Number 8 gets to play on the famed field at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
London Calling.....
A little running action from No. 8 in London's Wembley Stadiumas the Patriots beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-7
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Brian Hoyer - First Day on the Field in the NFL
Well the first time on the Field in the NFL - Some fun in the snow!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Quotes from Bill Belichick
Anytime there's a big score at the half, was there any thought of taking Tom Brady out?
We took him out right after that. I think it was one more drive or two - whatever it was. [Brian] Hoyer played a big chunk of the game. You only have 45 guys in the game, somebody's got to play. You only have seven linemen, down a receiver here or there, or running back. The guys that are here have got to play.
There was still some offensive plays happening there in the third quarter...
When we put Brian [Hoyer] in, look, we're not trying to do anything but run our offense and that's what we wanted to give Brian a chance to do was to run the plays he's going to have to run at some point if he plays, whether they're passes, third-down plays, check-with-me plays, whatever they are.
We went into the game with a game plan and I know the score got out of hand, but we were just trying to run our offense when Brian or whoever else was in there, whether it was Kendall [Simmons], Dan [Connolly], BenJarvus [Green-Ellis] and all those guys got to play. When they were in there we've got to do what we've got to do. Somebody's got to play.
We took him out right after that. I think it was one more drive or two - whatever it was. [Brian] Hoyer played a big chunk of the game. You only have 45 guys in the game, somebody's got to play. You only have seven linemen, down a receiver here or there, or running back. The guys that are here have got to play.
There was still some offensive plays happening there in the third quarter...
When we put Brian [Hoyer] in, look, we're not trying to do anything but run our offense and that's what we wanted to give Brian a chance to do was to run the plays he's going to have to run at some point if he plays, whether they're passes, third-down plays, check-with-me plays, whatever they are.
We went into the game with a game plan and I know the score got out of hand, but we were just trying to run our offense when Brian or whoever else was in there, whether it was Kendall [Simmons], Dan [Connolly], BenJarvus [Green-Ellis] and all those guys got to play. When they were in there we've got to do what we've got to do. Somebody's got to play.
Brady and Belichick laugh
Hoyer debuts
If your team scores a franchise-record 59 points, there are bound to be a few firsts. Rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer made his NFL debut and made the most of it, scoring a touchdown on his first drive.
Hoyer reached the end zone on a 1-yard run, capping a 12-play, 61-yard drive that burned 7:42 off the clock in the third quarter.
Hoyer reached the end zone on a 1-yard run, capping a 12-play, 61-yard drive that burned 7:42 off the clock in the third quarter.
By then, the Patriots had a 52-0 lead, but that didn't take away
from Hoyer's excitement diving into the end zone. Hoyer completed 9 of 11 passes for 52 yards.
Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick laugh as they watch the scoreboard replay of the celebration technique of backup QB Brian Hoyer following his touchdown. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Hoyer INterviewed
News
No. 2 QB Brian Hoyer questioned for 'Totally Patriots' show
BY LAUREN CARTER FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 9:38 AM EDT
Tom Brady's backup, New England Patriots rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer, takes questions from a group of journalism students from Attleboro High School for a segment on "Totally Patriots" a TV show that airs every Sunday at 10 a.m. on TV38. (New England Patriots)
FOXBORO - A journalism class at Attleboro High School got to test their interviewing skills while tossing out questions to a New England Patriot Tuesday morning.The reporters-in-training gave backup quarterback Brian Hoyer a friendly grilling during a taping of "Totally Patriots," a Patriots-themed show that lets high school-age fans in on the fun. The show airs on WSBK Boston every Sunday at 10 a.m.
Students were seated on the plaza outside the Hall at Patriot Place, where they asked questions in round-robin style before a one-on-one segment with senior Joe Lazzerini.The questions were varied:
"What makes for a good football player?"
"How did you feel when the Patriots called you?"
"What do you eat for breakfast before a game?" (That would be four eggs over medium, oatmeal, grapes and blueberries).
A "Superlatives" section got Hoyer to open up about his teammates."Best Car" goes to defensive tackle Vince Wilfork; his bright orange ride is "like a tractor-trailer without the trailer," Hoyer said. Offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger eats the most. Safety Brandon Meriweather is the most spirited.
Quarterback Tom Brady is the most serious, at least when it comes to winning. And in true Bill Belichick style, when asked who the sorest loser is, Hoyer answered: "No one."
After taping the show, students were able to visit the Pro Shop and roam around the Hall at Patriot Place.High schoolers from Taunton and Franklin also were present Tuesday morning to tape segments."It was fun. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," said AHS senior Amber Thomas. "Even people who have been fans for 20 years I don't think ever got the chance to sit down and ask questions. It was really interesting."Senior Katelyn DeLaurier, who hopes to pursue a career in journalism, said the experience taught her the importance of doing background research before an interview."
Being able to interview a Patriots player, I feel like that was a big opportunity for me," DeLaurier said. "I'm not really a big fan of football, but I feel like it gave me a different insight that you need to be able to know what you're talking about. I think I should have studied more before I came here. I could have been more well-prepared, but it was a big learning experience."
For sophomore Courtney Dixon, decked out in a Donte Stallworth jersey, it was her first-ever interview. The verdict?"It was pretty cool," Dixon said. "I learned how to write questions."
Teacher Adeline Bee said she advised her students, who have already covered a unit on conducting interviews, to craft a list of questions that would get the player talking."I asked them to set up a list of 10 questions and make them open-ended questions as much as possible, and something above and beyond football," Bee said. "Yeah, they could do a little bit of football - but above and beyond that, as well." Bee said field studies such as Tuesday's are becoming increasingly difficult to pull off because of budget constraints."For them to be able to partake in something like this, it's very valuable," Bee said.The students will write up their experiences on
The Page, a feature written for students by students in The Sun Chronicle that appears on Tuesdays and online.Because Hoyer is a low-profile rookie, none of the students were starstruck - most said they didn't even recognize him. And it wasn't too weird being on camera, either."They're not gonna like zoom in on you," DeLaurier said. "They're looking at everyone."
No. 2 QB Brian Hoyer questioned for 'Totally Patriots' show
BY LAUREN CARTER FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 9:38 AM EDT
Tom Brady's backup, New England Patriots rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer, takes questions from a group of journalism students from Attleboro High School for a segment on "Totally Patriots" a TV show that airs every Sunday at 10 a.m. on TV38. (New England Patriots)
FOXBORO - A journalism class at Attleboro High School got to test their interviewing skills while tossing out questions to a New England Patriot Tuesday morning.The reporters-in-training gave backup quarterback Brian Hoyer a friendly grilling during a taping of "Totally Patriots," a Patriots-themed show that lets high school-age fans in on the fun. The show airs on WSBK Boston every Sunday at 10 a.m.
Students were seated on the plaza outside the Hall at Patriot Place, where they asked questions in round-robin style before a one-on-one segment with senior Joe Lazzerini.The questions were varied:
"What makes for a good football player?"
"How did you feel when the Patriots called you?"
"What do you eat for breakfast before a game?" (That would be four eggs over medium, oatmeal, grapes and blueberries).
A "Superlatives" section got Hoyer to open up about his teammates."Best Car" goes to defensive tackle Vince Wilfork; his bright orange ride is "like a tractor-trailer without the trailer," Hoyer said. Offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger eats the most. Safety Brandon Meriweather is the most spirited.
Quarterback Tom Brady is the most serious, at least when it comes to winning. And in true Bill Belichick style, when asked who the sorest loser is, Hoyer answered: "No one."
After taping the show, students were able to visit the Pro Shop and roam around the Hall at Patriot Place.High schoolers from Taunton and Franklin also were present Tuesday morning to tape segments."It was fun. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," said AHS senior Amber Thomas. "Even people who have been fans for 20 years I don't think ever got the chance to sit down and ask questions. It was really interesting."Senior Katelyn DeLaurier, who hopes to pursue a career in journalism, said the experience taught her the importance of doing background research before an interview."
Being able to interview a Patriots player, I feel like that was a big opportunity for me," DeLaurier said. "I'm not really a big fan of football, but I feel like it gave me a different insight that you need to be able to know what you're talking about. I think I should have studied more before I came here. I could have been more well-prepared, but it was a big learning experience."
For sophomore Courtney Dixon, decked out in a Donte Stallworth jersey, it was her first-ever interview. The verdict?"It was pretty cool," Dixon said. "I learned how to write questions."
Teacher Adeline Bee said she advised her students, who have already covered a unit on conducting interviews, to craft a list of questions that would get the player talking."I asked them to set up a list of 10 questions and make them open-ended questions as much as possible, and something above and beyond football," Bee said. "Yeah, they could do a little bit of football - but above and beyond that, as well." Bee said field studies such as Tuesday's are becoming increasingly difficult to pull off because of budget constraints."For them to be able to partake in something like this, it's very valuable," Bee said.The students will write up their experiences on
The Page, a feature written for students by students in The Sun Chronicle that appears on Tuesdays and online.Because Hoyer is a low-profile rookie, none of the students were starstruck - most said they didn't even recognize him. And it wasn't too weird being on camera, either."They're not gonna like zoom in on you," DeLaurier said. "They're looking at everyone."
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
PAUL stays in East Lansing
PAUL BUNYAN stays in East Lansing!
After a thrilling game - Paul Bunyan remains in East Lansing as the Michigan State Spartans defeated the Michigan Wolverines in Overtime. A thrilling game with a fantastic finish. Click back to see the Fantastic Finish Video!
