From the perspective of Jimmy G & the Patriots
By Roh K.
Jimmy Garoppolo could retire today with more rings and Superbowl appearances than Kyle Shanahan, yet the head coach and the front office of the 49ers would rather move on and start a rookie from a D2 school, who played just 1 season in an abbreviated college season, no draft combine, abbreviated practices, OTA’s, abbreviated everything.
Fun fact: Both Tom and Jimmy have the same lucky middle name: “Patrick”.
It’s always been a feedback loop in New England, really since Brady left; the idea of getting Jimmy G back — because when they dealt Jimmy — no one was expecting Tom to retire or leave town because he said he wanted to keep playing. If he were to retire — he would retire a Patriot and ride off into the sunset.
That was the thinking.
Jimmy — as you (may, or should) know — wasn’t dealt away because they felt poorly about him.
In fact, it was just the opposite.
Bill B. saw him as the heir-apparent to Tom Brady, a more athletic version of Tom, that can fit right into the same offensive scheme. A kid that brings a tough and athletic game while growing up and playing college ball in the cold and windy weather of Chicago and Eastern Illinois.
They knew he could handle the elements. This is a big thing, especially on the east coast.
When Jimmy was drafted in 2014 — it was big news in New England. (If you get a chance, check out his film at Eastern Illinois).
There was some hooting and hollering at your local Boston pub when they called his name — because there were rumors the Pats might take a QB in the 1st round — something they haven’t done since Drew Bledsoe. So most fans had done their homework on Jimmy. Late 1st, early 2nd is where he was on most draft boards.
There had been some high hopes for other QB’s in the past, but Jimmy came at a time of deflate-gate and uncertainty about whether Tom would be able to play the following year — and when guys (fans, coaches, players) saw him play — whether it was starting a couple of games when Tom was suspended or really shining in garbage time — we (most NE fans), I included thought, “okay there is something here, and why else would Bill be talking him up? He’s usually tight-lipped but he’s clearly gushing over this pick” — and for whatever reason, if Tom is too old, and unsuspectingly announces retirement, or can’t play due to suspension, we were okay with him starting — and at times he showed absolute flashes of Tom 2.0.
The fascination with Jimmy was everywhere — mainly though with Bill B — who wanted to show the world that he could win without Tom Brady and was infatuated with Jimmy to the point Tom stopped talking to Jimmy and caused a fuss. This ultimately burned a bridge between Brady and Belichick, that could never truly be repaired.
Rob Kraft had to step in and say, “okay — enough is enough — Tom’s like a son to me — and he’s brought home the gold to this franchise — we’re dealing the kid before it turns into a QB controversy.”
(Ironic, because fast forward and now they’re talking about the same guy they let go some 6 years ago)
Jimmy comes to the 49ers — goes 5–0 — proving Bill B. right — then the injury in 2018, which felt like a blessing because the Niners would draft Bosa, and in 2019, Jimmy would take the Niners to the Super Bowl while the Pats were slowly falling off from the top of the hill — further proving Bill B’s point and frustrating Pats fans because in their minds — Jim is still their guy. Kinda like how many 49ers fans still view Alex Smith or even Colin Kaepernick as still their guy. Joe Montana didn’t retire a 49er — but he’s still OUR Guy.
So really the interest has been there since 2019. Figuring out a way to get Jimmy back — because you know, if you read between the lines, — even from New England, you could tell Kyle endured Jimmy but never really loved him.
2020 happens — Jimmy goes down — it’s a connected world — from social media to talk shows here in the Bay Area, the mood, the tone, the frustration with Jimmy in 49er land (from the fans to the front office) was palpable.
I mean everyone could sense it — and antennas go up in New England — who always look at what the 49ers are doing.
I remember before the Pats won their 5th Super Bowl, the talk of the town was this in summary: “If we are ever going to be considered as storied a franchise as the 49ers, we need to win this 5th Superbowl” — so constant references and correlations were being made by Boston media between Bill B, the Pats dynasty and Bill Walsh and the 49ers dynasty, etc.
