advertisement

Garoppolo, Tolzien patiently await more NFL snaps

Kids don't run around the backyard or park dreaming of being the backup to NFL star quarterbacks like Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers.

But the jobs Jimmy Garoppolo and Scott Tolzien currently hold are a testament to dreams coming true for those who are willing to make the best of their situation through perseverance, hard work and humility.

Garoppolo got his first chance to shine in NFL's Monday Night spotlight when he came in for Brady in the fourth quarter of New England's 41-14 blowout loss at Kansas City. The 2010 Rolling Meadows graduate and second-round rookie draft pick out of Eastern Illinois handled it almost perfectly by missing on only 1 of his 7 passes for 70 yards and his first touchdown to Rob Gronkowski.

While there were some attempts to stir up a quarterback controversy, which were quickly dismissed by Patriots' coach Bill Belichick, Garoppolo didn't make any outrageous claims that he was ready to unseat a three-time Super Bowl champion in Brady just yet.

"One of those situations where you've got to be ready to go at all times. I'm a relief pitcher, pretty much, so that's my job," Garoppolo was quoted in a Boston Globe story entitled "Jimmy Garoppolo's Play a Positive for Patriots." "Go out there and put plays together. That's all you can do at that point.

"Obviously, first time, there's a bunch of learning experiences, it's a good experience in general to get that out of the way. We'll go back, watch the tape, and I'm sure there's a bunch to learn from."

Tolzien quietly returned to Chicago and was inactive for Sunday's game at Soldier Field as Rodgers and the Packers made it loud and clear they were far from dead in their 38-17 romp past the Bears.

The fourth-year NFL quarterback who graduated from Fremd in 2006 and starred at Wisconsin got the opportunity last year to start twice and play in three games for the Packers when Rodgers was injured. Tolzien completed 61 percent of his passes for 717 yards with a touchdown and 5 interceptions and he also rushed for a touchdown.

And his willingness to work and make mechanical adjustments left a big enough impression on head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff to keep Tolzien and Matt Flynn as backups to Rodgers. Tolzien, who did not see regular-season action in his first two seasons with the 49ers, also possessed one other important trait.

"Fear is not in his vocabulary," Packers' quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in late August.

You wouldn't find it attached to either of these two Mid-Suburban League products who come from first-class football families. Not when you consider their roads to the NFL were paved like those for five-star quarterback prodigy recruits.

Both of them didn't start as high school varsity quarterbacks until they were juniors. They both endured their share of struggles prior to breakout senior seasons.

But there still were more doubters than believers.

Tolzien wasn't sure where he was headed for college until Wisconsin came in with a late offer just before signing day. Then he spent the first three years in the program in the depths of the depth chart.

Garoppolo saw some of the bigger interest he initially received dissipate. He ultimately chose Eastern Illinois, which had produced Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, but what were the odds of lightning striking twice from the same Division I Football Championship Subdivision school?

Tolzien and Garoppolo weren't short-sighted. Rather than wasting time feeling slighted, they did everything that was right with their opportunities.

Tolzien finally got to start as a junior and had two phenomenal years with the Badgers that culminated in a Rose Bowl trip. Even though he was not chosen in the draft, he displayed enough skill and smarts to impress NFL decision makers.

Garoppolo started right away at Eastern Illinois but still had to overcome the stigma that he wasn't playing at a big-time college program. While his numbers in Charleston were incredible, it takes more than that to be one of the select few invited to New York City for the NFL draft.

And, if everything works out, they could be on opposite sidelines on Nov. 30 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay when the Packers host the Patriots.

The guarantee is neither of them is satisfied with spending games on the sidelines. The other guarantee is both of them will go about getting what they want in the right way and let others create any potential quarterback controversies.

So, kids who want to be the next Jimmy Garoppolo or Scott Tolzien would find it isn't a bad dream at all.

• Marty Maciaszek is a freelance columnist for the Daily Herald. You can reach him at marty.maciaszek@gmail.com.

Former Fremd and Wisconsin standout Scott Tolzien hands off the ball last November for the Green Bay Packers against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.