused on building relationships and getting the reps in with everyone.
"It's just like any other day," said Gronkowski, via ESPN.com. "You go out there and do my job. Go out there and catch the ball when it's thrown my way, block when it's a run play, so I'll keep on doing what I've got to do. You build a relationship with your whole team. You take reps with everybody throughout training camp, throughout the year -- one day at a time. You've got to work with everyone because at any time you could be playing with anyone out on the field."
There is still some talk that the Patriots might add help on the offense heading into the season. With doubt surrounding LeGarrette Blount and Danny Amendola, there are free agents that could be solid additions to the team. Players like Steven Jackson, Reggie Wayne and Chris Johnson would add a solid veteran presence to a huddle in need of the leadership with Brady out for four games.
If there are question marks surrounding the Patriots entering the season, the team certainly does not hear it. Confidence is high at training camp as everyone believes Garoppolo will do just fine in the role. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels stressed that the quarterback is no longer a rookie and is playing as such.
"It's the same as it's always been," McDaniels said. "Today was very close to 50-50 but that's normal. We haven't discussed anything and there's no changes to our procedure, in terms of how we're going to try and build the football team and improve each player. Everybody out here has to get better, has to rep, has to learn, has to make mistakes, make plays, do bad things and good things and learn from them."