Another similarity between the Pats and Niners was that around 2014, it was a real Joe Montana / Steve Young situation. Part of the fanbase (and front office) was ready to move on from Tom and give a new kid a chance, while the team still had guys like Edelman and Gronk.
The heat turned up in 2020 — around Christmas time — when anti-Jimmy sentiment was at its peak.
They (Patriots) knew the 49ers didn’t have an option other than Jimmy and it’s around this time that I start hearing grumbles in the Jimmy camp and a possible reunion between Bill B and Jimmy.
At this point, the Pats are thinking maybe they could bait him away with a 2nd rounder and a conditional 1st. I was hearing 1st round pick in exchange, at that time (Christmas 2020). You may have seen some media leaks about that back then — I know Lynch fielded calls from Bill and Bob Kraft.
Pats Interest level: HIGH 49ers: Unknown Patriots price tag: HIGH
After Free Agency and that 1st Presser — It looked to me, to the Pats, to my source In Jimmy’s camp that all is okay now.
The 49ers seem to be building for a season where Jimmy is at the helm and with the Niners sitting at the 12th pick — if they do select a QB — which they likely were to do anyways, with Mullens and Beathard proving there was a need for QB depth — they might grab someone in the 2nd round, or worst case if someone of merit is still on the board, the Niners could trade up to take chance on a kid early — for depth — but not a starter.
Pats Interest level: HIGH Expectations: LOW
After the 49ers announcement to trade up to 3rd:
The splash heard around the football world was made — and immediately the writing is on the wall for Jimmy — and his time in SF is nothing but a countdown to WHEN. It really now just becomes a question of WHEN he departs.
Pats Interest Level: HIGH Expectation: HIGH Patriots Offer: Medium
At this point, depending on how much of Jimmy's contract the 49ers are willing to absorb, the Pats might think about 2 2nds. Again, can’t say for sure — but I’m sure in a case where the 49ers eat up somewhere around 80% of Jimmy’s salary — and given that the 49ers won’t have 1st round picks for the next two years, the Pats reckon they can use that as leverage and bait the 49ers with a 1st rounder for next year or even this year (so the 49ers would have had two 1st round picks — but really that’s just a tactic to get the conversation going and then the negation begins and once that happens who the hell knows — nobody — that’s hard NDA stuff ) — also, it is hard to see John Lynch et al, passing a deal like that up, which is the crux of the speculativeness of this information.
It’s been passed down from one guy to another and then finally to me.
There’s a high chance something got lost in translation.
I do KNOW the following:
I’ve only gotten morsels about what the Pats actually could do — and then have connected the dots with my buddy — so I do know this — Jimmy may be relaxed but his agent is FURIOUS — because Jimmy’s not young anymore — his window is now to prove that he can do something in this league and get over the Super Bowl hump and prove all the doubters wrong, which many believe he will and can.
Jimmy and his camp like their chances. They won’t go to Houston and at this point, the sleeves are rolled up and people are apparently doing a lot of number crunching, scheming, and figuring out the best symbiotic scenario for both franchises with the end result being Jimmy, prodigal son, returning to NE to start — and Cam presumably gets cut or included in a trade to the 49ers.
2nd 49ers presser:
At this point, the pissed off meter is breaking via a source close to the Jimmy camp:
“We know the road the 49ers want to go down, and that is fine, but you cannot expect us to waste our time in SF. And here is the kicker, it feels to us that Kyle Shanahan has treated Nick Mullens, CJ Beathard, and Brian Hoyer with more regard than the one guy that gave him a winning season, and frankly we do not want to be associated with a guy like that. If the 49ers cannot see what Jimmy brings to the table, there are plenty of other places that do. Money aside, Jimmy signed a contract that gave this franchise flexibility — and it was signed on a mutual basis of trust. We feel that trust has been broken and anything else the 49ers say or do is just lip service when it comes to Jimmy. Jimmy could retire tomorrow, sit down on his couch knowing he has 2 Super Bowl rings and 3 Super Bowl appearances. That’s 2 and 1 more respectively than Kyle…and now this has officially turned into a full-blown mess.
