New England Patriots veteran quarterback Tom Brady has a new backup. After trading Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2018 second-round pick, the Patriots brought back their former quarterback Brian Hoyer. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider and NFL Network Tom Pelissero, the Patriots signed Hoyer to a three-year deal. From 2009 to 2011, Hoyer served as backup to Brady and the two became close friends. Hoyer became available after the 49ers cut him following the acquisition of Garoppolo. Hoyer was initially included in the Garoppolo trade but was later pulled out due to compensatory pick issues, according to Rapoport.
After his stint with the 49ers (0-8), Hoyer played for the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears and the 49ers, starting 37 times during that span. In 55 career games, Hoyer completed 833-of-1,404 passes for 9,853 yards and 48 touchdowns with 30 interceptions. The 32-year-old Hoyer signed a two-year deal worth $12 million with the 49ers before the 2017 season. He started six games with the team, throwing for 1,245 passing yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions before he was replaced by C.J. Beathard. With Hoyer, the Patriots will have a backup who’s familiar with Bill Belichick’s system and could step up anytime in case the 40-year-old Brady gets injured.
Broncos have new starter
The Denver Broncos announced that Brock Osweiler will replace Trevor Siemian as starting quarterback in their Sunday's showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles. Broncos head coach Vance Joseph made the change after the team suffered its third straight loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, where Siemian threw three interceptions.
The Broncos signed Osweiler in September after he was released by the Cleveland Browns.
Osweiler was slated to start for the Browns, but he was beaten to the punch by rookie DeShone Kizer due to his poor preseason performance. Osweiler returned to the Broncos, where he was a backup to Peyton Manning for four years from 2012 to 2015 before he signed a four-year, $72-million deal with the Houston Texans.
However, he lasted just one season as Texans’ starter.
Bengals happy with botched trade
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is happy that the trade involving backup quarterback AJ McCarron did not push through, saying it was a blessing in disguise. According to Lewis, he talked to McCarron after his trade to Cleveland was nixed by the NFL after the Browns failed to file the necessary paperwork before the 4 p.m. trade deadline. The Bengals, for their part, filed the needed documents with the league office before the deadline. Lewis said McCarron is a valuable member of the team as a backup to Andy Dalton.
