It is one of the more notable high-five snubs in Patriots history. Tom Brady was celebrating on the sidelines following Malcolm Butler’s game-winning interception in Super Bowl XLIX, giving everybody within his sights some love — except Jimmy Garoppolo. Brady denied his then-backup a hug, high-five, handshake, or any sort of acknowledgement.
The scene represented a possible glimpse into Brady’s attitude towards Garoppolo, whom Belichick drafted to succeed TB12. Years later, Brady’s silence about the matter remains telling.
On Monday’s ManningCast, Peyton and Eli Manning dug up the clip, and started ribbing Brad about it.
“I wanna talk about how you had Jimmy G right there and you completely ignored him,” Eli said, via the SF Gate. “[You] said, ‘I’m not gonna give you a high-five.’ And just nothing. ‘Nope, you get nothing’.”
Peyton followed up with another playful jab. “Very telling. Very telling there,” he said.
At that moment, Brady was presented with an opportunity to extinguish any speculation about him and Garoppolo . He could’ve interjected with a line about how he “loves Jimmy,” or something, and then moved right along. Instead, Brady changed the topic, focusing on his celebratory leap.
“I think that vertical jump, that was impressive for me,” he said. “I had fourteen inches or something like that.”
Later, Brady did briefly address Garoppolo, but didn’t make any reference to their relationship. “I didn’t see him, sorry, Jimmy,” he said.
It’s been widely reported that Bill Belichick drafted Jimmy Garoppolo with the intention of replacing Brady. Belichick reportedly scoffed at trading Garoppolo in October 2016, before ultimately acquiescing.
When the Patriots drafted Garoppolo, Belichick mentioned “Tom’s age and contract situation.”
That was Belichick’s first big public snub to Brady.
Seven years removed from the Garoppolo pick, it’s obvious sticking with Brady was the right call. Jimmy G still struggles to stay on the field, and he’s playing poorly this season. Garoppolo threw two interceptions in the 49ers’ home loss to the Colts on Sunday Night Football.
Last week, former Patriots tight end Martellus Bennet referred to Garoppolo as a “b—.” Belichick’s dream heir apparent isn’t panning out.
Brady has made a career of outlasting quarterbacks. It would be quite a statement if he outlasted Jimmy G.
“Sorry, Jimmy, missed you on the way out.”
