Jimmy Garoppolo on mindset becoming a member of Raiders
HENDERSON, Nev. — The first time Jimmy Garoppolo met Josh McDaniels? Garoppolo was on a pre-draft go to with the New England Patriots within the spring of 2014 and McDaniels, then the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, was working the quarterback via his offense on the whiteboard.
“I don’t know if it was planned, but I swear he planned it — Tom Brady walked in,” Garoppolo, laughing, mentioned Friday. “And I thought it would throw me off a little bit because I had never met him before, and a little starstruck. But yeah, he walked out, and Josh kept going with the teaching. That was our first interaction.”
The Garoppolo-McDaniels reunion, 9 years later and in Las Vegas, had been delayed a day due to some last-minute contract “language,” Garoppolo mentioned in his 17-minute introductory information convention with the Raiders. The two sides on Monday had agreed in precept to a three-year, $67.5 million free agent deal that features $34 million assured.
Garoppolo, 31, replaces Derek Carr, who had been the Raiders starter since 2014 however was benched with two video games remaining final season by McDaniels, in his first 12 months as Raiders coach. Carr, who holds most Raiders profession franchise passing information, stayed away from the crew to finish the season and was launched on Feb. 14. He has since signed with the New Orleans Saints.
With a profession regular-season document of 40-17, Garoppolo has handed for 14,289 yards and 87 touchdowns with 42 interceptions whereas finishing 67.6% of his makes an attempt in 74 video games. He has additionally performed in seven playoff video games, going 4-2 as a starter, together with a Super Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Still, with Garoppolo’s harm historical past — he missed his remaining 5 video games with the San Francisco 49ers due to a Lisfranc harm to his left foot, and he has performed just one full season as a starter (lacking 30 video games in San Francisco with numerous ankle, shoulder, thumb and knee accidents) — hypothesis emerged there was a difficulty along with his bodily in Las Vegas. Sources indicated that was not a difficulty.
Garoppolo mentioned All-Pro receiver Davante Adams had already reached out, as had two-time Pro Bowl defensive finish Maxx Crosby whereas working into heart Andre James within the crew facility.
Garoppolo can be reuniting with receiver Phillip Dorsett, who signed with the Raiders this week; the 2 have been briefly teammates in New England.
“He’s a winner,” Dorsett mentioned. “Everywhere he’s been, he’s won games. I mean, I feel like that’s the most important stat for quarterbacks, just going out there and just winning and making the right plays at the right time … his record speaks for itself. He’s a guy that plays the game the right way. He goes out there, he makes the right play, he makes a smart play, and he’s a winner and I love playing with him.
“I used to be solely with him for a bit bit in New England and he left that massive of an impression on me.”
Said Garoppolo: “I’m coming with the mindset that I have to earn every part — I do not wish to be given any ‘You’re the franchise man,’ or no matter. I wish to are available in and earn it. I feel it’s going to come via onerous work, working with the teammates, being within the facility. All these little issues will play a job. But yeah, I do not wish to be given something; I wish to earn it.
“Just because I’m the quarterback, I’m not the leader because of that. I want to be the leader because guys respect me and believe in me. … I think it will happen naturally. I don’t want to force anything, be inauthentic. I just want to be myself and it’s done me well in the past.”
Garoppolo, who added he wished to be “real and passionate,” mentioned his familiarity with McDaniels and his scheme was a serious draw, regardless that he final performed in it six years in the past. He spent the previous six seasons with the 49ers after being acquired in a 2017 commerce deadline deal.
As such, Garoppolo acknowledged he must relearn the language of the offense.
“Basically, like going Spanish to French,” he mentioned. “It won’t take long but Josh’s offense, obviously, has evolved over the years and you’ve just got to pick it up as quickly as possible. But we’ll be fine.”
Garoppolo mentioned he was greeted warmly by Las Vegas followers whereas strolling via the Mandalay Bay on line casino along with his household to have dinner at Stripsteak on Thursday night time.
“The place,” he mentioned, “was going crazy.”
Asked if he nonetheless had one thing to show in his profession, Garoppolo nodded.
“Hell yeah,” he mentioned. “I’m trying to win a Super Bowl. I know every player says that when they come up to their first press conference, but that’s my goal — get a ring, get the Silver and Black back to where it should be.
“I do know it is not a straightforward course of. I’ve been via it. In San Francisco, [the 49ers were] decrease finish of the sector once I first bought there, [so] it is a course of. But it is going to be value it.”