Garoppolo: 'I've Been Preparing To Be The Starter Since The Day I Walked In Here'
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Jimmy Garoppolo is a starting quarterback in the National Football League.
Of course, that title comes with an asterisk, one which notes that Garoppolo is only a temporary starter, as he'll merely keep Tom Brady's seat warm as the Hall of Famer takes a mandatory four-week vacation at the behest of commissioner Roger Goodell.
And so, on the first day of training camp practices in Foxboro, Garoppolo handled the duties of a starting quarterback, and that included speaking to the media throng that engulfed him after practice.
While most of the questions focused on the added responsibility that's been thrust on his shoulders, Garoppolo said he truly feels no different entering this season than he did in his first two years with the Patriots.
"It's tough to say," Garoppolo said when asked how last summer's uncertainty helped prepare him for this summer. "Like I said, rookie year I had the same mind-set. So however you want to look at it, I've been preparing to be the starter since the day I walked in here. Every competitor has that mind-set. It's a good thing to have."
Despite the confidence, Garoppolo is acutely aware that nothing is guaranteed in the NFL.
"You don't get many opportunities in this league," he said. "You might only get one, so you better make the most of it."
The 24-year-old admitted he's excited for Week 1, but he's also not letting his mind wander in the meantime.
"It's exciting, that's for sure. But training camp is a long process. So Week 1, we've got a long way to go," he said. "We've got four preseason games to go before we get there, so we'll take it one step at a time."
At the end of his media session, Garoppolo thanked reporters and said, "Good seeing everybody." He certainly seemed like someone intent on making sure this won't be his final camp in which he's an NFL starting quarterback.
