Jimmy Garappolo Making it Easy for the New England Patriots to Forget About Ryan Mallett [GIFs]

For the last couple years former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallet thought he had it made. As long as Tom Brady stayed healthy he'd never have to actually play in a game meaning he could cash a pretty nice check for watching football. When Brady finally decides to walk away he'd slide in and take over.

But than the Patriots drafted Jimmy Garappolo out of Eastern Illinois in the second round of the last round. If that wasn't a sign of the times the way the two have played during the preseason certainly is.

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Against the Washington Redskins (Week One of the preseason) it was pretty one-sided. Garappolo finished 9-13 for 157 yards and a touchdown; Mallett was 5-12 for 55 yards.

 

Mallett did a much better job the following week against the Philadelphia Eagles when he went 7-11 for 92 yards and a touchdown. Garappolo was not half bad either (6-12 for 72 yards and two touchdowns).

 

Last week against the Carolina Panthers the Patriots began to draw the line in the sand. Garappollo got the bulk of the playing time once Tom Brady was done for the night and did pretty good completing 9-12 for 105 yards and a touchdown.

 

Mallett didn't suck (2-3 for 14 yards); he just wasn't given much time to do anything. It looks like he will not get anymore time either. Garappolo is expected to get the bulk of the time (if not all).

 

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Mallett has been the subject of trade rumors for throughout the off-season and it will not be surprising if they get revved up again. Houston was supposedly interested and now the Rams are in need of someone too.

Clearly the Patriots are not thinking he's the future anymore so time to let him go. The question may be what the Patriots are willing to accept for him. With cuts in progress and every roster spot important they need to do something.

It's just a matter of what.

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