Reiss On Sports Final: Garoppolo Still Patriots No. 2 QB After Addition Of Flynn
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots added another quarterback to their roster last week in veteran passer Matt Flynn, but don't expect him to be anything but New England's No. 3 QB on the depth chart.
ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss joined WBZ-TV's Sports Final on Sunday night to discuss the signing, and many other Patriots' topics, and said Flynn was brought in for one simple reason: Added depth. If Tom Brady's DeflateGate suspension is upheld, or if it's reduced and he still misses games, Jimmy Garoppolo is still their guy to start under center.
"I think it's simple; Garoppolo is your guy if Brady is suspended, but your No. 3 needs to be more game-ready than Garrett Gilbert was," said Reiss. "Matt Flynn is going to turn 30 on June 20, has started seven games and has been around the block. He's more game-ready than Gilbert, and that's all that move means. It has nothing to do with pressuring Garoppolo or anything like that."
Reiss said he would be shocked if Flynn started any games over Garoppolo this season.
As for the other big story from last week's OTAs, Reiss said Malcolm Butler's six-day ban from participating in team activities was a little over-the-top, but Bill Belichick was sending a message, and not just to the hero of Super Bowl XLIX.
"I think it was a little harsh; keep him out for that first practice when he was late and maybe keep him out for another. But six practices – that's very extreme," said Reiss. "Again, he's sending a message, and not just to Butler but all the other young players. Those young players are trying to figure out what it takes to be a pro and a Patriot -- 'wait, he'll do this to the guy who basically won them the Super Bowl? I better fall in line.'"
While Butler had travel issues that caused him to be late, Reiss said Belichick's message is simple: Voluntary doesn't necessarily mean voluntary.
"They all know it's not really voluntary," he said. "In the Patriots' world, it's not voluntary."
Reiss also talks about the Patriots Super Bowl ring party on Sunday night, and the new AEI investigative report that shoots down the Wells Report:
Tune in to Sports Final and Sports Final OT every Sunday night on WBZ-TV at 11:35pm!
