Last night, news broke that backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the once heir apparent to Tom Brady, was traded to the San Francisco 49ers.

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Nothing that Bill Belichick does with trades shocks me, dating back to 2003 with the trade of Lawyer Milloy to the division rival Buffalo Bills.

Since then other notables would be the stout defensive lineman Richard Seymour in 2009 to the then Oakland Raiders and more recently in 2015, where the GM Belichick sent Logan Mankins to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Last year he jettisoned who many thought were two staples in the Patriots defense, edge rusher Chandler Jones off to the Arizona Cardinals and Linebacker Jamie Collins to the lowly Cleveland Browns.

So What Does this Mean?

You remember the Instagram picture that had him showing peace out, leaving the stadium before this season? Maybe it was simply a foreshadowing, which just took longer than anticipated.

Was Garoppolo hinting that he was going to hold out next year, despite the idea he was going to be franchised and set to make $25 million?

And with the Stephon Gilmore signing at cornerback seeming more and more like a bust, does Bill thinks it better to apply said franchise tag on Malcolm Butler? I get it, sort of.

However, he already traded Jacoby Brissett to the Indianapolis Colts and now no Jimmy G. Julian Edleman is sidelined, Chris Hogan is out a few weeks, so who is the emergency backup?

It looks as though, Brian Hoyer, who looked to be originally part of the deal but then withdrawn due to compensatory picks attached to him has been released and could be seen back with his old team.

He is familiar with the system. However, this does not make the Garoppolo trade any easier, if anything harder to swallow.

Does the second round pick and maybe one of our five running backs end up getting us an edge rusher or another receiver?  Or are you convinced we need a backup quarterback?

Does it Really Matter?

I mean, let’s be realistic, if Brady goes down, do you think it really matters who his backup is?

Who really knows but Bill Belichick? I mean after all, when he traded Milloy and they lost the opening game 31-0, everyone panicked. That year ended up with another addition to the Lombardi trophy case and the beginning of the Dynasty.

In 2009, it was a down year, but Belichick confessed he couldn’t get that team to play the way he wanted them too.

2015 was a trip to the AFC Championship and well, we all know what happened in 2016.

Our defense looks to have started to gel. Our special teams, since Matthew Slater’s return, have become highly effective, blocking field goals, pinning punt returners for safety’s (Here’s looking at you Benjamin) and Brady is going to play until 45.

It will all end well in Foxboro, as it usually does. I’m just hoping this Malcolm Butler chatter stops.

Maclolm Butler Rumors Rampant Again

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What if the 2nd round pick along with Butler is used to look to the future and save the team money to say the Indianapolis Colts for Vontae Davis? But maybe it’s not Butler after all, and it’s Gilmore. Would you be okay? I would take the trade for Davis to replace Gilmore in a heartbeat.

Belichick has had to have learned from the Ty Law and Asante Samuel sagas. When the Patriots go far, they have had an elite corner. Butler is elite.

What are your thoughts?

Surprised - A little; Shocked -No. Garoppolo to 49ers. Is Butler next?

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