How Jimmy Garoppolo could return to the Patriots in 2021

February 12, 2021 | 10:36 a.m.

On Thursday, the Celtics beat the Raptors, 120-106. Semi Ojeleye totaled a career-high 24 points to run Boston.

The Celtics play again tonight, against the Pistons at 8 p.m.

And the Bruins play tonight too, taking on the Rangers at 7 p.m.

Friday is Bill Russell’s 87th birthday. Here’s the Hall of Famer blowing out what appears to be 87 candles:

Phew, I got to 87! I want to thank my wife for another amazing cake and the little forest fire on it. Thank you @ SKJR40 to get ready with the fire extinguisher in case next time bring a cpr kit. @legends_unite #Deep breathing #Friday morning @Report of the launderer @NBA @espn @celtics pic.twitter.com/TscoGkRhxv

– TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) February 12, 2021

Mike Reiss on Jimmy Garoppolo: Speaking on ESPN Friday morning, Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter discussed how he sees Bill Belichick’s possible plans at quarterback during the offseason.

“Tom Brady goes down to Tampa, wins a Super Bowl championship. You are the Patriots, what’s your response to that? asked Reiss.

“He has to be bold,” Reiss continued, “and that’s why my bold prediction was that Jimmy Garoppolo will return and be their starting quarterback this season. Think about it: he was Brady’s original succession plan here in Nova Scotia. England In 2016, when they got him while Tom was serving that suspension, he was off, winning in Arizona this opening week as all eyes in the NFL watched him.

“Then the next week, against Miami, he was terrific in a win over them before he got injured, and that’s the big deal when we talk about Jimmy,” Reiss noted.

Reiss admitted that the Patriots’ path to getting Garoppolo is uncertain. The 29-year-old has two more years on his current contract with the 49ers, with successes of over $ 26 million per season.

Still, if San Francisco chases another quarterback in the offseason, Garoppolo could become stretchy.

“You could almost imagine how the dominoes could potentially fall,” Reiss noted.

Trivia: Jimmy Garoppolo was the fifth quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft. Can you name the four who came before him?

(Answer below).

Hint: Only one was still playing for the team that drafted him in the 2020 season.

Learn more at Boston.com:

JJ Watt explains why he asked for his release:

Houston, I wanted you to hear it straight from me … pic.twitter.com/YqT3P6Lb6l

– JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 12, 2021

Naomi Osaka finally guided the butterfly to safety:

💜 💛 🦋 @naomiosaka | @ sabrina_i20 pic.twitter.com/kd0rB1w8dA

– espnW (@espnW) February 12, 2021

That day: In 1994, Norwegian ski jumper Stein Gruben removed the Olympic torch from a ski jump during the opening ceremony of the Lillehammer Olympic Games.

Gruben was not his country’s first choice, as 33-year-old veteran Ole Gunnar Fidjestol was initially preferred. Considering Fidjestol’s experience and success on the world stage (having won a bronze medal at the Calgary Olympics in 1988), he seemed to be the safest pair of hands.

But after Fidjestol suffered a concussion in a training jump shortly before the Games started, Norway turned to Gruben, a 26-year-old college painting student.

Under the gaze of the whole world, he calmly blocked the landing and the host nation expired.

#OnThisDay 26 years ago @OlympicFlame stolen and set the Olympic cauldron on fire # Lillehammer1994 pic.twitter.com/ycowCUw0Lo

– Olympics (@Olympics) February 12, 2020

Daily highlight: Jaylen Brown continued the game throughout the flight, spin and finish.

JB gets the robbery and the bucket in tonight @JetBlue Play the game! pic.twitter.com/lEM3Dvti26

– Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 12, 2021

Trivia answer: Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr.