Bill Belichick would like you to know that Tom Brady is still the Patriots' starting QB

Patriots coach makes it clear: Tom Brady is the starter when he comes back from his suspension

Say what you want about Bill Belichick -- he can be cold toward reporters, he's been involved in a couple league scandals, and he's arguably the greatest coach of all time -- but don't rip his ability to prioritize. On Wednesday, the hoodie demonstrated that ability, twice.

Priority No. 1: Getting Jimmy Garoppolo ready for the first four games of the season, when he'll be forced to fill Tom Brady's void under center. The first of those games comes against the Cardinals in Arizona, so he won't be afforded the luxury of easing himself into the swing of things.

Priority No. 2: End a quarterback controversy before one can begin brewing. Speaking with reporters at the start of training camp, Belichick made it perfectly clear that Garoppolo won't have a chance to steal away Brady's job.

"Our priority now is to get Jimmy (Garoppolo) ready for the start of the season, the Arizona game," Belichick said, per NFL.com. "So that will obviously be a comprehensive process. Tom (Brady) will return as the starting quarterback when he comes back, but in the meantime we can prioritize the first part of our schedule."

Even if you're a Belichick hater -- probably the same person who also believes the PSI levels of the footballs mattered in the blowout of a game that spawned Deflategate -- you should be thanking Belichick. Because no matter how unlikely a quarterback controversy involving Tom freakin' Brady seems, it definitely isn't an impossible scenario.

Brady turns 39 in August. Garoppolo turns 25 in November. If Garoppolo lights up the competition in the four-game stretch and leads the Patriots to a perfect record, you just know that someone will float the idea. Someone with an audience will wonder aloud if the Patriots should be investing in their future -- the next Dan Marino -- rather than sticking with their aging quarterback -- a proven cheater.*

Heck, it happened two seasons ago.

In a savvy move, Belichick shot down that idea two full months in advance. He proved that he's still ahead of the game. Hopefully, though, someone still asks him about the possibility, because there can never be enough footage of Belichick scoffing at silly questions on live TV.

* denotes sarcasm.