...Deion Branch? That is a huge surprise! The Patriots have chosen to go with Ryan Mallett as the only backup to Tom Brady, having released quarterback Brian Hoyer. They’ve also cut veteran offensive lineman Dan Koppen, according to Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe. Hoyer, a former undrafted free agent who made the team in 2009, was Brady’s backup last year prior to Mallett being picked in the third round. There was talk he could be a trade chip, but the Patriots apparently couldn’t find anyone interested. Update: 1:32 p.m. ET: They’ve also released wide receiver Deion Branch, per multiple reports. The youth movement is on in New England, after they released Jabar Gaffney and Donte Stallworth as well.
From Mike Reiss of ESPN The New England Patriots on Friday cut backup quarterback Brian Hoyer, according to a source, as they pare down their roster from 75 to 53 to meet Friday night’s deadline. The move makes Ryan Mallett the backup quarterback and signals the team’s intention to head into the season with two quarterbacks instead of three. The Patriots last carried just two quarterbacks -- Tom Brady and Hoyer -- in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The Patriots currently do not have any other quarterbacks in camp, but they will likely consider adding a young signal caller to the practice squad. The 26-year-old Hoyer, who has been with the Patriots since 2009 after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State, was due to make $1.9 million this season and would have hit free agency at season’s end. Hoyer was 13 for 32 for 100 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in preseason play, while Mallet was 25 of 52 for 260 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Hoyer played 87 snaps compared to Mallett’s 123. Hoyer finishes his Patriots career with 13 regular seasons games played (none of them starts).
I am honestly surprised that Hoyer was cut and that no-one was willing to offer even a late round pick for him as you often heard good things about him. I guess a better showing in the pre-season would have helped. Any chance they may cut Brady? He has a high cap number as I recall.
Good one! I do think Hoyer's salary $1.9mil played a big part in them cutting him as well as not getting a trade partner. Teams generally don't want to pay that much for a 2nd or 3rd QB. The Pats definitely didn't want to pay that for their 3rd QB. I figure Hoyer will get more than a couple of offers, though for not what he was going to make in NE.
He's been out since week 1 2011, he hasn't looked good at all from reports in camp and preseason. Connolly was chosen over him is my guess, and reports are that Waters new Nike gear was placed in his locker this morning (meaning Connolly can shit to back to C where he started most of last season), it might just be protocol to fill everyones locker or it might be a sign that Waters is about to return now that preseason is over. He proved last year he didn't need camp/preseason as he showed up a few days before the week 1 game and he was the best player on the OL and we sent both guards to the probowl.
Conolly was ahead of him on the depth charters/rosters of most the preview mags that I have seen. edit: time flies: "The moves leave Brady and Vince Wilfork as the only two Patriots left that won titles with the team."
Branch is a bit surprising, but I think Gaffney will be back on the Pats when he recovers from injury. Koppen looks done, he's a C who can't play G, is old and beat up. If he could play multiple spots maybe they would have given him a chance. Hoyer, wasn't tradeable at 1.9M, and supposedly had leveled off in terms of improvement, so he got cut in favor of the higher upside of Mallett.
I'd say pick up Koppen - if he is willing to take vet min. He will be a valuable backup. Since he played in Pats offensive system for so long, bringing him in to pick his brain won't hurt either - at least protection-wise. (That's all you need to know anyway.)
He only plays center, which is why the Pats let him go. The other 3 guys who can play center, also play other positions. The Jets most solid position is center IMO.
Demps had a slight injury the other night. The Pats are gonna use it to hide him on the IR for this season, so they can get him in real football shape I guess. They had to know they couldn't cut him to get him to the practice squad and expect to have him not get picked up.
Koppen is an intriguing option for a playoff caliber team that has questions at center. He's not going to get a big salary because he was hurt last year. Tennessee lost their starting center for the year with a torn triceps. One of the guys fighting for the opening has concussion issues. The other guy is a guard making the conversion in a hurry. I could see Koppen starting for them at center this year.
I figured Branch would be cut. I'm a little surprised no one has suggested picking up Hoyer for insights on the Pats offense and for probably being an upgrade on McElroy.
Bill Belichik wouldn't have cut Hoyer if he could really help somebody. He'd have held him until he could get a pick for him.
Hoyer was a UFA after this season so he would have been paying $2m against the salary cap for a #3 QB. Besides so much of the Pats success is down to the elite play of Brady - what's Hoyer going to tell anyone "well provided you have a HOF QB you too can do as well as the Pats"?