After a thrilling game - Paul Bunyan remains in East Lansing as the Michigan State Spartans defeated the Michigan Wolverines in Overtime. A thrilling game with a fantastic finish. Click back to see the Fantastic Finish Video!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Practice Notes
Mayo not present at practice
09.16.09 at 1:30 pm ET
By Christopher Price
FOXBOROUGH — Just returned from the first few moments of Patriots practice, which is being held on the lower fields behind Gillette Stadium in sweatpants and shells. Linebacker Jerod Mayo, who was injured in the first half of Monday night’s win over Buffalo, was the only member of the team not present for the portion of practice the media is allowed to watch. In addition, quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Isaiah Stanback, as well as wide receiver/special teams ace Sam Aiken, safety Brandon McGowan and defensive back Bret Lockett were all wearing black practice jerseys, signling them out for outstanding practice play the week before.
09.16.09 at 1:30 pm ET
By Christopher Price
FOXBOROUGH — Just returned from the first few moments of Patriots practice, which is being held on the lower fields behind Gillette Stadium in sweatpants and shells. Linebacker Jerod Mayo, who was injured in the first half of Monday night’s win over Buffalo, was the only member of the team not present for the portion of practice the media is allowed to watch. In addition, quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Isaiah Stanback, as well as wide receiver/special teams ace Sam Aiken, safety Brandon McGowan and defensive back Bret Lockett were all wearing black practice jerseys, signling them out for outstanding practice play the week before.
From the USA Today
NFL teams finding backup QBs a premium in young season
s' ballots each week
Games to watch: Best contests on schedule
By Jon Saraceno, USA TODAY
The NFL's "relief pitchers" continue to be a hot commodity in the early going this season.
Ineffectiveness and injury often leads to replacement quarterbacks unexpectedly crouching behind center. Only 16 NFL quarterbacks started every game last season — and more than 50 started at least once.
With the market for available signal-callers thin, the Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran Jeff Garcia Tuesday while the Carolina Panthers agreed to a contract with journeyman A.J. Feeley, playing for his fourth franchise since 2005.
DELHOMME UNDER FIRE: Panthers brass, players stick by veteran QB
Garcia, 38, who was released by the Oakland Raiders, his sixth NFL team, last week. The 32-year-old Feeley, released by the Eagles earlier this month, is now behind Jake Delhomme's after Josh McCown went on injured reserve. McCown was hurt in the Panthers' season-opening loss to the Eagles after replacing Delhomme, who committed five turnovers.
Several teams, including the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, are going with only two quarterbacks on their active roster this season. Among the experienced, and unemployed, quarterbacks on possible speed-dial for teams: Joey Harrington, Damon Huard, Gus Frerotte and Brian Griese, who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season and now works as an ESPN college football analyst.
"Brian would like to play this season, but it would have to be the right circumstance," said Ralph Cindrich, his agent.
Should the injury bug bite hard, some teams appear in more potential peril than others:
•If Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers is knocked silly for the season, the Packers' No. 2 quarterback at this juncture is Matt Flynn, an untested second-year pro.
•If New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees is replaced, aging Mark Brunell, 39, gets the call. Brees has not missed a start the last four seasons, which is a good thing because Brunell has not thrown a pass since 2006.
•And if New England's Tom Brady suffers another season-ending injury ... well, coach Bill Belichick could be in trouble because Matt Cassel now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Or doesn't play — Cassel, who sat out Sunday's loss at Baltimore, has a bad left knee. It's undetermined if he will start Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.
The Patriots' Brian Hoyer, 23, an undrafted rookie from Michigan State, played well enough in the preseason to outlast Matt Gutierrez, Kevin O'Connell and Andrew Walter, all released.
s' ballots each week
Games to watch: Best contests on schedule
By Jon Saraceno, USA TODAY
The NFL's "relief pitchers" continue to be a hot commodity in the early going this season.
Ineffectiveness and injury often leads to replacement quarterbacks unexpectedly crouching behind center. Only 16 NFL quarterbacks started every game last season — and more than 50 started at least once.
With the market for available signal-callers thin, the Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran Jeff Garcia Tuesday while the Carolina Panthers agreed to a contract with journeyman A.J. Feeley, playing for his fourth franchise since 2005.
DELHOMME UNDER FIRE: Panthers brass, players stick by veteran QB
Garcia, 38, who was released by the Oakland Raiders, his sixth NFL team, last week. The 32-year-old Feeley, released by the Eagles earlier this month, is now behind Jake Delhomme's after Josh McCown went on injured reserve. McCown was hurt in the Panthers' season-opening loss to the Eagles after replacing Delhomme, who committed five turnovers.
Several teams, including the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, are going with only two quarterbacks on their active roster this season. Among the experienced, and unemployed, quarterbacks on possible speed-dial for teams: Joey Harrington, Damon Huard, Gus Frerotte and Brian Griese, who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season and now works as an ESPN college football analyst.
"Brian would like to play this season, but it would have to be the right circumstance," said Ralph Cindrich, his agent.
Should the injury bug bite hard, some teams appear in more potential peril than others:
•If Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers is knocked silly for the season, the Packers' No. 2 quarterback at this juncture is Matt Flynn, an untested second-year pro.
•If New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees is replaced, aging Mark Brunell, 39, gets the call. Brees has not missed a start the last four seasons, which is a good thing because Brunell has not thrown a pass since 2006.
•And if New England's Tom Brady suffers another season-ending injury ... well, coach Bill Belichick could be in trouble because Matt Cassel now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Or doesn't play — Cassel, who sat out Sunday's loss at Baltimore, has a bad left knee. It's undetermined if he will start Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.
The Patriots' Brian Hoyer, 23, an undrafted rookie from Michigan State, played well enough in the preseason to outlast Matt Gutierrez, Kevin O'Connell and Andrew Walter, all released.
Pats - No Hurry to Sign Back Up QB
Patriots Journal: Front office feels no pressure to sign veteran backup for Brady
FOXBORO – The Patriots appear to be in no hurry to find a veteran quarterback to backup
Tom Brady.
That is surprising, since Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of the Pats opener last year, and teams are going to come after Brady with blitzes this year.
But Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said Tuesday that the Pats have full confidence in rookie Brian Hoyer if Brady gets hurt. Hoyer is the only other quarterback on the Patriots active roster.
“Brian has been here since the rookie mini camp and he’s proven that he has the understanding and the grasp of what we are doing offensively, so where we are right now, that’s where we are with the club,” Caserio said. “We have the two quarterbacks and we have Isaiah (Stanback), who last week it was kind of his first introduction at some of the things we are doing offensively, so we’ll continue moving forward with that group. If the situation arises where we feel like we have to make a move, then we’ll go ahead and do that.”
Both Hoyer and Stanback are unproven quarterbacks in the NFL. In fact, neither has started an NFL regular-season game. Hoyer, who was not drafted, ranks among Michigan State’s career leaders in pass attempts (No. 2 at 896), passing yards (No. 3 with 6,159), pass completions (No. 3 at 500), TD passes (No. 6 with 35) and completion percentage (No. 10 at .559).
Stanback, who was drafted in the fourth round (103rd overall) in 2007 by Dallas, was converted to a wide receiver and kick returner by the Cowboys.
“Isaiah is a player that when he was coming out of college a few years ago out of Washington, we felt that he could actually play the position,” Caserio said last week. “Now, since he’s been with the Cowboys he’s played receiver, he’s done a number of other different things, but we liked the things that he did coming out of college, so our thought process is to work with him at the quarterback position and see how that progresses.”
Stanback finished his career at Washington second in career passing yards per completion with 14.38 and 10th in career total offense with 4,662 yards –– 3,868 as passing yards (ranked 11th).
There are not a lot of veteran backups still on the market. The Philadelphia Eagles singed Jeff Garcia after Donavan McNabb broke a rib in their opener in Carolina, and A.J. Feeley just signed with the Panthers.
FOXBORO – The Patriots appear to be in no hurry to find a veteran quarterback to backup
Tom Brady.
That is surprising, since Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of the Pats opener last year, and teams are going to come after Brady with blitzes this year.
But Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said Tuesday that the Pats have full confidence in rookie Brian Hoyer if Brady gets hurt. Hoyer is the only other quarterback on the Patriots active roster.
“Brian has been here since the rookie mini camp and he’s proven that he has the understanding and the grasp of what we are doing offensively, so where we are right now, that’s where we are with the club,” Caserio said. “We have the two quarterbacks and we have Isaiah (Stanback), who last week it was kind of his first introduction at some of the things we are doing offensively, so we’ll continue moving forward with that group. If the situation arises where we feel like we have to make a move, then we’ll go ahead and do that.”
Both Hoyer and Stanback are unproven quarterbacks in the NFL. In fact, neither has started an NFL regular-season game. Hoyer, who was not drafted, ranks among Michigan State’s career leaders in pass attempts (No. 2 at 896), passing yards (No. 3 with 6,159), pass completions (No. 3 at 500), TD passes (No. 6 with 35) and completion percentage (No. 10 at .559).
Stanback, who was drafted in the fourth round (103rd overall) in 2007 by Dallas, was converted to a wide receiver and kick returner by the Cowboys.
“Isaiah is a player that when he was coming out of college a few years ago out of Washington, we felt that he could actually play the position,” Caserio said last week. “Now, since he’s been with the Cowboys he’s played receiver, he’s done a number of other different things, but we liked the things that he did coming out of college, so our thought process is to work with him at the quarterback position and see how that progresses.”
Stanback finished his career at Washington second in career passing yards per completion with 14.38 and 10th in career total offense with 4,662 yards –– 3,868 as passing yards (ranked 11th).
