Tag: Brian Hoyer

The Patriots’ free agent signings have their new jersey numbers

Brian Hoyer gets his number.

The New England Patriots have assigned jersey numbers to their free agent signings. The team added eight veterans in free agency, including a quarterback, two receivers, a fullback, two defensive backs, one linebacker and a defensive lineman.

To this point, no one has taken Tom Brady’s No. 12. It’s easy to imagine that number will take a break for a year or two. The only leftover players without jersey numbers will be the rookies, who generally get assigned a number for training camp. They only get to pick their number if they make the team.

Here’s a look at what the newcomers will wear, if they make the roster for the 2020 season.

  • Brian Hoyer, 2
  • Damiere Byrd, 10
  • Marqise Lee, 13
  • Adrian Phillips, 21
  • Cody Davis, 22
  • Dan Vitale, 45
  • Brandon Copeland, 52
  • Beau Allen, 94

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Report: Patriots QB Jarrett Stidham privately throwing with teammates

The QB is getting his team ready for 2020.

This offseason has been difficult for NFL players trying to prepare for the 2020 season. The country and league put restrictions on what can be done during the COVID-19 pandemic — so, players and coaches haven’t been able to visit their stadiums.

Jarrett Stidham has taken on his leadership role by starting small throwing sessions with some of his teammates, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

ā€œOn a recent day in Massachusetts, Stidham and a group of six teammates gathered at a private football field for their work, which focused intently on following social distancing guidelines,ā€ Reiss stated. ā€œStidham has been a catalyst for the throwing sessions, sources said, which reflects a show of leadership as the Patriots transition from 19 seasons with Brady as the starting quarterback.”

According to Reiss, the other Patriots who joined these throwing sessions included Brian Hoyer, Julian Edelman, Damiere Byrd, Gunner Olszewski and more.

Stidham may be competing with Hoyer for the starting job, but they both seem to be doing what’s best for the team. Getting on the same page with a top weapon like Edelman and depth receivers like Byrd and Olszewski will be imperative if the Patriots want to compete for a playoff spot in their first year without Tom Brady.

The Patriots clearly have two quarterbacks who are on the same page and willing to sacrifice for the team. Two more quarterbacks will add to the competition in undrafted free agents J’Mar Smith and Brian Lewerke. This should bring the best out of Hoyer and Stidham who are obviously seen as the favorites.

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Let’s not discount Brian Hoyer from the Patriots’ QB battle

Is Jarrett Stidham ready?

It seems everyone is crowning Jarrett Stidham as the next quarterback for the New England Patriots. (I, too, am guilty of this assumption.) And on Tuesday, NFL Network’s Mike Giardi affirmed what seems to be common knowledge: the Patriots want Stidham to win the job.

Stidham will be in competition with Brian Hoyer and undrafted rookies J’Mar Smith and Brian Lewerke after the departure of Tom Brady for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. But with a shortened offseason, the PatriotsĀ may be more interested in someone with experience, not just in terms of games played but also in time spent in New England’s offense.

ā€œI think Brian Hoyer will be the starter Week 1 and I say that because the quarterback position is one of the most important for reps under center, seeing defensive looks, looking at coverage, understanding the offense,ā€ former Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich said Friday on ESPNā€™s ā€œGet Up.ā€ ā€œā€¦Look, theyā€™re not practicing right now. Thereā€™s no minicamp, thereā€™s no offseason, thereā€™s no training camp. We donā€™t know when thatā€™s going to happen.

ā€œSo if you have a veteran quarterback who has been in the system, understands what to expect what an NFL season is like, youā€™re gonna want to go with a guy who has the veteran leadership (and) also what it takes to be in that building. Look, when youā€™re a second-year player, you really donā€™t realize what a seasonā€™s like as a starter. You donā€™t understand what itā€™s going to take, and not having an offseason does not help. So, Brian Hoyer will be the starter Week 1.ā€

New England will make Stidham’s path to the starting quarterback job difficult. They’re going to put every obstacle in his way. And if the coronavirus pandemic creates too many obstacles, the Patriots may turn to Hoyer to open the season, if only because they’ll consider him a more reliable option, at least at first.

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New England Patriots playoff odds and predicted total wins: NFL futures picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the New England Patriots making the 2020 NFL playoffs and predicting their exact win total.

Will theĀ New England PatriotsĀ make the 2020 NFL playoffs? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds and make our pick. We also predict their exact win total for the upcoming season.

