Former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett will no longer be carrying a clipboard as Tom Brady's understudy on the New England Patriots sideline this season.
The Patriots traded Mallett to the Houston Texans on Sunday for a conditional seventh-round draft pick that can become a sixth-round pick based on playing time, elevating Garoppolo to the No. 2 job behind Brady, a two-time NFL MVP.
Rookie second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo will become Brady's backup.
Mallett, 26, was 14 for 26 for 161 yards and a touchdown this preseason, and his fate seemed decided when Garoppolo played the entire exhibition finale on Thursday night against the New York Giants. Originally a third-round draft pick from Arkansas, Mallett played four regular-season games in three years with the Patriots, completing one pass.
In Houston, Mallett, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, will move into the backup role created when the Texans cut Case Keenum later Sunday. Keenum had been competing with rookie fourth-round pick Tom Savage for the No. 2 role behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Texans first-year Coach Bill O'Brien is familiar with Mallett's ability. He was the Patriots' offensive coordinator in 2011 for Mallett's rookie season before coming head coach at Penn State in 2012.
Garoppolo was 46 for 79 for 618 yards, 5 touchdowns and an interception in the preseason.
But the Patriots are hoping he returns to the bench and stays there.
Brady has missed games because of injury once in his career since inheriting the starting job from Drew Bledsoe in 2001. Matt Cassel took over when Brady tore up his knee in the 2008 opener and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record. New England missed the playoffs -- one of two seasons in the Brady era in which New England failed to make the postseason.
Also Sunday, the Patriots claimed defensive linemen Bruce Gaston and Kelcy Quarles off waivers. New England released linebacker Chris White.
Gaston was a rookie free agent from Purdue cut by Arizona on Saturday. He played 50 consecutive games at Purdue and finished with 131 total tackles, 7 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles.
Quarles was cut by the Giants on Saturday. He played in 35 games in three years at South Carolina, finishing with 105 total tackles and 13 sacks.
White played two seasons with the Buffalo Bills before joining the Patriots last season. Originally a sixth-round draft pick from Mississippi State, he played in 16 games and finished with one tackle on defense and nine special teams tackles.
Sports on 09/01/2014