There are not a lot of veteran backups still on the market. The Philadelphia Eagles singed Jeff Garcia after Donavan McNabb broke a rib in their opener in Carolina, and A.J. Feeley just signed with the Panthers.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
FRom some Spartan Fans
Hoyer Last Night
by BBSM on Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:14 am
Not sure if you watched the Pats game, I did.
Hoyer got a lot of air time before the game and during if you watched. I had to laugh as he was there, talking with Brady and Moss, cashing an NFL check. Good for him. I said we would miss him and no doubt we do. Great Spartan.
I remember once my son and I saw him at the mall. Before I could say anything my son ran up to him and asked for an autograph.
Here he was a college kid with his buddies and he treated my son like he was the only person in the world. I have rooted for him ever since.
Anyways he told my son that he used to pitch and play baseball and just visited with him like they were long lost pals.I will always root for good people and he is one.
BBSM
Posts: 778
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:38 pm
Top
Re: Hoyer Last Night
by Hondo on Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:38 am
My son Duffy was running around "playing" Brian Hoyer. Every time they showed Brian he screamed and yelled. Brian is a class act and a better kid than football player. I told someone close to Brian yesterday that I also was very proud of Brian.
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:33 am
Location: The Spartan Nation
Re: Hoyer Last Night
by Glenn Quagmire on Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:58 am
Hoyer once spent almost ten minutes with my nephew.
He has special needs and Brian asked him if he played football.
My nephew who is in a wheelchair told us later, "Unlce Glenn, he didn't even notice I was in a wheelchair."
Brian Hoyer at that moment made my nephew feel normal and for that one moment, I could never repay Brian.
He is my favorite Spartan and no one will ever replace him.
by BBSM on Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:14 am
Not sure if you watched the Pats game, I did.
Hoyer got a lot of air time before the game and during if you watched. I had to laugh as he was there, talking with Brady and Moss, cashing an NFL check. Good for him. I said we would miss him and no doubt we do. Great Spartan.
I remember once my son and I saw him at the mall. Before I could say anything my son ran up to him and asked for an autograph.
Here he was a college kid with his buddies and he treated my son like he was the only person in the world. I have rooted for him ever since.
Anyways he told my son that he used to pitch and play baseball and just visited with him like they were long lost pals.I will always root for good people and he is one.
BBSM
Posts: 778
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:38 pm
Top
Re: Hoyer Last Night
by Hondo on Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:38 am
My son Duffy was running around "playing" Brian Hoyer. Every time they showed Brian he screamed and yelled. Brian is a class act and a better kid than football player. I told someone close to Brian yesterday that I also was very proud of Brian.
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:33 am
Location: The Spartan Nation
Re: Hoyer Last Night
by Glenn Quagmire on Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:58 am
Hoyer once spent almost ten minutes with my nephew.
He has special needs and Brian asked him if he played football.
My nephew who is in a wheelchair told us later, "Unlce Glenn, he didn't even notice I was in a wheelchair."
Brian Hoyer at that moment made my nephew feel normal and for that one moment, I could never repay Brian.
He is my favorite Spartan and no one will ever replace him.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Hoyer Determined and Undeterred
Hoyer untested, but undeterred
Rookie prepared for his backup role
By Christopher L. Gasper
Globe Staff / September 10, 2009
Rookie prepared for his backup role
By Christopher L. Gasper
Globe Staff / September 10, 2009
FOXBOROUGH - Last season, the Patriots had a backup quarterback, Matt Cassel, who hadn’t started a game since high school. Now they have one that has never played in a regular-season NFL game.
If franchise quarterback Tom Brady, who is coming back from torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee, goes down again, then 23-year-old Brian Hoyer is currently all that stands behind him with the Patriots’ season opener against the Bills four days away.
The Patriots elected to keep only two quarterbacks on the 53-man active roster. Few would have believed that the 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound Hoyer, passed on by all 32 teams in the draft coming out of Michigan State, would be one of them. Hoyer was fourth on the depth chart when training camp started behind Brady, Kevin O’Connell, and Matt Gutierrez, who was cut Aug. 3 to make room for veteran Andrew Walter. Hoyer outlasted all the backup contenders.
“I don’t want to say I’m surprised,’’ said Hoyer, who was 29 of 44 for 354 yards and a touchdown during the preseason. “I expected to be on a team somewhere back in April. Even though circumstances were a little bit different than I thought they would have played out after the draft, I couldn’t be happier to be here.
It’s a great opportunity, and I got to keep learning and there is a long way to go. I’m just going to try to learn as much as I can from Tom and [quarterbacks] Coach [Bill] O’Brien and Coach [Bill] Belichick, and what three great guys to learn football from.’’
The Patriots appear comfortable with having just Hoyer as the backup.
“He has worked hard, he’s smart, he understands the system, he makes quick decisions,’’ said director of player personnel Nick Caserio. “I think it was good to see him in live situations in the preseason just to see how he handled some of those situations. I think he handled them fairly well, and we feel comfortable with where we are with him.’’
But how comfortable does Hoyer feel?
“I’m going to go out and prepare this week like I have to be ready to play,’’ said Hoyer. “I’ve been in a backup situation before, whether it was in high school or in college - don’t get me wrong, this is a whole other level - but you always have to approach it as you have to be ready to play at a moment’s notice. I think if you can prepare as much as you can with a starter’s mentality, you’re prepared for anything . . . I think that’s been one of the big things for me is just watching Tom practice. You can learn so much through that.’’
“I’m going to go out and prepare this week like I have to be ready to play,’’ said Hoyer. “I’ve been in a backup situation before, whether it was in high school or in college - don’t get me wrong, this is a whole other level - but you always have to approach it as you have to be ready to play at a moment’s notice. I think if you can prepare as much as you can with a starter’s mentality, you’re prepared for anything . . . I think that’s been one of the big things for me is just watching Tom practice. You can learn so much through that.’’
Pressure is nothing new for Hoyer, the son of a financial planner and a nurse.
He was the starting quarterback for two years at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, a prep powerhouse that has won 10 Division 1 state titles since 1988. The school produced former Boston College star and current NFL lineman Chris Hovan. Among Hoyer’s high school teammates was Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.
Hoyer, who pitched Saint Ignatius to a state championship in baseball in 2002, returned to the school in April and May to keep in shape and prepare for his NFL career.
“He was down here last spring throwing to anybody who would catch a ball,’’ said Saint Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle.
Kyle said Hoyer was slightly embarrassed when he wasn’t selected in the draft, especially since ESPN had cameras at his home, but said Hoyer landed in an ideal situation. The Patriots called Hoyer during the seventh round to tell him they wanted him to sign as a free agent.
The Patriots have a history of developing overlooked and undervalued quarterbacks. Brady was a sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2000. A seventh-round pick in 2005, Cassel was a backup at Southern California.
“I think that kind of played into it because you’ve seen what they’ve done with guys that they’ve taken later,’’ said Hoyer. “That’s on a person-by-person basis. Tom is Tom. He has done what he has done. Matt was a guy who was stuck behind some good players in college and was given an opportunity here and stepped up. That’s what you got to do - when you’re given an opportunity you have to take advantage of it, so I felt like I tried to do that whenever my name was called.’’
Hoyer has already shown some intangibles. He rallied the Patriots from a 21-0 first-half deficit to defeat the Giants, 38-27, in the exhibition finale. The levelheaded Hoyer is keeping his exhibition success in perspective and readying for the real thing.
“If my name gets called you got to be ready,’’ said Hoyer. “That’s how this game is. You never know, and you just got to be prepared.’’
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
From Pat Derov - 5th Grade Teammate
Patrick Derov September 9 at 11:57am
I was listening to sports talk radio today and they happen to have Kevin Faulk on from the Patriots.
They asked him a bunch of different questions, but when they asked him what was the biggest surprise of training camp?
He said it would have to be Brian Hoyer and the fact that he gets it. He said that Brian was the first quarterback they have had in the past eleven seasons that has gotten it like Brady.
Just a little bit of high praise i thought you would appreciate. Hope all is well and congrats we are all very excited and proud of him.
QUotes from NEW ENGLAND PLAYER PERSONEL DIRECTOR
Q: You signed a guy from the Cowboys who has played quarterback and receiver. Is he your 3rd string quarterback right now and are you happy with where the quarterback situation is behind Tom Brady?
NC: Speaking about Isaiah [Stanback] first - right now he’s the third quarterback that’s on the roster. We just signed him here [yesterday], even though he’s on the practice squad. Isaiah is a player that when he was coming out of college a few years ago out of Washington, we felt that he could actually play the position. Now, since he’s been with the Cowboys he’s played receiver, he’s done a number of other different things, but we liked the things that he did coming out of college, so our thought process is to work with him at the quarterback position and see how that progresses.
As far as it relates to the other two players that are on the roster, obviously with Brady we kind of know what we have there. I think [Brian] Hoyer is somebody that, being around him on a day-to-day basis, he’s worked hard, he’s smart, he understands the system, he makes quick decisions. I think he has a grasp of some of the things we’re trying to do offensively. I think it was good to see him in live situations in the preseason just to see how he handled some of those situations. Obviously, I think he handled them fairly well and we feel comfortable with where we are with him and where we are with the position as it currently stands here today.
NC: Speaking about Isaiah [Stanback] first - right now he’s the third quarterback that’s on the roster. We just signed him here [yesterday], even though he’s on the practice squad. Isaiah is a player that when he was coming out of college a few years ago out of Washington, we felt that he could actually play the position. Now, since he’s been with the Cowboys he’s played receiver, he’s done a number of other different things, but we liked the things that he did coming out of college, so our thought process is to work with him at the quarterback position and see how that progresses.
