Former understudy primed for big stage
Jimmy Garoppolo has been a career backup, but the 49ers’ new quarterback immediately made it clear Tuesday that he’s comfortable in the role of front man.
A day after he was traded by the Patriots, Garoppolo, 25, who was flanked by general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, began his introductory news conference by thanking his new employer and former team.
After Garoppolo finished his 25-second spiel, Lynch noted that his customary big-event role had been hijacked.
“I think Kyle will tell you a great quality of a quarterback: taking charge,” Lynch said. “I thought I was starting, but, hey, have at it Jimmy.”
The men on stage laughed. And they hope it’s the first of countless smiles they’ll share after the rebuilding 49ers, in the midst of an 0-8 season, acquired the player they clearly hope will lead them out of the abyss.
The 49ers surrendered a
second-round pick for Garoppolo, who has great promise (106.2 passer rating), scant game experience (94 pass attempts) and an impeccable pedigree after spending his first 3½ seasons earning two Super Bowl rings while learning from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, perhaps the greatest quarterback-coach duo in NFL history.
Lynch said the 49ers approached New England about acquiring Garoppolo in the offseason but were rebuffed. And they were clearly shocked — “It was to our surprise,” Shanahan said — when the Patriots recently called with an offer that Lynch said took “about 10 minutes” to accept.
Belichick wanted to keep Garoppolo, whom he viewed as Brady’s heir apparent, but Garoppolo is in the final year of his contract and the Patriots wanted to get the most compensation for his services. It wasn’t financially feasible to keep Brady and Garoppolo, who was eager for a chance to start, and that inspired the unexpected call before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Based on what Lynch and Shanahan said Tuesday, it was clear the out-of-the-blue offer turned their Halloween into Christmas.
Lynch gushed that he “could not be more excited” before adding that he was “very, very excited.”
“An unbelievable opportunity came our way,” Lynch said, “in the midst of what’s really been a tough season.”
For his part, Shanahan, then the Browns’ offensive coordinator, had studied Garoppolo closely and met with him a few times before New England selected him in the second round in 2014.
Shanahan reportedly graded Oakland’s Derek Carr and Garoppolo as that draft’s top quarterbacks. When asked about that report Tuesday, he declined to offer specifics but acknowledged Garoppolo was “definitely up there.”
In the offseason, in hopes of landing Garoppolo, Shanahan studied video of his preseason and regular-season snaps in the NFL and came away thinking he “looked exactly like the player we hoped he could be” in 2014.
“It’s hard to come across opportunities to get guys that you believe have a chance to be your quarterback for a while,” Shanahan said. “I think every team is looking for that except for probably six teams. And when those opportunities come around, if you believe that’s the case, you don’t hesitate and you don’t look back.”
Shanahan said he expects Garoppolo to be the “quarterback of the future,” but Garoppolo is a pending free agent.
When asked about signing him to a contract extension, Lynch responded by noting that Garoppolo’s agent, Don Yee, was in the auditorium and was sitting with Paraag Marathe, the 49ers’ chief contract negotiator. Lynch also referenced the fact that the 49ers could place the transition tag or franchise tag on Garoppolo to secure him for 2018. The franchise tag would mean paying Garoppolo about $23 million.
“There are a lot of options at our disposal,” Lynch said. “We’re just getting to know him. Honest to God, we need to get him in the playbook. We’re going to start first things first.
“But I can tell you, secondround picks are very valuable in this league, particularly where we’re at as an organization. I can tell you: This is a guy we wanted.”
Garoppolo’s obvious upside, coupled with his lack of playing time, could make it difficult to gauge his value. The 49ers obviously would prefer to work out a long-term deal rather than applying a oneyear tag.
“I guess we’ll see what happens,” Garoppolo said. “Thrilled to be here. Just got here this morning. Couldn’t be happier. We’ve got to take it week by week right now. I’ve got a whole playbook to learn.”
Indeed, Garoppolo, whom Shanahan said was unlikely to play Sunday against the Cardinals, is now consumed with learning a new offense so he can assume the starting role that eluded him as Brady’s backup.
So does the owner of two career starts wonder how good he can be?
“I’m eager to get out there and show what I can do on a Sunday,” Garoppolo said. “This league, it’s tough, because when you have your opportunity, you better take advantage of it. You don’t know when you’re going to get another.”
Garoppolo shouldn’t worry. After the 49ers fell into an “unbelievable opportunity,” he’ll have plenty of chances to prove, as he did Tuesday, that he’s a capable front man.