Odds viaĀ BetMGM; accessĀ USA TODAY Sportsā€™ betting oddsĀ for a full list.Ā Odds last updated Sunday, May 24 at 3:45 p.m. ET.

Will the New England Patriots make the 2020 NFL playoffs?

Yes:Ā -205 | No:Ā +165

The Patriots enter the 2020 season looking to extend an 11-year playoff streak in which they won the AFC East Division crown each of those years. The last time they missed the playoffs, they went 11-5 in 2008 and finished second in the division.

Still, the bet to make isĀ NO (+165). New England begins life without future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady. He’s expected to be replaced under center by either Jarrett Stidham orĀ Brian Hoyer. The Pats’ easiest route to the postseason remains via the division title, but the Buffalo Bills are primed to win their first division crown since 1995.

A $10 bet on the Patriots missing the 2020 playoffs returns a profit of $16.50. With question marks at the most important position, it’s the easy choice to make.

Place your legal NFL bets in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM. Bet now!

How many games will the New England Patriots win in 2020? Bands

BAND ODDS
0-4 Wins +4000
5-8 Wins +130
9-12 Wins -160
13-16 Wins +2000

The books are hedging against some major regression for the Pats by pricing the 5-8 win band as the second favorite. A $10 bet here will fetch a modest profit of $13 as what is the most realistic result.

Chase the value and count on disaster to strike the Pats in their first season without Brady leading the way. BetĀ 0-4 WINS (+4000) for a $400 return on a $10 bet. New England has owned the division over the last two decades, but with the quarterback competition now even, look for a 3-3 or 2-4 result in divisional play. In addition to the Bills, the Pats will play three road games against 2019 playoff teams, including the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Pats will also play back-to-back West Coast road games against the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams in early December. Tough home games will come against the Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.

How many games will the New England Patriots win in 2020? Exact number

Following suit of the above selection, look for the Pats to win exactlyĀ 4 games atĀ +6500. A $10 bet will fetch a profit of $650.

The Pats haven’t won fewer than 10 games since going 9-7 in 2002 and they haven’t finished with four or fewer wins since 1992. The team’s decision to not address the quarterback position since Brady’s free-agent departure will prove costly. It’s possible New England ends up in position to select Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence at the top of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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Former Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke given 60-1 odds to be New England’s starting quarterback

If you’ve got $10 burning a hole in your pocket, there are worse ways to spend it.

Got $10 to blow? I’ve got a place to spend it.

Former Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke has been instilled as a +6000 underdog to be the next starting quarterback for the New England Patriots by Fanduel. That means a wager of $100 would net a hefty $6,000 win.

The question of who will replace Tom Brady as the signal caller for the Pats is one of the biggest of the NFL offseason. Second-year QB Jarrett Stidham is the overwhelming favorite to win the job at -500. But don’t discount the other MSU alum on the roster Brian Hoyer at +400. Hoyer is the logical bridge quarterback in the event something happens to Stidham, who himself is very unproven.

It’s also notable that Lewerke, who was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent, has longer odds than Cam Newton, a player who isn’t even on the Patriots at this point. While a bet on Lewerke is highly unlikely to cash, it would give an MSU fan something extra to root for during the NFL offseason and preseason. After all, history tells us that in New England it doesn’t really matter who you are or what you’ve done; the best man wins the job.

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Rob Ninkovich believes Brian Hoyer will be Patriots’ Week 1 starter

Rob Ninkovich shuts down widely-assumed idea that Jarrett Stidham will start Week 1 for New England.

Joining the New England Patriots for the third time in Brian Hoyer’s career wasn’t just to play a backup role. The 10-year veteran took less money for an opportunityĀ to start.

Although Bill Belichick hasn’t publicly announced the team’s starter for 2020 — it’s widely assumed that Jarrett Stidham is a lock. Former Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich had a different perspective on ESPN’s “Get Up” that aired on Friday.

ā€œI think Brian Hoyer will be the starter Week 1 and I say that because the quarterback position is one of the most important for reps under center, seeing defensive looks, looking at coverage, understanding the offense,ā€ Ninkovich said, transcribed by NESN.

