Jimmy Garoppolo has explained why he was eager to join the Los Angeles Rams this off-season - and aimed a not-so-subtle dig at his former teams - the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders - by claiming he can now be himself.
Garoppolo will be the backup quarterback with the Rams - the first time that he seemingly has no path to becoming the starter since his days backing up Tom Brady with the New England Patriots. The veteran had been the starting quarterback with the 49ers for six years before moving on to join the Raiders then being released from his contract after just one season.
In the last three seasons, though, Garoppolo has lost his starting place on three different occasions. As a result, he's bounced around teams before now finding himself as the backup with in Los Angeles.
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Despite knowing he'll be taking a back seat with the team, Garoppolo has praised the culture within the organization while sending a parting shot at both of his former teams in the process. Garoppolo told reporters: "This place allows you to be yourself, too, which is different than other places I've been.
"You’re getting pressed with a sense of urgency but in a good way. Obviously, everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to perform well. They do it in the right way here. They push you positively. There’s just a lot of good things going on, man. I’m enjoying every bit of it. Even the meetings are a good time. Everything is going good right now."
Garoppolo did not speak about which team he was referencing, but his comments suggested he did not feel he could be himself at his former teams. He went on to discuss his rollercoaster last few years in the league.
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He added: "It was chaotic at times, but they’re all learning experiences. That’s one thing I’ve taken from this. The NFL is crazy, man. Everyone has got a story. Everyone is going whichever way trying to make it.
"But at the end of the day, it’s your story, and you’ve got to make the best of it. Good, bad, or indifferent, whatever happened in the past, it happened. Now I’m here, and I’m just trying to make every day the best day."
Garoppolo will miss the first two games of the 2024 season through suspension after testing positive for PEDs, with the Rams likely to have two-time national championship winner Stetson Bennett be the backup. Bennett threw four interceptions in the Rams' preseason opener, but went on to score the winning touchdown of the game to defeat the Dallas Cowboys.
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