Jimmy Garoppolo speaks on pre-season conversation with Ryan Pace
The Chicago Bears 2017 starting quarterback may be on the sidelines during the Super Bowl on Sunday in the form of New England Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
It was the Pre-Season conversation seen around the world.
Last August, while the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots were conducting a joint practice, Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace and Patriots’ backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo were seen having a conversation. Knowing the digital age that we live in, it should not surprise anyone that there was a picture taken of Pace and Garoppolo conversing.
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The picture led to a semi-serious thought that Pace was trying to sell Garoppolo on the idea of eventually being the Bears’ starting quarterback.
Fast forward to present day and Pace and the Bears are looking for a franchise quarterback while Garoppolo is set to backup Tom Brady in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Atlanta Falcons. Though, Garoppolo did reflect on his pre-season conversation with Pace while speaking with reporters during Super Bowl Week.
“We got to talk one-on-one and it was just a couple of Eastern guys hanging out,” said Garoppolo. “There are not many Eastern Illinois guys (in the NFL), so it’s a small group and we like to stick together.”
With Brady showing no signs of slowing down, there has been speculation that the Patriots will look to trade Garoppolo this off-season. The timing could not be any better for the Patriots considering the bevy of teams in the NFL that are searching for a long-term answer at their quarterback position.
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The Bears, of course, are one of those teams. Over the course of the next month, the Bears will make a determination whether it is worth pursuing Garoppolo. If the Bears decide that Garoppolo is their next franchise quarterback, then the team must be willing to sacrifice a first round pick and be willing to sign the 25-year old quarterback to a contract extension. It may be a steep price to pay but it could be worth it if Garoppolo does in fact become the team’s next franchise quarterback.