As far as it relates to the other two players that are on the roster, obviously with Brady we kind of know what we have there. I think [Brian] Hoyer is somebody that, being around him on a day-to-day basis, he’s worked hard, he’s smart, he understands the system, he makes quick decisions. I think he has a grasp of some of the things we’re trying to do offensively. I think it was good to see him in live situations in the preseason just to see how he handled some of those situations. Obviously, I think he handled them fairly well and we feel comfortable with where we are with him and where we are with the position as it currently stands here today.
Some interesting Stats
Monday September 7, 2009
Stat of the Week
Monday dawned with the Patriots having two quarterbacks from Big Ten arch-rivals on their roster. Tom Brady you know. Brian Hoyer you don't, probably. But they weren't very different coming out of college, as their college stat lines show:
Brady/Hoyer -- The College Years
Player Years School Combine Ht/Wt College starts Completion Pct. TD/INT
Brady 1996-99 Michigan 6-4/211 25 .623 35-19
Hoyer 2005-08 Michigan State 6-2/216 27 .558 35-23
Now, don't go saying, "King thinks Hoyer's the second coming of Tom Brady.'' I have no idea what Hoyer is. But the Patriots have never cared much about what the public thinks of their quarterback situation. They abandoned Drew Bledsoe for Brady, then in 2008 went on a playoff chase with Matt Cassel, who hadn't started at quarterback since high school.
Stat of the Week
Monday dawned with the Patriots having two quarterbacks from Big Ten arch-rivals on their roster. Tom Brady you know. Brian Hoyer you don't, probably. But they weren't very different coming out of college, as their college stat lines show:
Brady/Hoyer -- The College Years
Player Years School Combine Ht/Wt College starts Completion Pct. TD/INT
Brady 1996-99 Michigan 6-4/211 25 .623 35-19
Hoyer 2005-08 Michigan State 6-2/216 27 .558 35-23
Now, don't go saying, "King thinks Hoyer's the second coming of Tom Brady.'' I have no idea what Hoyer is. But the Patriots have never cared much about what the public thinks of their quarterback situation. They abandoned Drew Bledsoe for Brady, then in 2008 went on a playoff chase with Matt Cassel, who hadn't started at quarterback since high school.
MSU NEws - Comments by Coach Dantonio
Posted: Sept. 9, 2009
Ex-MSU stars Hoyer, Ringer earn spots in NFL
BY SHANNON SHELTON
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
EAST LANSING -- Fans often had a strained relationship with Brian Hoyer during his two years as the Spartans' starting quarterback.
He was a hero when he passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns to beat Michigan in 2008, but took plenty of heat after a five-turnover performance at the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl that led to a loss against Boston College.
Coach Mark Dantonio, however, never wavered in his support for Hoyer and continually praised his level of leadership and skill. Now that Hoyer has landed on the New England Patriots' 53-man roster as the backup to Tom Brady, Hoyer has earned a measure of vindication.
"All along last year, what I saw in Brian Hoyer was a guy that did things right at the line of scrimmage, made the reads correct down the field, did things right in the huddle getting us to the line of scrimmage and getting us in the right play," Dantonio said Tuesday. "He showed a great amount of mental toughness. It's tough being a quarterback, because they're probably going to take most of the blame or get most of the credit."
Dantonio also noted that former running back Javon Ringer made the Tennessee Titans' roster Saturday, and that two other former MSU players, tight end Kellen Davis (Chicago Bears) and wide receiver Devin Thomas (Washington Redskins), are entering their second season in the NFL.
Running back Jehuu Caulcrick was cut from the New York Jets' roster but was added to their practice squad Sunday, then was released Tuesday. Defensive end Ervin Baldwin made Chicago's practice squad after being cut by the Bears.
"The Big Ten can prepare you -- the experiences you have here out in that stadium can prepare you for the NFL or other big-time experiences -- because of the pressures that are put on you here," Dantonio said. "I think those are all experiences that are very, very crucial to their long-term success."
Ex-MSU stars Hoyer, Ringer earn spots in NFL
BY SHANNON SHELTON
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
EAST LANSING -- Fans often had a strained relationship with Brian Hoyer during his two years as the Spartans' starting quarterback.
He was a hero when he passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns to beat Michigan in 2008, but took plenty of heat after a five-turnover performance at the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl that led to a loss against Boston College.
Coach Mark Dantonio, however, never wavered in his support for Hoyer and continually praised his level of leadership and skill. Now that Hoyer has landed on the New England Patriots' 53-man roster as the backup to Tom Brady, Hoyer has earned a measure of vindication.
"All along last year, what I saw in Brian Hoyer was a guy that did things right at the line of scrimmage, made the reads correct down the field, did things right in the huddle getting us to the line of scrimmage and getting us in the right play," Dantonio said Tuesday. "He showed a great amount of mental toughness. It's tough being a quarterback, because they're probably going to take most of the blame or get most of the credit."
Dantonio also noted that former running back Javon Ringer made the Tennessee Titans' roster Saturday, and that two other former MSU players, tight end Kellen Davis (Chicago Bears) and wide receiver Devin Thomas (Washington Redskins), are entering their second season in the NFL.
Running back Jehuu Caulcrick was cut from the New York Jets' roster but was added to their practice squad Sunday, then was released Tuesday. Defensive end Ervin Baldwin made Chicago's practice squad after being cut by the Bears.
"The Big Ten can prepare you -- the experiences you have here out in that stadium can prepare you for the NFL or other big-time experiences -- because of the pressures that are put on you here," Dantonio said. "I think those are all experiences that are very, very crucial to their long-term success."
Friday, September 4, 2009
An opinion
Quarterbacks (2)
Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer
Note: At some point, I do believe Belichick will sign a third quarterback, but that’s not a pressing issue with roster cuts coming nine days before the Patriots’ regular-season opener. With Hoyer’s performance Thursday, there is no way — repeat, no way — he clears waivers and lands on the practice squad, and the Patriots have invested too much time into the rookie to take that gamble anyway. Andrew Walter, who I originally believed would make the team, was in camp for a full month but never got a great look in preseason action. Wouldn’t it make sense to give Walter some extended live reps if he had a place with the team?
Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer
Note: At some point, I do believe Belichick will sign a third quarterback, but that’s not a pressing issue with roster cuts coming nine days before the Patriots’ regular-season opener. With Hoyer’s performance Thursday, there is no way — repeat, no way — he clears waivers and lands on the practice squad, and the Patriots have invested too much time into the rookie to take that gamble anyway. Andrew Walter, who I originally believed would make the team, was in camp for a full month but never got a great look in preseason action. Wouldn’t it make sense to give Walter some extended live reps if he had a place with the team?
Walter released.....Hoyer remains
Report: Walter released
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Chris Forsberg, Boston.com Staff September 4, 2009 01:25 PM
ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting, via his Twitter account, that quarterback Andrew Walter has been released by the Patriots:
QB Andrew Walter informed he's being released, which indicates that rookie Brian Hoyer has won battle to be Tom Brady's backup.
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Chris Forsberg, Boston.com Staff September 4, 2009 01:25 PM
ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting, via his Twitter account, that quarterback Andrew Walter has been released by the Patriots:
QB Andrew Walter informed he's being released, which indicates that rookie Brian Hoyer has won battle to be Tom Brady's backup.
Maybe a job
Backup QB fight thrown in quandary
By Karen Guregian / Patriots Beat Friday, September 4, 2009 - Updated 4h ago+ Recent Articles
Boston Herald General Sports Reporter and Columnist
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FOXBORO - A backup quarterback, or in this case, Tom Brady [stats]’s understudy, needs to meet certain criteria to survive on Bill Belichick’s watch. We’ll call them Belichick’s commandments for backups.
He must be able to manage a game.
He must be able to throw accurately.
He must be able to make good decisions on a consistent basis.
He must be a guy who can win games.
The last commandment is really what it’s all about for Brady’s primary sidekick. That’s what Belichick and his offensive coaches have always sought.
That’s why Kevin O’Connell was sent packing, because Belichick didn’t think he could win with him if Brady went down. He didn’t perform any of the top three criteria particularly well during camp and the preseason, didn’t seem to fit in their system, and didn’t look like he could win games. So that was why the third-round pick was waived on Sunday, and ultimately picked up by the Detroit Lions.
The question now is can they win with Andrew Walter, who was curiously kept out of last night’s 38-27 exhibition-ending win over the New York Giants? Can they win with a guy who was a stud at Arizona State, who has all the physical tools to be a stud in the pros, but has yet to see it translate in the NFL?
Or, maybe we should be focusing on rookie Brian Hoyer, who went cover-to-cover last night, and looked pretty darn good against the Giants second teamers by going 18-for-25 for 242 yards and a touchdown. This is the quarterback who Belichick & Co., insiders say, are more impressed with to this point.
The Walter benching just provided more head-scratching and less comfort with the situation. After all, isn’t he the guy with the experience? Didn’t he leap into the No. 2 spot after O’Connell was dumped?
After the game, Walter was clearly peeved, fielding two questions before fleeing.
“It’s my job to be a pro. I’m going to leave it at that,” he said, when asked if he felt like he had gotten enough time in the preseason to be prepared to play if called upon.
While it looked like Belichick missed the mark with his choice of Matt Cassel last year when Brady’s knee blew out, history proved otherwise. While unimpressive during the preseason, Cassel proved a terrific backup in the long run. It’s not easy finding fault with a guy who wins 11 games.
So the Pats have learned they need a dependable guy riding shotgun. As much as Brady is an iron man, the unthinkable does happen. That’s why there’s so much interest now in who ultimately gets the job.
Walter’s lack of overall playing time in the preseason - he was just 5-of-9 passing for 62 yards - raises a red flag. It’s possible they didn’t play him last night because they didn’t want to risk him, with Brady’s health a bit questionable. Or, he’s safe and they really wanted to see more of Hoyer, who has opened some eyes.
