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PHOENIX - A rookie who probably wont play in the Super Bowl could help the New England Patriots win it.By the time the game starts Sunday night, Jimmy Garoppolo will have done his primary job of preparing the teams defence by imitating speedy Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson in practice.Ive had to get a lot faster real fast, Garoppolo said with a smile.Drafted in the second round out of Eastern Illinois, he threw just 27 passes as Tom Bradys backup. His behind-the-scenes role has been much more valuable to the team preparing to face the defending champion Seahawks.When we play quarterbacks like were going to see this weekend, thats a huge role for us, defensive co-ordinator Matt Patricia said. This is definitely a kind of unsung hero job.It also was a new one for Garoppolo.As a college star, he didnt play on the scout team. So when he joined the Patriots he had to start from the beginning. As the season progressed, so did he.He met on Tuesdays with defensive coaches. He imitated the skills and quirks of quarterbacks as diverse as pocket passers Peyton Manning and Kyle Orton and more mobile quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck.Ive been, what is it, 18 different quarterbacks? Garoppolo said. You just try to do the best you can for the defence Youre trying to give them a look and, at the same time, perfect your craft.The more time running plays in practice, even on the scout team, the more experience a player has that should help him when he gets into the game. Even if he never does, it can be rewarding.Jim Miller didnt play as a backup to Brady during the 2004 season. But he enthusiastically ran the scout team and ended up with a Super Bowl ring.Hed get in the huddle every single day and be like, all right, guys. You love football. Lets go, said Patricia, who ran the scout team at the time. And it just set the right tone for everybody to go out and practice extremely hard.Garoppolo may not have much to do on game days, but hes had to learn how to manage his time during the week. He studies opposing quarterbacks in film sessions so he can help the defence and still has to prepare to play if Brady gets hurt or comes out of the game during a blowout.Hes been practice player of the week for us a number of weeks, probably couldve been more, for the look that he gives the defence, coach Bill Belichick said.From one week to the next, Garoppolo must forget the tendencies of one quarterback and learn those of another.The next quarterbacks cadence, habits at the line of scrimmage and amount of time he tries to throw to his primary receiver before dumping the ball off to another are part of Garoppolos imitations.Does the opponent use an up-tempo offence or huddle after most plays?The better Garoppolo can copy the opposing quarterback, the better chance a defence has to stop him in a game.There have definitely been a couple of times when its like, hey, they did the exact same thing to me in practice. Its paying off, he said.Previous quarterbacks who ran the Patriots scout team were Matt Cassel, Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett. All moved on to other teams.But when the Patriots took Garoppolo so early in the draft, he was seen as a more likely heir apparent to the 37-year-old starter, even though Brady has said hed like to play into his 40s.Meanwhile, Garoppolo is doing more for the Patriots defence than for their offence.This week, he helped it prepare for Wilson, a dual threat and a Super Bowl champion.It takes you a little out of your comfort zone, thats for sure, Garoppolo said, but Im an athlete. Ill make do.His defensive teammates certainly appreciate that.Hes given us a great look, whether hes dropping back and trying to make a play, whether its being zone read and running, safety Devin McCourty said. Obviously, were not going to get Russell Wilson in practice but we got a good showing of what we could see on Sunday.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Astros George Springer Jersey . Particularly when speaking in the stadium of Tuesdays opponent: Manchester City. "Maybe they dont fear us as before," Pique said on Monday, "because in the last two years we didnt win the Champions League. Astros Joe Smith Jersey . -- Sami Salo joked that as the shootout went on and on, one thing went through his mind: "Youve got to tie up your skates. http://www.cheapastrosjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=astros-jandel-gustave-jersey.com) - Chris Kreider tallied a goal and an assist as the New York Rangers capped a successful California road trip with a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Astros Brian McCann Jersey . -- The Denver Broncos retired John Elways No. Astros A. J. Reed Jersey .Heres Ralph the Dog with the crew here at TSN jumping into the James Duthie TradeCentre selfie: Happy to drop by! RT @TSN_Sports: @tsnjamesduthie: Take this Ellen.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jimmy Rollins had a grand slam during his memorable opening day for the Philadelphia Phillies, who needed a lot of runs to get usually reliable ace Cliff Lee a victory in his return to Texas. Rollins hit his 200th career homer and pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. had a tiebreaking two-run double that put the Phillies ahead for good in a wild 14-10 victory over the Rangers on Monday. Rollins matched Cal Ripkens major league record by starting his 14th consecutive opener at shortstop for the same franchise. He also became the 19th player in major league history with at least 400 doubles, 100 triples and 200 homers. "J-Roll, with the big pop early, just really set the tone and got things going," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I think it was contagious after that." The Phillies had 17 hits and their most runs in a season opener since 1900. It was more than enough to make up for a rough outing for Lee (1-0), who was unable to protect a 6-0 lead after Rollins homered in the second inning. Rollins, whose wife is expecting their second child, flew to Texas on Sunday, a day after the rest of the team did. "I didnt want to come here and then have to fly to Philadelphia," Rollins said. "The baby has let me go out and play ball for a few more days." Marlon Byrd and Cody Asche also homered for the Phillies, who beat the Boston Beaneaters 19-17 in their 1900 opener. Converted Rangers reliever Tanner Scheppers gave up seven runs over four innings. But the game was tied when Scheppers threw his last pitch. Mayberry, a first-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2005 who never played for the big league club and was traded three years later, got his tiebreaking hit in the fifth against Pedro Figueroa (0-1) for a 9-7 lead. Lee matched his career high by allowing eight runs and struck out only one, but the left-hander made it through five innings in another less-than-stellar opener for him in the Rangers home ballpark. "I dont like being on the pitching side of that, but fortunatelyy we outscored them and got the win, the main thing," said Lee, who had a solid spring.dddddddddddd "Jimmy hitting that grand slam busted it open. And we kept adding it on and we needed it, as it turned out." Lee got a nice ovation before pitching in Texas for the first time since starting for the Rangers in Game 5 of the 2010 World Series. The lefty also made a season-opening start here for Cleveland in 2009, when the then-reigning AL Cy Young Award winner allowed seven runs over five innings in a 9-1 loss. With starters Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison and Derek Holland on the disabled list, Scheppers became the first pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 to make his first career start on opening day. Scheppers, who had 76 relief appearances last season, struck out two and walked three. "I was extremely disappointed. You bear down there. My pitches were around the zone," Scheppers said. "I was just trying to be too fine with everything, trying to hit corners. Unfortunately, I put the guys in a big hole." Texas went ahead 7-6 on Alex Rios three-run homer in the third, but Philly got even in the fourth on Chase Utleys RBI single, the first of his three hits. Phillies leadoff hitter Ben Revere also had three hits, drove in three runs and scored twice. He hit .305 last season, but missed the entire second half with foot problems. NOTES: It was the earliest interleague game in MLB history. ... The front-row seat by the Rangers dugout where Nolan Ryan used to sit was occupied by former Rangers and Phillies player Michael Young, who retired during the off-season. ... The national anthem was performed by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, 20 years after they accompanied the late Van Cliburn, an award-winning classical pianist who lived in Fort Worth, for a stirring rendition before the first regular-season game ever played at the stadium. ... Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt holds the Phillies record for consecutive starts on opening day with 16 (1974-89). cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '