Tom Brady Starts for Patriots vs. Packers in Week 1 of Preseason

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's status for the start of the regular season remains up in the air, but the four-time Super Bowl champion started the preseason opener.

He would go 1-for-4 with only 10 passing yards before getting pulled. 

As pointed out by Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal, it wasn't uncommon for head coach Bill Belichick to hold Brady out of the team's first preseason game in years past:

It was previously reported by NFL Network's Stacey Dales that Brady would sit the preseason opener, giving second-year signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo a chance to get more reps with the first team. Brady is currently suspended for the first four games of the regular season due to his alleged involvement in the Deflategate scandal, which means Garoppolo very well may be the starter for the opening month. 

The NFL Players Association has challenged the ban in court, but there has been no indication that the suspension will be dropped or reduced.

Garoppolo needs as many meaningful reps as he can get just in case, and playing the bulk of Thursday's contest against the Pack is a step in the right direction, especially after he struggled in Tuesday's practice, per Doug Kyed of NESN.com.

Despite Garoppolo's inexperience, wide receiver Danny Amendola put the youngster on the same level as Brady in terms of his delivery of the ball.

"No difference. They're both great," Amendola said, according to Ryan Hannable of WEEI. "Just worried about catching it, whoever is throwing it."

Garoppolo had a golden opportunity to refine his skills and understanding of the offense Thursday, which is even more important for the Pats since they recently released the injured Matt Flynn and signed Ryan Lindley in his place.

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