The Michigan State product nicely rallied the team from a 21-0 hole, completing 18-of-25 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown. Still, it’s doubtful the Pats would want a first-year player as the primary backup.
By Karen Guregian / Patriots Beat Friday, September 4, 2009 - Updated 4h ago+ Recent Articles
Boston Herald General Sports Reporter and Columnist
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FOXBORO - A backup quarterback, or in this case, Tom Brady [stats]’s understudy, needs to meet certain criteria to survive on Bill Belichick’s watch. We’ll call them Belichick’s commandments for backups.
He must be able to manage a game.
He must be able to throw accurately.
He must be able to make good decisions on a consistent basis.
He must be a guy who can win games.
The last commandment is really what it’s all about for Brady’s primary sidekick. That’s what Belichick and his offensive coaches have always sought.
That’s why Kevin O’Connell was sent packing, because Belichick didn’t think he could win with him if Brady went down. He didn’t perform any of the top three criteria particularly well during camp and the preseason, didn’t seem to fit in their system, and didn’t look like he could win games. So that was why the third-round pick was waived on Sunday, and ultimately picked up by the Detroit Lions.
The question now is can they win with Andrew Walter, who was curiously kept out of last night’s 38-27 exhibition-ending win over the New York Giants? Can they win with a guy who was a stud at Arizona State, who has all the physical tools to be a stud in the pros, but has yet to see it translate in the NFL?
Or, maybe we should be focusing on rookie Brian Hoyer, who went cover-to-cover last night, and looked pretty darn good against the Giants second teamers by going 18-for-25 for 242 yards and a touchdown. This is the quarterback who Belichick & Co., insiders say, are more impressed with to this point.
The Walter benching just provided more head-scratching and less comfort with the situation. After all, isn’t he the guy with the experience? Didn’t he leap into the No. 2 spot after O’Connell was dumped?
After the game, Walter was clearly peeved, fielding two questions before fleeing.
“It’s my job to be a pro. I’m going to leave it at that,” he said, when asked if he felt like he had gotten enough time in the preseason to be prepared to play if called upon.
While it looked like Belichick missed the mark with his choice of Matt Cassel last year when Brady’s knee blew out, history proved otherwise. While unimpressive during the preseason, Cassel proved a terrific backup in the long run. It’s not easy finding fault with a guy who wins 11 games.
So the Pats have learned they need a dependable guy riding shotgun. As much as Brady is an iron man, the unthinkable does happen. That’s why there’s so much interest now in who ultimately gets the job.
Walter’s lack of overall playing time in the preseason - he was just 5-of-9 passing for 62 yards - raises a red flag. It’s possible they didn’t play him last night because they didn’t want to risk him, with Brady’s health a bit questionable. Or, he’s safe and they really wanted to see more of Hoyer, who has opened some eyes.
The Michigan State product nicely rallied the team from a 21-0 hole, completing 18-of-25 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown. Still, it’s doubtful the Pats would want a first-year player as the primary backup.
ok...posting from on the road
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1195250&srvc=rss
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Andew Walter, Brian Hoyer vie for backup job
FOXBORO - As is often the case this time of year, trade rumors are swirling. The Patriots [team stats] are investigating several options at backup quarterback, a process that may intensify over the next few days.
Meanwhile, Andrew Walter will trot onto the field and stand under center against the New York Giants in the final preseason game tonight at Gillette Stadium, asked to perform with questions unanswered about his future.
How can he handle focusing on two things at once? Walter said he won’t need to.
“I only have time to spend learning the offense,” Walter said, “and trying to learn everybody’s name.”
“I only have time to spend learning the offense,” Walter said, “and trying to learn everybody’s name.”
The former Oakland Raider, who arrived on the fifth day of the preseason, is suddenly a potential No. 2 after the Patriots cut 2008 third-round draft pick Kevin O’Connell. With Tom Brady [stats] expected to sit out as a precaution because of his healing throwing shoulder,
Walter will share the spotlight with rookie Brian Hoyer.
If the third preseason game is the closest to a regular-season game, the next one is the furthest. The contest figures to allow the backups to play for their jobs, and Walter and Hoyer will do exactly that against New York’s backups.
Walter chose his words carefully when discussing his new role, saying his goal is still to understand the offense and that his task hasn’t been altered. In his fifth year in the league, Walter has what he believes is a sound routine.
“I don’t think anything (changes),” Walter said. “Because if it does, it shows flaws in how you prepare for a game. If you change your preparation because circumstances change, it shows you’re not preparing the way you should. Nothing has changed.”
“I don’t think anything (changes),” Walter said. “Because if it does, it shows flaws in how you prepare for a game. If you change your preparation because circumstances change, it shows you’re not preparing the way you should. Nothing has changed.”
Coach Bill Belichick didn’t explain the specifics of why he released O’Connell, who landed with the Detroit Lions. He simply said it “didn’t work out,” adding that he couldn’t say whether O’Connell would have been better in a system that played more to his strengths.
“We want to give the reps to the players that are here,” Belichick said, “and so that’s what we’re going to do.”
“We want to give the reps to the players that are here,” Belichick said, “and so that’s what we’re going to do.”
Enter Walter and Hoyer, two opposites.
Walter is a 6-foot-6 pocket passer and former third-round draft pick. He is experienced, having played 12 games (eight starts) in 2006, when he was sacked a whopping 46 times. He is searching for a new beginning after the woeful Raiders cut him this summer.
As for Hoyer, he’s a 6-foot-2 free agent from Michigan State, a rare Patriots signal-caller shorter than 6-foot-4. Though he was 11-of-19 for 112 yards in his one preseason appearance, he seemed primed for the practice squad before O’Connell was sent home.
Hoyer said all the right things in a brief appearance with the media this week, focusing on himself and his desire to contribute. That may be difficult with the trade talk.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Reiss Pieces projected 53 man roster
Mike Reiss, Globe Staff September 2, 2009 07:00 AM
After three preseason games, an updated projection at how the Patriots' 53-man roster might look for the season-opener:
Quarterback (3): Brady, Walter, HoyerQuick hit: With Kevin O’Connell’s surprising release, it opens the door for Hoyer … unless the team acquires a veteran. (1 change)
After three preseason games, an updated projection at how the Patriots' 53-man roster might look for the season-opener:
Quarterback (3): Brady, Walter, HoyerQuick hit: With Kevin O’Connell’s surprising release, it opens the door for Hoyer … unless the team acquires a veteran. (1 change)
Patriot QB news from Patriots.com
Some footage and reporting on the New England Patriot QBs...and some glimpses of Number 8.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Battle for the Role of Brady's Backup
Belichick Sets Up Battle for Role as Brady's Backup
by Jeff Howe on Sep 1, 2009 2:03:05 PM
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- From now through the end of the season, if New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addresses the media at Gillette Stadium, you’ll read about it here. We’ll highlight one lesson learned from each of Belichick’s press conferences and have it ready for you right away.
The Setup: Belichick was asked about Monday’s release of quarterback Kevin O’Connell, the team’s 2008 third-round pick who entered camp as Tom Brady’s primary backup.
What Belichick Said: “Kevin was put in a position last year because of some circumstances. I think he has worked hard, is a very athletic player. I think football is important to him. I like a lot of things about Kevin. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out here. We’ve got to do what we feel like is best for the team. There’s not a lot of things that I could say to him, like, ‘Well, if you would have done this differently, or you would have done that differently.’ We gave him the opportunities that we could, and we evaluated what we saw from our players and we made decisions based on that. I don’t know really any other way to put it.”
What It Means: One of the side effects of Brady’s injury last season actually hurt O’Connell, who lost his practice squad eligibility because he was on the active roster all year. It’s a quirky rule that can really stunt the development of younger players who need the extra time to grow on a team’s practice squad, a la a redshirt freshman in college.
While O’Connell wasn’t a model of consistency throughout the team’s 2009 training camp and preseason, it was still a shock to see him get cut. He completed just 12-of-26 passes (46.2 percent) for 108 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions this preseason, and he really didn’t show much improvement from last year. Belichick said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if O’Connell wound up playing in this league down the road, but as it currently stood, O’Connell wasn’t ready to make an impact for the Patriots.
This also shows Belichick’s trust in rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer, who became the team’s third-stringer behind Brady and Andrew Walter. For Hoyer to be placed on the practice squad, he’d have to clear waivers -- meaning every team in the NFL would have a chance to claim Hoyer and place him on their active roster -- and re-sign with the Patriots next Sunday. It was obviously a gamble Belichick didn’t want to take, and he chose to release O’Connell instead.
by Jeff Howe on Sep 1, 2009 2:03:05 PM
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- From now through the end of the season, if New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addresses the media at Gillette Stadium, you’ll read about it here. We’ll highlight one lesson learned from each of Belichick’s press conferences and have it ready for you right away.
The Setup: Belichick was asked about Monday’s release of quarterback Kevin O’Connell, the team’s 2008 third-round pick who entered camp as Tom Brady’s primary backup.
What Belichick Said: “Kevin was put in a position last year because of some circumstances. I think he has worked hard, is a very athletic player. I think football is important to him. I like a lot of things about Kevin. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out here. We’ve got to do what we feel like is best for the team. There’s not a lot of things that I could say to him, like, ‘Well, if you would have done this differently, or you would have done that differently.’ We gave him the opportunities that we could, and we evaluated what we saw from our players and we made decisions based on that. I don’t know really any other way to put it.”