ā€œā€¦Look, theyā€™re not practicing right now. Thereā€™s no minicamp, thereā€™s no offseason, thereā€™s no training camp. We donā€™t know when thatā€™s going to happen. ā€œSo if you have a veteran quarterback who has been in the system, understands what to expect what an NFL season is like, youā€™re gonna want to go with a guy who has the veteran leadership (and) also what it takes to be in that building. Look, when youā€™re a second-year player, you really donā€™t realize what a seasonā€™s like as a starter. You donā€™t understand what itā€™s going to take, and not having an offseason does not help. So, Brian Hoyer will be the starter Week 1.ā€

Ninkovich makes a great point, and Hoyer’s extensive knowledge of the Patriots’ offense gives him a tremendous advantage. The COVID-19 pandemic has put a halt to social gatherings — making it extremely difficult for Stidham to get reps with his teammates.

Tom Brady’s departure from the team came in bad timing and Bill Belichick has to make a tough decision at quarterback now. Two of the team’s most difficult matchups come in the first four weeks with Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs.

Hoyer would be the safer option, but Stidham appears to be the team’s successor to Brady at the moment. The Patriots play the Miami Dolphins Week 1 — hopefully with four preseason games to make a decision.

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Analyzing the terms for QB Brian Hoyer’s contract with the Patriots

The exact numbers from Brian Hoyer’s contract.

Brian Hoyer is no stranger to Foxboro. This offseason, they signed the former Spartan to a one-year contract, marking his third stint in New England.

The 34-year-old went undrafted in 2009 following two seasons as the starter for Michigan State under Mark Dantonio. Since being signed as an undrafted free agent to back up Tom Brady, Hoyer has bounced around and earned a few starting opportunities.

In his 11 seasons, Hoyer holds a 16-22 quarterback record while throwing for 10,274 yards, 52 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. While those numbers may not be impressive at first glance, it’s important to note that he is the only quarterback to lead the Browns to a record above .500 in his starts since the team returned to Cleveland in 1999.

The Colts released Hoyer earlier this offseason after signing Philip Rivers. As a result, Indianapolis still owes Hoyer $950,000. New England will pay him just over $1 million in salary, and he has the opportunity to earn another $2 million depending on just how much he sees the field. This was all broken down by Ben Volin of The Boston Globe.

Chances he makes the roster: 99%

At this point, the Patriots have four quarterbacks on the roster: Hoyer, Jarrett Stidham, Brian Lewerke and J’Mar Smith. With Lewerke and Smith being undrafted free agents this season, they will have a lot of work to do to earn a spot.

New England reportedly told Hoyer’s camp that he would have an opportunity to compete for the starting job. Currently, that competition seems to be between Stidham and Hoyer. If Hoyer doesn’t win the job, he’ll still likely be kept around because of his knowledge of the system and his work ethic in practice.

There are other veteran quarterbacks still available on the market, but none have the institutional knowledge of New England and come at the price that Hoyer does.

What it means for Hoyer

In his 11 years, Hoyer has mainly been a career back-up. He’s earned some starting reps, but no team has committed to him for an extended period of time. Where the Patriots are, in terms of their future, should lead fans to believe that the best chance of long-term success doesn’t come from Hoyer starting.

From his teammates to the media, there have been a lot of people talking up Stidham in New England. It’s starting to seem like the second-year quarterback has the upper hand in this competition.

Hoyer is still a valuable player to have in the organization. When he’s been in New England and Brady has missed practices or OTAs, Hoyer has stepped in and led well. He’ll probably take on more of a leadership role this year and perform like a player-coach.

No matter the outcome of the position battle, Hoyer will be in New England this year, and the Patriots will be better with him.

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Bill Belichick indicates he’s content with current QB group for 2020

Bill Belichick seemed content with what the Patriots have at QB.

The New England Patriots appear content to stick with what they’ve got at the quarterback position for 2020. Bill Belichick said on NFL Network the Patriots “feel like we have four good players there” at quarterback.

The group is comprised of veterans Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer and undrafted free agents J’Mar Smith and Brandon Lewerke. The favorite to start is Stidham, who spent 2019 serving as Tom Brady’s backup. Brady, of course, left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency this offseason, which is how the Patriots have an opening at quarterback.

Hoyer shouldn’t be discounted. He may have lost a quarterback battle against Stidham in training camp last season, but Hoyer’s experience may appeal to Belichick, particularly if there’s no training camp this offseason due to the coronavirus pandemic. Without time to work on the offense with Stidham, who ran the scout team for most of 2019, the Patriots may find they’re happier with a more experienced veteran like Hoyer.

