Journeyman QB Hoyer returns to New England
Unlikely to replace Brady as starter but an able mentor for young Stidham
Less than a week after Tom Brady skedaddled, the New England Patriots have signed a new quarterback.
The dull Brian Hoyer. For the 43rd time.
Well, OK, for only the third time. It just feels like the 43rd time.
The 34-year-old journeyman has changed NFL teams for a ninth time, after spending — going backward — 2019 in Indianapolis, 2018 in New England, 2017 in San Francisco and New England, 2016 in Chicago, 2015 in Houston, 2014 and ’13 in Cleveland, 2012 in Arizona, and his first three years as a pro in New England.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Hoyer has agreed to a one-year contract in New England. He’s due to earn $2 million in 2020 between the Colts and Patriots. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Hoyer could earn up to $2 million more in incentives.
While Hoyer has started 38 NFL games in his career, including 34 since 2014, he is not expected to replace Brady in New England. He hasn’t won a start since he was a Chicago Bear in 2016, four stops ago.
Hoyer likely has been reeled back in to Foxboro — one day after the Colts cut him — to serve as a fine, able, contented, experienced, mentoring backup to green second-year QB Jarrett Stidham, if that’s the route Patriots head coach Bill Belichick indeed chooses to take.
From Hoyer’s standpoint, this might be his last legit chance to start in the NFL. So why not go back? Again? After all, he’s familiar with the surroundings, the Patriots offence and, perhaps most importantly, with what’s expected under Belichick.
Former Cleveland and Jacksonville backup Cody Kessler, who has lost 10 of 12 career starts, is the third QB under contract in New England. He presumably now drops to thirdstring.
But is Stidham the QB Belichick will really start in 2020? Over Hoyer? And over the readily available Cam Newton (bargain-bin trade bait of the Carolina Panthers), Jameis Winston (now an unrestricted free agent after Tampa Bay opted to let him go) or still-quite-capable Andy Dalton (Cincinnati’s curbside trade bait, with the Bengals surely using their No. 1 overall draft pick next month on LSU’s Joe Burrow)?
Maybe.
You’d think Belichick would have pounced on either Newton, Winston or Dalton by now if any of them intrigued him. Unless Professor Joykill is waiting for their prices to drop. Or for the Colts to offer up in a trade their top-seeded deposed quarterback, ex-Patriot Jacoby Brissett.
RECEIVERS ON THE MOVE
If you missed it Saturday, two free-agent wide receivers of note found new homes.
Tenth-year veteran Emmanuel Sanders, whom the San Francisco 49ers acquired in October
from Denver, is off to New Orleans, for two years and up to $19 million, per ESPN. Sanders still is a top-notch route runner and an even better locker-room presence and mentor. He’ll team up with record-setting Michael Thomas to present 41-year-old Drew Brees with a pair of formidable perimeter go-to options.
Consider it the Saints’ answer to division rival Tampa Bay’s signing of Brady.
Meantime, Nelson Agholor — formerly with the Philadelphia Eagles — agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders for one year, according to the Oakland Tribune.
He’s the guy whose hands were so unreliable last season as to compel a good-Samaritan hero, who’d just helped rescue babies tossed from a burning Philadelphia building, to famously, wryly observe: “And we was catchin’ ’em — unlike Agholor, and his mishaps. I’d like to put that out
there.”
Harsh! But fair at the time. When healthy, the 2015 firstround draft pick actually was a productive receiver in Philly. He should thrive, if healthy, in Jon Gruden’s attack, in a franchise now relocated to Las Vegas.
THANKING TOM IN PRINT
Speaking again of Brady, the Patriots bought a full-page ad in Sunday’s Tampa Bay Times, honouring Brady’s character and playing career in a long statement, that concluded by saying to “the Buccaneers fans and Tampa Bay community — take care of him. You got a great one.”
OTHER DEALS
With most top-tier free agents having either re-signed or found new homes, the NFL transaction wire slowed over the weekend.
Other free-agent signings included OL Eric Kush (formerly with Cleveland) to Las Vegas, and G/C Josh Andrews (formerly with Philadelphia) to New York Jets. In addition to cutting Hoyer, Indianapolis let go CB Pierre Desir.
Safety D.J. Swearinger returned to New Orleans for a one-year deal worth $1.1 million, according to NFL Network, and Washington re-signed linebacker Jon Bostic.
Meantime, a slew of deals agreed to last week became official with the successful passing of physicals by players, including QB Philip Rivers to Indianapolis and DT Danny Shelton to Detroit.
Arizona RB Kenyan Drake signed his transition tag.