data-mm-id=”_mgdlpjhaw”>The list of backup quarterbacks to Tom Brady is long and relatively distinguished, but perhaps none of them have been as close to succeeding the legendary Patriots quarterback than Jarrett Stidham is right now. With Brady entering free agency and speculation circling like never before that he'll actually leave New England, there's a legit chance the Patriots are looking for a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2001. Many pundits have connected them with the bevy of other free agent QBs this offseason, including Ryan Tannehill and Jameis Winston. But on Good Morning Football, Peter Schrager speculated that he thinks the Patriots will actually go with Stidham as the starter, draft a QB in the first round and see how things pan out. The @Patriots contingency plan if Tom Brady does, indeed, leave? @PSchrags says the guy may actually already be there. The case for Jarrett Stidham ( @Jarrett_Stidham ) as the QB1: pic.twitter.com/9rlaSnvTUX— GMFB (@gmfb) March 10, 2020It's an interesting theory to be sure, but could it actually happen? If you go back and look at what Patriots players and coaches said last year, absolutely. Bill Belichick, never one to praise rookies and especially not in preseason, gave Stidham his mark of approval in several areas last August. Again, this quote is from BILL BELICHICK IN PRESEASON ABOUT A ROOKIE! ““I think there were several plays that dawned all of the categories really. Quick throws where the read was clear and the receiver was open and then maybe a secondary read, and then there were a couple of times where he scrambled and extended the play. He ran a couple times and completed a pass to – I think it might have been the tight end, [Andrew] Beck or [Ryan] Izzo – but anyway, there was a little bit of everything there. The most important thing for the quarterback is not to turn the ball over, make good decisions, and throw accurately, so he did all of those at times.””- Bill Belichick That's rare. Beyond the praise, which was also heaped on Stidham from his teammates, there's also the reality that this QB draft class is deep. Jordan Love is a prospect scouts are high on who is projected to be available to when the Patriots pick at No. 23. As Schrager mentions, Justin Herbert could also fall to the Pats there. Either could be a future star in this league in the right situation. The fact is, whether because of injury or suspension, the Patriots have succeeded before without Brady under center, most recently going 3-1 without him in 2016 when Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett split the starting duties while Brady served a four-game suspension. With Brady going on 44-years-old and a cap hit expected to be in the $25-$35 million range, the Patriots might also want to start the next phase of their dynasty with a new QB. Stidham hasn't proven he's ready to step into the massive shoes Brady created, but then again no one ever will be ready for that. The Patriots might want to invest their money elsewhere and figure out who their long-term QB is rather than kick the can down the road and give Brady another year. We won't know the actual answer until Brady signs a new contract, but Stidham starting in 2020 isn't as crazy as once thought.
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He’s won countless trophies and this season, he’s on the verge of helping them win the treble with City being the favourites to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Financially speaking, Barcelona have been in a spot of bother over the course of the last few years. That s probably an understatement, too, and with a move for Lionel Messi being on the cards this summer, you have to wonder where they re going to find the money to bring in someone like Gund…
Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson contacted Liverpool to congratulate the Reds on their drought-ending Premier League title, Kenny Dalglish revealed.
Liverpool claimed their first English top-flight crown since 1990 thanks to Manchester City s 2-1 Premier League loss to Chelsea on Thursday.
The Reds celebrated a 19th English league title with seven games to spare in 2019-20, moving one adrift of United s record after Ferguson led the Manchester giants to 13 Premier League honours during a trophy-laden 26-year tenure.
Ferguson, though, put rivalries aside as the United legend congratulated fierce foes Liverpool.
How are we all feeling this morning, Reds?
— Liverpool FC (Premier League Champions ) (@LFC)
He contacted us to…
Prediction: Both Teams to Score Liverpool to Win
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The UEFA Champions League final gets underway on Saturday night as Premier League rivals, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, clash on Saturday evening.
The match itself, the first all-English European Cup final since 2008, sees the two teams aiming to end their respective waits for European glory at the home of Atletico Madrid, the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.
Tottenham Hotspur
It is scarcely believable that the North Londoners now have a genuine chance of winning the Champions League considering their troubles in the competition so far this season. Mauricio Pochettino s troops have twice been on the verge of elimination; first notching an excellent draw at the Nou Camp in their f…
Liverpool provided a huge boost to their hopes of Champions League football next season as they claimed a thrilling 4-2 win over rivals Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s side took the lead early through Bruno Fernandes, but were pegged back before half-time as Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino got on the scoresheet.
It looked like the visitors had things wrapped up early in the second period as Firmino headed in his second only for Marcus Rashford to set up a nervy finish as he pulled one back with 20 minutes remaining.
But the visitors rounded things off late on through Mohamed Salah to put pressure firmly back on Chelsea and Leicester City in the chase for top four.
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David de Gea is no stranger to scrutiny at Old Trafford.
There were serious concerns over De Gea when he was lured to Manchester United by former boss Alex Ferguson as a lean 20-year-old goalkeeper in 2011.
De Gea, though, answered questions about his physique – the Spaniard repaying Ferguson s faith and going on to win a Premier League title, as well as FA Cup, Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield silverware.
He cemented himself as one of the world s best keepers. However, those concerns have emerged again and they are growing louder following his latest mistake in Sunday s 1-1 draw away to Everton.
The key moments from our clash against Everton
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
De Gea s attempted clearance was blocked by Evert…
Real Madrid s Champions League defence came crashing down in a humiliating home defeat to Ajax on Tuesday, ending their three-year grip on the trophy.
The Eredivisie side triumphed 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to prevail 5-3 on aggregate in the last-16 tie and pile further pressure on Madrid boss Santiago Solari.
Defeat marks the first time since 2009-10 that Madrid have been eliminated at this stage of the competition and comes on the back of consecutive Clasico losses to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and LaLiga.
Here, with the help of Opta, we take a look at some of the key stats behind Madrid s shock exit from the competition.
Lasse Schöne
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
Madrid are the first reigning Champio…
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Eduardo Berizzo s side have failed to win any of their last seven games against Peru, with their last victory coming in a friendly in November 2014.
A 1-0 defeat to Uruguay in their final Group A game meant Paraguay finished third with six points from four games.
They suffered a blow in that clash when influential midfielder Miguel Almiron limped off.
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Real will surely face fierce competition for a forward of such potential. Liverpool are said to be monitoring the situation as well, with all three of their long-serving star forwards set to turn 30 by next summer, when they ll also reach the final 12 months of their contracts.
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River s quest for back-to-back titles will continue against Brazilian giants Cruzeiro in a two-legged round-of-16 clash starting in July.
After edging Argentine rivals Boca in a dramatic final last season, River advanced to the knockout stage as runners-up to Internacional in Group A.
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So here is the draw for the round of 16 in the !
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@TheLibertadores)
Monday s draw in Paraguay also has …
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Brazilian full-back Belletti spent three seasons at Camp Nou between 2004 and 2007, winning two LaLiga titles and scoring the winner in the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal.
He featured in four games against Los Blancos for the Blaugrana, winning one, losing one and drawing two.
The 45-year-old, who is now assistant manager at Brazilian club Cruzeiro, reflected on the stature of the historic fixture and cast his mind back to his first Clasico after arriving in Catalonia.
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