….That being said, Jimmy is a pro, and it’s this knowledge that gets me upset. If nothing breaks here — and Jimmy is a 49er come week 1, we all know that he will trot onto that field and do whatever he is asked to do, which so far has been bringing light to a franchise, going to a Super Bowl (that he only gets the blame for), creating a winning culture — because this team wasn’t winning until Jimmy arrived, and this entire time, I repeat this entire time, I’ve been sitting in my office taking calls about Jimmy —and I think about protecting him. And I can’t speak for Jimmy, but I can tell ya this, if Jimmy starts 2021 in Santa Clara, takes the team to the Super Bowl, brings the Lombardi trophy to the Bay Area, my advice to him would be: “Leave. Just like the 49ers see a greener pasture with their rookie QB, there are greener pastures for you where not only your coach is behind you, but the fanbase too, and I hope the 49er front office and the 49er faithful take some time for some internal self-reflection and ask themselves why Jimmy left after he won a Super Bowl.”
Paraphrased quote from a source close to the Jimmy camp.
Pat's level of interest at this moment: is HIGHER THAN HIGH — they now believe they can possibly get him at a discount because the Niners clearly are ready to move on and his only role for 2021 is to get Lance a year to learn the NFL — so lame duck role — Jimmy doesn’t want that — the Niners don’t want an unhappy Jimmy and 49er fans don’t want a QB controversy or a riot in the locker room.
The offer: 2nd (at most) 3rd and Devon McCourty (The 1st could still be there — if the Pats get desperate or just want to get it over with. They don’t want Cam at the wheel or a potentially drunk college kid, at least not yet)
Post-draft:
Jimmy camp is still ticked — the mood from the previous quote is still applicable — but I think they are desensitized at this point. Like okay, Jimmy it’s just one year — Don’t do anything crazy here and get yourself injured — just go play smart football, stay healthy — contract expires — knowing Bill B — he’s going to spend some time with Mac Jones and does not want him to be the starter day one. He’s learned that lesson before and been fired for it.
Why: As I mentioned — the Pats are methodical, and from what I hear — and then connecting that to what I know — Mac Jones will not start immediately, not even close.
Perfect world for the Patriots — they get a solid, character, proven NFL QB, who is only 28 years old back — who can potentially play until he is 35+. If something happens, Jones starts to impress, or Jimmy goes down they have a backup plan in Mac Jones — but they see Mac Jones as any team should: an unproven rookie QB with 1 year of college experience and someone who COULD take the job from Jimmy (Bill and McDaniels will make that call) — but look Mac Jones still needs to prove he can beat out Stidham — AND how many times have the Patriots drafted QB’s, made them look really good and then FLEECE other teams by trading them — and the other team expects this guy to be their version of Tom Brady. LOL.
With the elation from the NFL Draft fading, you got guys like Richard Sherman going on ESPN and talking about how underrated Jimmy G is.
I will take that one step further. Jimmy isn’t just underrated, he is the nucleus of the winning version of this 49ers team — who, let’s be honest, are like Jeckle and Hyde. You just don’t know what you’re going to get.
If you’re a 49er fan, you have to put an asterisk against the 2020 season. It had covid, an unfathomable amount of injuries, and it was really an anomoly. To spotlight Jimmy there is a tad unfair.
I suppose it did one thing, it gave all those little kids who can photoshop a jersey onto another player a lot to do. Photoshopping Matt Stafford, Watson, then when that ship sailed, it was this rookie or it was that rookie.
As Brian Murphy once said to Jed York “You will rue this day Jed. The day you fired Jim Harbaugh”, and at the end of the day, I believe the 49ers will in fact rue the day they decided to implicitly or explicitly cut ties with Jimmy, which is now just a matter of time.
You reap what you sow. You get what you want.
It’s funny, we all think there is some God up there or some all-mighty being that doesn’t give us what we want until we earn it. Was it Goethe or Yeats who said, “God gives you exactly what you want, and actually that is the problem”.
In essence, it’s that old saying, “be careful what you wish for, you just might get it”.
In hindsight, if I apply that to even my life, it’s 100% true.
I imagine you could apply it to anything really.
“Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take loe easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.
In a field by the river my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the the weirs;
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears”
W.B Yeats
Let the road rise up to meet ya!
Roh K.