Stidham has zero starting experience in the NFL after joining the Patriots as a fourth-round draft choice in 2019. Hoyer, meanwhile, has served as a starter around the NFL, though he has not started for New England in his two previous stints with the team. Even so, Stidham is still the likeliest starter, especially if he gets a training camp to develop.

There has been some speculation as to whether New England might add quarterback Cam Newton, who remains a free agent. That seems to be growing unlikely as Belichick makes indications he’s content with the current quarterback group.

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Only two things can get in the way of Jarrett Stidham starting for the Patriots

At this point, there are really just two things that’ll get in Jarrett Stidham’s way.

Jarrett Stidham’s streak atop the New England Patriots’ depth chart has lasted longer than many expected. And it seems likely to continue.

After Tom Brady announced he was leaving to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Stidham immediately moved to the top of the depth chart. But it seemed with so many veteran quarterbacks in free agency and a handful of talented draft prospects available, the Patriots would introduce a legitimate competitor at some point during the offseason.

Free agency came and went. The Patriots added just quarterback Brian Hoyer, a signal-caller who has deep knowledge of New England’s system, even if his experience as a starter is fairly turbulent. Hoyer and Stidham had been in competition for Brady’s backup job in 2019 and Stidham won. By that same logic — and to some degree it’s flawed — Stidham should be the top quarterback in 2020. (The flaws in the logic: New England wanted to retain Stidham, a fourth-round pick, for the long term and knew it’d lose him to the waiver wire. The Patriots also thought they could re-sign Hoyer before the Colts came in with an offer that blew him away.)

The draft didn’t produce an obvious heir to Brady, with the Patriots adding two undrafted free agents: Louisiana Tech’s J’Mar Smith and Michigan State’s Brian Lewerke. Again, Stidham retained his standing.

So what’s next for the Patriots? Well, it seems like it’s Stidham time, especially after the Dallas Cowboys signed quarterback Andy Dalton and the Patriots made no effort to sign him, according to the MMQB.

Essentially, there are only two things that can stop Stidham from winning the job.

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Bill Belichick explains why the Patriots didn’t draft a quarterback

The quarterback competition seems to come down to Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.

The New England Patriots made 10 selections during the 2020 NFL Draft, but none were a quarterback. It’s the most important position in the NFL, and New England appears — at least for now — to want to roll with second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham and journeyman Brian Hoyer.

The Patriots added a pair of undrafted free agents, Louisiana Tech’s Jā€™Mar Smith and Michigan State’s Brian Lewerke, but it’s likely the Patriots are going to start Stidham or Hoyer to start 2020.

“I like both those players. We’ve had Brian a couple times,” coach Bill Belichick said this weekend after the NFL draft. “I think (Hoyer) certainly gives us a very solid level of play. We have a lot of confidence in him. And Jarrett had a good year last year. He improved a lot. We’ll see where that takes him. Yeah, I have confidence in both players.”

The Patriots’ contentment seems to be one reason why New England didn’t draft a quarterback. If Belichick felt the situation was dire, perhaps the Patriots would have traded up to target a quarterback. Instead, they didn’t pick a player at the position. Why?

“That’s a long answer there,” Belichick said. “We could talk about that for a long time. But the bottom line is that we’re evaluating that position along with all the other ones. If we feel like we find the right situation, we’ll certainly draft them. We’ve drafted them in multiple years, multiple points in the draft. Didn’t work out last three days. That wasn’t by design. It could have, but it didn’t.”

During the course of the draft, Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio indicated New England had interest in some of the quarterbacks in this year’s class. It just didn’t come together where the Patriots could match their big board with the draft board.

Now that the draft is over, it also signals a second wave of free agency. The NFL’s compensatory formula, which awards draft picks to teams for their outgoing free agency departures, is no longer tracking transactions. Teams can sign players without sacrificing their compensation, and the Patriots are likely to get a big haul, as usual. This year, they saw linebackers Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy depart. And of course, Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which is how the Patriots found themselves amid so much uncertainty at quarterback.

But Belichick teased the idea that the search may not be over.

“There are multiple ways to build your team,” he said. “We’ll see whether or not we get word of another that comes up at a different point in time. I don’t know. We just tried to do the best we could with what we had this weekend.”

Perhaps New England will go back to exploring free agency options. But with practically no cap space, the Patriots may have to get creative to make a signing at the quarterback position, a spot where talent never comes cheap. It really seems like it’s time for Stidham (or Hoyer) to shine.

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