With Tom Brady facing a four-week layoff after this week's preseason finale, ESPN ponders the question of whether – or even should – Brady take any snaps in Thursday night's tilt with the Giants.
The Boston Globe looks at a similar question from the perspective of backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
A Boston.com column takes an interesting look at the Brady-Garoppolo dynamic.
"Even at 38, Brady isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He wants to play until he's 45, and based on his performance the last 2 1/2 seasons, the magic beans utilized in his $200 cookbook must have some validity to them. But there's also a cold reality… What if Garoppolo is good?" the writer asks.
Elsewhere, the Boston Herald looks at the promising preseason performance of veteran free agent DE Chris Long.
"I feel good in that I'm working hard every day and really embracing whatever it is they throw at me for my role to be," Long said in the piece. "I kept an open mind. I've got great teammates. It's been really fun. It's a fun place to play."
The Providence Journal focuses on the Patriots secondary as a unit in one of today's features.
"We have a great group. We like being around each other, spending time off the field bonding. Playing on the field together, it just grows," safety Devin McCourty said. "When you can keep that going, when you like playing with certain guys and being out there with them, it's good. In this league, you don't know if it's always going to stay the same."
Back to the whole Brady thing… WEEI.com lists five AFC teams that could benefit most from TB12's early-season absence.
And those of you preparing for fantasy football drafts may be interested in how Brady’s suspension is affecting his draft position in various leagues. Boston.com examines that topic.
