Jimmy Garoppolo became expensive NFL mistake as Tom Brady proven wrong
Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be released by the Las Vegas Raiders after he was suspended for two games by the NFL.
Things looked on the up for the quarterback when he was reunited with Josh McDaniels, his former coach from the New England Patriots in March 2023. But when the head coach was fired in October following a poor start to the season, it marked the beginning of the end for Garoppolo's time in Nevada.
The 32-year-old quarterback has now been charged by the NFL for breaking their Performance Enhancing Substances Policy and will miss two weeks next season wherever he ends up playing. It has been suggested that Garoppolo used a prescribed medication without getting approval from the NFL, according to ESPN.
This was the last straw in a difficult season for Garoppolo, who struggled throughout 2023, throwing more interceptions than touchdown passes. To make matters worse, when interim coach Antonio Pierce took over as he decided to replace Garoppolo as a starter with rookie Aidan O'Connell, effectively ending the former's season.
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In a rather unfortunate turn of events, the Raiders' decision to release Garoppolo before mid-March has resulted in a significant financial loss for both the player and the team. This change means that Garoppolo will not receive the $11.25 million (£8.93 million) roster bonus he was anticipating for the upcoming 2024 season.
Garoppolo's contract, originally signed in 2023 for a three-year term worth $72.75 million (£57.73 million), included an $11.25 million (£8.93 million) signing bonus and a base salary of the same amount for that year. However, this arrangement was later modified, converting the $22.5 million (£17.85 million) into a base salary amount, subject to passing a medical examination in July.
In another twist, September brought about further alterations, as $21.3 million of this base salary was transformed into a signing bonus, with the addition of two void years to the contract. This recent development means that Garoppolo will not receive the remaining $11.25 million (£8.93 million), leaving him with a substantial financial loss.
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To add to the Raiders' woes, Garoppolo's release also carries a hefty price tag for the team and they will be burdened with a staggering $42 million against their salary cap over the next two seasons. This situation compounds what has ultimately proven to be an unsuccessful move for the Raiders.
Garoppolo's disappointing performance in Las Vegas stands in stark contrast to the high expectations that accompanied his arrival. It will undoubtedly disappoint former NFL legend Tom Brady, who has been trying to finalize his purchase of a minority stake in the Raiders.
Brady had previously expressed admiration for Garoppolo during his time with the San Francisco 49ers, stating, "Jimmy's done well since he got to the Niners Hee has brought them to the Super Bowl, and he has just done an amazing job. I think anytime you deal with the adversity that he has dealt with, he had a major shoulder injury, he had a thumb injury in the playoffs last year.
"Then all he hears is that he is gonna get traded. Next thing you know, he is the starting quarterback for the same team. And I think he has handled this situation extremely well. Handled it with a lot of dignity, with a lot of grace. And he has gone out there and helped the team win games."
Unfortunately for the Raiders, he has been unable to keep winning games in the face of adversity since moving to Las Vegas.
Tom Brady announces retirement from NFL "for good" after 23 seasons* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.