New England Patriots sign Brian Hoyer to three-year deal
The New England Patriots have agreed to a three-year deal with Brian Hoyer to be their new backup quarterback.
The New England Patriots left a hole on their roster with the trade of Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers. With Garoppolo gone, the Patriots did not have a backup quarterback on the roster for Tom Brady.
New England did not wait long to fill that hole. Less than two days after trading Garoppolo away for a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Patriots have signed quarterback Brian Hoyer to be their new backup quarterback.
Hoyer and the Patriots agreed to a three-year deal, as he was waived by the 49ers to make room for Garoppolo on their roster. He will immediately step into the backup quarterback spot behind Brady.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared the news on his Twitter account.
Brian Hoyer is signing a 3-year deal with the #Patriots, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 1, 2017
This is a homecoming for Hoyer. New England is where he began his NFL career in 2009 after going undrafted out of Michigan State. He was Brady’s backup through 2011 before he moved on in free agency.
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Following his stay in New England, Hoyer became well traveled. He spent the 2012 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. Hoyer had a two-season stay with the Cleveland Browns, playing there in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 he was with the Houston Texans before playing 2016 with the Chicago Bears and the first eight weeks of this season with the 49ers.
Hoyer was an obvious choice as the new backup quarterback for the Patriots. He is familiar with the system since he played here for three seasons earlier in his career. Needing an immediate replacement, the Patriots are lucky they were able to get one that is familiar with their schemes and system at this point in the season.
However, the Patriots were not the only team looking to land Hoyer. According to Ian Rappoport of NFL Network and NFL.com, the Green Bay Packers were also in on Hoyer. Rappoport said the Packers tried to steal him, but he ended up back in New England where he wanted to be.
The #Packers tried to steal him, but Brian Hoyer ends up back in New England where he wanted to be. https://t.co/mgeA8mgftO
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2017
Hoyer has been a serviceable backup in his NFL career. He has played in 55 games, starting 37 of them, compiling a 16-21 record. Shockingly, his best success, record-wise, came with the Browns in 2012 and 2013 when he went 10-6.
Hoyer has completed 59.3 percent of his passes with 48 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. In 2014, he led the NFL in yards per completion.
Next: Patriots Did All They Could With Jimmy Garoppolo
Hoyer is a serviceable backup and excellent signing for the Patriots. Brady has shown no signs of slowing down yet this season, but have an experienced, capable backup behind him is never a bad thing.