What It Means: One of the side effects of Brady’s injury last season actually hurt O’Connell, who lost his practice squad eligibility because he was on the active roster all year. It’s a quirky rule that can really stunt the development of younger players who need the extra time to grow on a team’s practice squad, a la a redshirt freshman in college.
While O’Connell wasn’t a model of consistency throughout the team’s 2009 training camp and preseason, it was still a shock to see him get cut. He completed just 12-of-26 passes (46.2 percent) for 108 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions this preseason, and he really didn’t show much improvement from last year. Belichick said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if O’Connell wound up playing in this league down the road, but as it currently stood, O’Connell wasn’t ready to make an impact for the Patriots.
This also shows Belichick’s trust in rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer, who became the team’s third-stringer behind Brady and Andrew Walter. For Hoyer to be placed on the practice squad, he’d have to clear waivers -- meaning every team in the NFL would have a chance to claim Hoyer and place him on their active roster -- and re-sign with the Patriots next Sunday. It was obviously a gamble Belichick didn’t want to take, and he chose to release O’Connell instead.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Roster?
Patriots roster taking shape
By Karen GuregianMonday, August 31, 2009 -
By Saturday, Patriot’s coach Bill Belichick will have pared his roster down to the required 53 players in preparation for the opening week of the season. Tomorrow marks his first NFL-mandated cut, as he trims to 75. With that in mind, let’s pretend to be wearing the hoodie, and break it down by position, projecting who’s likely to be left standing and holding a job when the dust settles at week’s end.
QUARTERBACK
NO BRAINER: Reconstructed knee and banged up throwing shoulder won’t stop Tom Brady [stats] from being the main man among this crew. Questions still will linger about the knee, and perhaps the shoulder, heading into the season.
KEY STORYLINE: Who knew finding another Matt Cassel would be such a chore? After three preseason games, Kevin O’Connell failed to seize the day as the No. 2 behind Brady and was waived yesterday. Andrew Walter hasn’t gotten enough reps to seize much of anything, while rookie Brian Hoyer has challenged the rear. Don’t be surprised if the Pats add another veteran to the mix.
NICE TRY, BUT: O’Connell struggled throughout training camp and the preseason, his most recent performance Friday night (2-for-9, two interceptions) inspiring little confidence. With the addition of veteran Walter, the signs were there if he didn’t improve, he might not survive.
WHO MAKES THE CUT? Brady, Walter, Hoyer
By Karen GuregianMonday, August 31, 2009 -
By Saturday, Patriot’s coach Bill Belichick will have pared his roster down to the required 53 players in preparation for the opening week of the season. Tomorrow marks his first NFL-mandated cut, as he trims to 75. With that in mind, let’s pretend to be wearing the hoodie, and break it down by position, projecting who’s likely to be left standing and holding a job when the dust settles at week’s end.
QUARTERBACK
NO BRAINER: Reconstructed knee and banged up throwing shoulder won’t stop Tom Brady [stats] from being the main man among this crew. Questions still will linger about the knee, and perhaps the shoulder, heading into the season.
KEY STORYLINE: Who knew finding another Matt Cassel would be such a chore? After three preseason games, Kevin O’Connell failed to seize the day as the No. 2 behind Brady and was waived yesterday. Andrew Walter hasn’t gotten enough reps to seize much of anything, while rookie Brian Hoyer has challenged the rear. Don’t be surprised if the Pats add another veteran to the mix.
NICE TRY, BUT: O’Connell struggled throughout training camp and the preseason, his most recent performance Friday night (2-for-9, two interceptions) inspiring little confidence. With the addition of veteran Walter, the signs were there if he didn’t improve, he might not survive.
WHO MAKES THE CUT? Brady, Walter, Hoyer
More news
Report: Pats release O’Connell
08.30.09 at 4:09 pm ET
By Christopher Price 2 Comments
O'Connell was taken in the third round of the 2008 draft by the Patriots out of San Diego State.
The Patriots have informed backup quarterback Kevin O’Connell he has been released, according to multiple reports.
The second-year signal-caller out of San Diego State had played in two regular-season games with the Patriots, going 4-for-6 for 23 yards.
With the return of Tom Brady and the offseason trade of Matt Cassel to Kansas City, it was believed that O’Connell had the inside track on the backup quarterback job at the start of training camp. A third-round pick in the 2008 draft, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound O’Connell appeared to be solidly entrenched as the No. 2 throughout the spring practices.
But the 24-year-old has been tremendously underwhelming over the course of the preseason, going 12-for-26 for 108 yards and two interceptions for a quarterback rating of 25.8. (His best series came in the second preseason game against the Bengals — right before the end of the first half, he helped engineer a two-minute drive that got the Patriots within field-goal range.) On Friday night against Washington, he was 3-for-10 for 18 yards and two interceptions.
Barring a trade or the pickup of a veteran backup — something the Patriots have done in the past — it now appears that veteran Andrew Walter moves into the clear No. 2 position behind Brady. Walter was signed as a free agent by New England on Aug. 3. A 6-foot-6, 230-pounder, he spent the last four seasons with Oakland after joining the Raiders as a third-round pick out of Arizona State in 2005. Over the course of the 2009 preseason, Walter has gone 5-for-9 for 62 yards.
Earlier this month, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked about Walter’s progression within the New England system.
“Andrew gets a little bit better each day,” Belichick said. “[He’s] a talented kid, good arm, accurate with the ball, getting used to our offense.
“A lot of the things we do [are] a little bit different from what he did out in Oakland, but he’s had experience in the spread offense from Arizona State. So it’s not like he hasn’t done it before, but not as much recently. He’s coming along and working hard at it. I think he’s more comfortable in the huddle each day, so that’s good.”
In addition, the Patriots have rookie Brian Hoyer, who appears to be slotted at No. 3 on the depth chart for the moment. Hoyer, an undrafted free-agent out of Michigan State, has gone 11-for-19 for 112 yards this preseason.
08.30.09 at 4:09 pm ET
By Christopher Price 2 Comments
O'Connell was taken in the third round of the 2008 draft by the Patriots out of San Diego State.
The Patriots have informed backup quarterback Kevin O’Connell he has been released, according to multiple reports.
The second-year signal-caller out of San Diego State had played in two regular-season games with the Patriots, going 4-for-6 for 23 yards.
With the return of Tom Brady and the offseason trade of Matt Cassel to Kansas City, it was believed that O’Connell had the inside track on the backup quarterback job at the start of training camp. A third-round pick in the 2008 draft, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound O’Connell appeared to be solidly entrenched as the No. 2 throughout the spring practices.
But the 24-year-old has been tremendously underwhelming over the course of the preseason, going 12-for-26 for 108 yards and two interceptions for a quarterback rating of 25.8. (His best series came in the second preseason game against the Bengals — right before the end of the first half, he helped engineer a two-minute drive that got the Patriots within field-goal range.) On Friday night against Washington, he was 3-for-10 for 18 yards and two interceptions.
Barring a trade or the pickup of a veteran backup — something the Patriots have done in the past — it now appears that veteran Andrew Walter moves into the clear No. 2 position behind Brady. Walter was signed as a free agent by New England on Aug. 3. A 6-foot-6, 230-pounder, he spent the last four seasons with Oakland after joining the Raiders as a third-round pick out of Arizona State in 2005. Over the course of the 2009 preseason, Walter has gone 5-for-9 for 62 yards.
Earlier this month, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked about Walter’s progression within the New England system.
“Andrew gets a little bit better each day,” Belichick said. “[He’s] a talented kid, good arm, accurate with the ball, getting used to our offense.
“A lot of the things we do [are] a little bit different from what he did out in Oakland, but he’s had experience in the spread offense from Arizona State. So it’s not like he hasn’t done it before, but not as much recently. He’s coming along and working hard at it. I think he’s more comfortable in the huddle each day, so that’s good.”
In addition, the Patriots have rookie Brian Hoyer, who appears to be slotted at No. 3 on the depth chart for the moment. Hoyer, an undrafted free-agent out of Michigan State, has gone 11-for-19 for 112 yards this preseason.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Impact ON Brian Hoyer - O'Connell
Reports: Pats release QB O'Connell7:22 PM Sun, Aug 30, 2009 PermalinkBy Shalise Manza Young Email this author Email this entry
According to both Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe and John Clayton of ESPN, the Patriots have informed second-year QB Kevin O'Connell that he will be released.
The move is quite surprising -- O'Connell was initially slated to be Tom Brady's primary backup this year, and the team spent a third-round draft pick on him just last year. But there were indications that O'Connell was more of a pet project for former New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, now with Denver, who went to California to work out the former San Diego State standout during the pre-draft process.
O'Connell certainly looked the part at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, but he visibly struggled throughout training camp and (to put it kindly) turned in a less-than-stellar performance Friday night against the Redskins, when he was intercepted twice.
What this means remains to be seen. At the moment, it certainly looks like a good sign for Andrew Walter, the former Raider who was signed a few days into camp after being released by Oakland, and undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer.
However, those two players don't have much time in the Patriots' system, and Matt Cassel and Matt Gutierrez, the most recent understudies to Brady, are now both with Kansas City.
The good news for O'Connell is that he likely won't be twisting in the wind for long: it would be surprising for him to not get picked up by Denver.
According to both Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe and John Clayton of ESPN, the Patriots have informed second-year QB Kevin O'Connell that he will be released.
The move is quite surprising -- O'Connell was initially slated to be Tom Brady's primary backup this year, and the team spent a third-round draft pick on him just last year. But there were indications that O'Connell was more of a pet project for former New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, now with Denver, who went to California to work out the former San Diego State standout during the pre-draft process.
