Jimmy Garoppolo Adjusting To Increased Spotlight During Patriots Preseason
BOSTON (CBS) -- It may only be the preseason, but Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is riding all the highs and lows that come with the position.
The second-year signal-caller took seven sacks in his preseason debut two weeks ago, but rebounded nicely with a 28-for-33, 269-yard performance in New Orleans on Saturday night. Even that night had its ups and downs, as Garoppolo made one bad pass for an interception and showed great instincts on another pass for a touchdown.
Yet while the discussion of Garoppolo's performance may be much louder this summer compared to last year, the quarterback seems to fully believe in the one-day-at-a-time mantra that fills the halls at 1 Patriot Place.
"There are a good amount of things I think have improved, but week to week everything changes," Garoppolo said. "Just adjusting to the new game plan that we put in this week compared to last week and handling new information, really."
With Tom Brady's status still very much unclear, Garoppolo was asked if he feels the date of opening night -- Sept. 10 -- creeping up quickly.
"It's coming up, but we've got a long way to go still," Garoppolo said. "We've still got two preseason games left. You can't look past any of that. Like I said, just take it day by day and the rest will handle itself."
Given that Brady has yet to speak to the media throughout training camp and the preseason, Garoppolo has certainly received a great deal of attention from the media that covers the team. Garoppolo said through the process, he's gained some appreciation for how Brady handles his regular media obligations.
"Yeah, there's a lot of behind the scenes stuff that goes on that you don't really know about until you're in the spotlight I guess," Garoppolo said. "But you can have fun with it, right?"
All in all, getting the attention of a starting quarterback in the National Football League is nothing out of the ordinary for the guy who was playing for the Eastern Illinois Panthers just two years ago.
"At Eastern Illinois we had the same amount of media. No, I'm just kidding," Garoppolo said. "It's been a little bit of an adjustment. I'm getting more and more used to it as we go, but it comes with the job I guess. You've got to get used to it."
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