O'Connell certainly looked the part at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, but he visibly struggled throughout training camp and (to put it kindly) turned in a less-than-stellar performance Friday night against the Redskins, when he was intercepted twice.
What this means remains to be seen. At the moment, it certainly looks like a good sign for Andrew Walter, the former Raider who was signed a few days into camp after being released by Oakland, and undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer.
However, those two players don't have much time in the Patriots' system, and Matt Cassel and Matt Gutierrez, the most recent understudies to Brady, are now both with Kansas City.
The good news for O'Connell is that he likely won't be twisting in the wind for long: it would be surprising for him to not get picked up by Denver.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Professional Debut and comments from Boston Media
Well it finally happened - playing professionally - at least 1 game
As it occurred (actually last week in Philadelphia) I thought of the many passes thrown in the backyard, the countless practices and games....and well for a night for sure (as we await the final roster decisions) Brian Hoyer was the Quarterback of the New England Patriots!Here are the highlights - and a couple of hits!
From Boston Globe
QB Brian Hoyer saw extended action.
From edinFoxboro: What are your thoughts on how Brian Hoyer managed his drives?I was impressed. He showed good quickness to get out of the pocket, keeping some plays alive with his feet, while finishing 11 of 19 for 112 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. I thought he improved his standing on the team, giving himself a better chance than he had before the game to earn a roster spot.
From the Boston Herald
Brian Hoyer: Hoyer made his case to be the number three quarterback by playing as if he should be the number two quarterback. He didn’t have tremendous numbers (11 of 19 for 112 yards) but he played smart, made a few good plays, and didn’t turn the ball over.
FROM WEEI.COM
Situational Play for Hoyer
As for Hoyer, he had his chance in the fourth quarter when he took over with the ball on the Patriots’ five-yard line. He maneuvered the New England offense down to the Cincinnati 12 before BenJarvus Green-Ellis fumbled the football, essentially ending the game. He finished 11-for-19 for 112 yards, no TDs, no INTs and two sacks. Along the way, he showed good decision-making most of the time, avoiding negative plays and threw the ball away when he needed to, with his finest moment of the night coming when he displayed nice touch on a short pass to Terrence Nunn after being flushed out of the pocket, a play Nunn took for 26 yards.Projecting the 53, Part II
LinkComments (54) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff August 22, 2009 08:45 AM
After two preseason games, an updated projection at how the Patriots' 53-man roster might look for the season-opener:
Quarterback (3): Brady, O’Connell, WalterQuick hit: Rookie Brian Hoyer is making the decision on backups a bit tougher; O’Connell will get more time to prove himself. (no changes)
HOYER'S GAME DEBUT
Patriots QB Brian Hoyer, an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State, completed 3 of 7 passes for 18 yards while leading New England to the Bengals 39 before a penalty shortcircuited the opening drive of the second half.
The Patriots punted and Cincinnati takes over at its own 12.
HOYER HIT HARD
Rookie QB Brian Hoyer endured a monster hit from Bengals safety Tom Nelson -- remarkably hanging onto the ball on the blindside hit -- but the loss forced the Patriots to punt. The Bengals have the ball at their own 10 with little more than 12 minutes to go.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
From ESPN
August 21, 2009 8:05 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
The Cincinnati Bengals edged the New England Patriots 7-6 in a ragged exhibition Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.
Kevin O'Connell was the No. 2 quarterback. Last week's middle reliever, Andrew Walter, had the night off. O'Connell was a ho-hum 8 of 15 for 84 yards. Undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer made his NFL debut and looked better than some veteran depth quarterbacks you may have seen this month. Hoyer was 11 of 19 for 112 yards and absorbed two jarring sacks.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Game Broadcast on the Internet
Check this website for the possibility of listening to the game on the Internet
http://www.freefootballradio.com/Newengland.html
http://www.freefootballradio.com/Newengland.html
From WEEI Radio
Maybe it was just me, but Brady seemed not to get a whole lot of reps this afternoon. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up playing less Thursday night against Cincinnati than he did in the preseason opener against Philadelphia.
Nothing alarming — no injury concerns or anything like that, but Kevin O’Connell, Brian Hoyer and Andrew Walter seemed to spend a lot of time this afternoon with the No. 1 offense.
While much of that was going on, Brady was off on the second practice field, working alone with Moss, Wes Welker and Joey Galloway. After what appeared to be an initial stumble on the part of Galloway, the two seemed to make a few nice deep connections. It was fascinating to watch the quarterback and the receivers work together.
Nothing alarming — no injury concerns or anything like that, but Kevin O’Connell, Brian Hoyer and Andrew Walter seemed to spend a lot of time this afternoon with the No. 1 offense.
While much of that was going on, Brady was off on the second practice field, working alone with Moss, Wes Welker and Joey Galloway. After what appeared to be an initial stumble on the part of Galloway, the two seemed to make a few nice deep connections. It was fascinating to watch the quarterback and the receivers work together.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Play of the Day - Hoyer to MOSS ...TD
Play of the Day: Hoyer to Moss TDRookie QB Brian Hoyer hooked up with WR Randy Moss on a deep post during team O vs. team D. Moss beat Rogers, who was playing corner most of the afternoon.
Monday, August 17, 2009
From WEEI Radio
•In passing drills, Kevin O’Connell spent a lot of time working with Tom Brady, while veteran Andrew Walter was working with rookie Brian Hoyer. Hoyer had a nice moment when he rolled out and found Terrence Nunn on a nice connection. Later on in the morning, Walter hit Julian Edelman on a nice crossing pattern over the middle. And my new camp binky Sam Aiken made a nice grab of a Brady pass. (Brady and Joey Galloway later just missed on a deep ball down the middle later on when Brady overshot the veteran wide receiver.)
•One of the highlights of the session came on a Hoyer pass for Nunn down the sidelines. A deep ball, the pass was caught, but was likely reviewable if it was a game situation. (For his part, safety James Sanders — who was in coverage — made no secret about the fact that he believed it was out of bounds.) If it was in bounds, it was a heckuva catch, one of the best in camp thus far.
•One of the highlights of the session came on a Hoyer pass for Nunn down the sidelines. A deep ball, the pass was caught, but was likely reviewable if it was a game situation. (For his part, safety James Sanders — who was in coverage — made no secret about the fact that he believed it was out of bounds.) If it was in bounds, it was a heckuva catch, one of the best in camp thus far.
This Morning
5) Terrence Nunn dazzles on long pass. It might have been out of bounds, but regardless, rookie wide receiver Terrence Nunn turned in the best catch that I’ve seen to this point in training camp. It came in 11 on 11 drills, with Nunn sprinting down the left sideline, with Leigh Bodden in coverage and safety James Sanders providing help. Quarterback Brian Hoyer lofted a beautiful pass and Nunn went into a full-out dive to catch it right before it hit the ground.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Life in the NFL
Well it's not the Days Inn when Brian and I went to baseball camp
http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Hotels/Philadelphia-Hotel/Overview.aspx
ON the way to Philadelphia for first game in professional uniform!
http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Hotels/Philadelphia-Hotel/Overview.aspx
ON the way to Philadelphia for first game in professional uniform!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Brief Commentary today
"COmments on recently acquired QB Andrew Walter
He’s certainly getting his share of reps, Craig, both with the scout teams and the regular units.
He just hasn’t been here long enough for any of us to offer a fair assessment of his play. I think he’s still in the “grasping-the-offense” mode right now. T
here’s potential there … it’s just too soon to tell if he’ll stick on the 53-man roster.
Rookie Brian Hoyer is making this quite the position battle!"
Hmmm maybe some good impressions....are being made.
He’s certainly getting his share of reps, Craig, both with the scout teams and the regular units.
He just hasn’t been here long enough for any of us to offer a fair assessment of his play. I think he’s still in the “grasping-the-offense” mode right now. T
here’s potential there … it’s just too soon to tell if he’ll stick on the 53-man roster.
Rookie Brian Hoyer is making this quite the position battle!"
Hmmm maybe some good impressions....are being made.
Little Brother at work at St. Ignatius
Little Brother at work
Matt Hoyer - Sophmore QB at St. Ignatius showing up on TV.
Video reports from last week
Video: QBs prepare for 2009
Patriots quarterbacks Kevin O'Connell and Brian Hoyer spent time last week talking with the media about their preparations for the 2009 season.
The addition of veteran quarterback Andrew Walter (and release of Matt Gutierrez) added a bit of spice to the competition at quarterback -- at least to how the depth chart will shake down behind a healthy Tom Brady -- but O'Connell and Hoyer suggested they were simply focused on being prepared and getting better on a daily basis.
"I don’t feel threatened," said O’Connell. "It’s just a competition thing. I’m going to compete and see where that takes me. It’s just a matter of doing the best I can and continuing to learn and grow as a young player and do whatever I can to be successful."
Patriots quarterbacks Kevin O'Connell and Brian Hoyer spent time last week talking with the media about their preparations for the 2009 season.
The addition of veteran quarterback Andrew Walter (and release of Matt Gutierrez) added a bit of spice to the competition at quarterback -- at least to how the depth chart will shake down behind a healthy Tom Brady -- but O'Connell and Hoyer suggested they were simply focused on being prepared and getting better on a daily basis.
"I don’t feel threatened," said O’Connell. "It’s just a competition thing. I’m going to compete and see where that takes me. It’s just a matter of doing the best I can and continuing to learn and grow as a young player and do whatever I can to be successful."
Saturday, August 8, 2009
HOYER FINDS A MENTOR and ROLE MODEL in TOM BRADY
Hoyer finds a mentor and role model in Tom Brady
06:29 PM EDT on Friday, August 7, 2009
By ROBERT LEEJournal Sports Writer
Rookie quarterback Brian Hoyer gets some tips from Tom Brady as training camp opens on July 30.
Journal photo / Mary Murphy
FOXBORO – It was only a few short months ago that Brian Hoyer’s dreams of playing in the NFL looked bleak.
He watched the draft intently, waiting for his name to be called. But round after round, it wasn’t. And when it was all over, he was not chosen.
His disappointment didn’t last for long, however. Four days after the draft ended, he was signed by the Patriots.
As far as he is concerned, he couldn’t be in a better situation to develop into a pro quarterback. While he knows that his best chance to make the Patriots team is probably on the practice squad, he is soaking up everything he can from the quarterback he considers to be the best in the game today: Tom Brady.
“To come in and just see how he approaches and how he thinks about things, and then to come out and watch him practice has really helped me out,” Hoyer said. “It is hard enough as it is, but when you have a guy who is as experienced as he is, who knows the [playbook] like the back of his hand, and you just see the way he goes through his progression and you see how he affects people with his eyes, it has really helped. You just have to try to emulate that.”
Hoyer said that Brady has taken him under his wing and given him valuable advice during training camp.
“I try not to annoy him,” Hoyer said, “but for a guy who has so much knowledge in football and about this offense, if I have a question, I don’t hesitate to ask him. But a lot of times I can learn just by watching him and seeing the way he moves in the pocket. His footwork, the fact that he knows this offense like the back of his hand, it is impressive to watch. It is good to try to emulate him and try to be like him.
“For a guy to have the success that he’s had in this offense, I try to do everything he does.”
Hoyer’s long-term goal in the NFL is to become an All-Pro quarterback like Brady.
“For me, watching Tom, and seeing how fluid he is in the offense, how comfortable he is ... that’s what I want to strive to be,” said Hoyer. “It might take 10 years to get there, but that’s what I’m striving for.”
But Hoyer is realistic. He knows he won’t be a starting quarterback in the NFL any time soon. But he is quick to point out that former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel went from a seventh-round draft pick to a starter in four seasons.
“This is a complex system for a rookie quarterback to come in and do it,” Hoyer said. “I’ve got a long ways to go. I’m getting a little more comfortable, but you look at the guy who has been in the system for 10 years and how great he runs it, you just have to aspire to get to that level, even if it takes you 10 years to get there. It’s something that is a challenge and you just want to go out and get better each practice. It is a lot of hard work, but you have to do it. That’s my job on this team, to try to become the best quarterback I can be and be ready for whatever situation is thrown my way.”
Hoyer isn’t bitter about the Patriots’ recent signing of Andrew Walter, which presumably moves Hoyer down on the depth chart.
“You learn quick that it is definitely a business,” Hoyer said. “It’s something that I can’t control. I can control what I can do out there, and that’s doing my job and getting better and just trying to get better every practice by [studying] the playbook and watching the film. Those are the things that I can control, so you just move right along and keep progressing.”
Hoyer has had a few highs and lows at training camp so far, and the fourth day of double-sessions was a perfect microcosm of that. On Tuesday he fumbled a snap with center Russ Hochstein and both players had to take a lap. He later redeemed himself when he connected with Joey Galloway in the end zone for a two-point conversion that forced the entire defense to take a lap.
“It was important, but it was just one play at the end of practice,” he said. “It is a competitive drill, so you want to succeed. You’ve got to come out in the afternoon, and it’s a brand-new practice. You just have to keep getting better and hang in there. It is good for that five minutes to celebrate, but you have to move on and focus on the next practice.”
Hoyer is getting more and more reps in practice to prepare him for New England’s first preseason game. He is getting more comfortable running the offense with the more reps that he is getting.
“The more reps you get helps and so does watching film, but I want to just keep getting better every day,” Hoyer said.
Hoyer spent five years at Michigan State and started the last 27 games of his career for the Spartans, posting a 16-11 record. He threw for 2,404 yards and nine touchdowns as a fifth-year senior, and as a result was named as an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.
He finished his career at MSU ranked second all-time in pass attempts (896), third in passing yards (6,159), third in pass completions (500), sixth in touchdown passes (35) and 10th in completion percentage (.559).
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
From ESPN 8/6/09
Observation deck
Belichick has been turning over the roster since camp began a week ago. The most interesting moves have occurred at backup quarterback, where Belichick obviously isn't happy. Third-stringer Matt Gutierrez was cut and former Oakland Raider Andrew Walter brought in to compete with last year's third-round draft pick, Kevin O'Connell, who seems to have lost reps to undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer.
Belichick has been turning over the roster since camp began a week ago. The most interesting moves have occurred at backup quarterback, where Belichick obviously isn't happy. Third-stringer Matt Gutierrez was cut and former Oakland Raider Andrew Walter brought in to compete with last year's third-round draft pick, Kevin O'Connell, who seems to have lost reps to undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer.
August 6 Practice Notes
During pre-practice work Brady and Andrew Walter broke off to one field for a drill with Bill O’Brien, while Kevin O’Connell and Brian Hoyer worked with the running backs and tight ends on the other field.
–Bill Belichick was an active participant in one offense drill, helping the QBs work on their footwork. Belichick would roll, or even overhand throw, a weight medicine ball at the passers as they dropped back to throw and went through their reads. O’Connell and Hoyer were the QBs, both looking smooth avoiding the ball.
–Bill Belichick was an active participant in one offense drill, helping the QBs work on their footwork. Belichick would roll, or even overhand throw, a weight medicine ball at the passers as they dropped back to throw and went through their reads. O’Connell and Hoyer were the QBs, both looking smooth avoiding the ball.
Hoyer learning the Playbook
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Throw-in
Undrafted Patriots QB has his day
By Rich Garven TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFFmailto:STAFFrgarven@telegram.com
FOXBORO — The Patriots are six days into training camp and it seems a different quarterback’s name has popped up each day. There was, obviously, Tom Brady and, unexpectedly, Michael Vick and Cleo Lemon. On Monday, the Patriots released Matt Gutierrez and signed former Oakland Raider Andrew Walter, ostensibly to light a fire under Brady’s backup, Kevin O’Connell. About the only quarterback not mentioned around here was undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer.
Throw-in
Undrafted Patriots QB has his day
By Rich Garven TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFFmailto:STAFFrgarven@telegram.com
FOXBORO — The Patriots are six days into training camp and it seems a different quarterback’s name has popped up each day. There was, obviously, Tom Brady and, unexpectedly, Michael Vick and Cleo Lemon. On Monday, the Patriots released Matt Gutierrez and signed former Oakland Raider Andrew Walter, ostensibly to light a fire under Brady’s backup, Kevin O’Connell. About the only quarterback not mentioned around here was undrafted rookie Brian Hoyer.
That changed yesterday. Hoyer, fourth on the unofficial depth chart, got quite a bit of work with the first offense during the morning session. Things were not, however, working out well. Hoyer overthrew Wes Welker and underthrew Chris Baker on a couple of tosses to the end zone. He also ran a penalty lap with center Russ Hochstein after a bad snap exchange. “I think the way (quarterbacks) coach (Bill) O’Brien tells it is, you can’t have a bad practice,” Hoyer said. “You might have a bad play here or there, but you have to bounce back.”
Hoyer rebounded in a big way on the final play of practice, successfully threading a conversion pass to a rolling Joey Galloway. It would have been worth two points in a real game; on this day, it scored Hoyer a zillion points in goodwill with his teammates.
The entire offense immediately burst into celebration while the blue-shirted and red-faced defense — coaches included — set off on a jog around the practice field as punishment for failing to hold its ground. “Sometimes you lose sight of it in camp where it’s drill after drill,” Hoyer said. “But (when) you put something on the line — whoever loses is running — it means something, and to come out on top is always good.” Then he wisely and quickly put the play in perspective.
“It’s important (confidence-wise), but it’s just one play at the end of practice,” Hoyer said. “It’s a competitive drill so you want to succeed, but you have to come out here in the afternoon and it’s another practice. So it’s good for that five minutes to celebrate, but you move on.”
Hoyer showed he could move a team in college, passing for 2,404 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior while leading Michigan State to a 9-4 record. He finished his collegiate career ranked second in attempts (896), third in completions (500) and sixth in TD passes (35).
None of that was enough to make Hoyer one of the 11 quarterbacks drafted. Still, some eight teams inquired about his services once the 256th and final choice had been made. The Patriots were one of the first on the phone. That pretty much put an end to the process as far as Hoyer was concerned. “You look at what they’ve done, especially with quarterbacks taken in later rounds or not drafted,” he said. “You come into this system and you learn, and you learn the right way. It’s hard. It’s really hard to get this stuff, especially at the beginning. You just have to keep working at it.”
Hoyer seems to have the tools to do the job. He has decent size at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, is extremely athletic — he pitched his high school baseball team, St. Ignatius of Cleveland, to a state title and drew serious attention from pro scouts — and has been cited by coach Bill Belichick for his productivity in college.
The transition to the pros has been daunting nonetheless, Hoyer admitted. What he has tried to do is focus on the daily tasks at hand while keeping an eye peeled for the way Brady and the other QBs conduct their business. “You watch the film, get in the playbook, and just do the best you can,” Hoyer said.
“Do your job. If you try to do too much stuff, it can be a little overwhelming, so I just try to go out there and take care of what I can take care of.”
Hoyer comes across as someone not only willing to learn, but capable of doing it. So what’s it like trying to keep pace on the field and in the film room with Brady, one of the game’s all-time greats?
Well, as expected, it isn’t easy.
Hoyer, though, not only welcomes the challenge, he relishes it.
“It’s really advanced, but that’s the thing — I’m not just trying to play and be an average quarterback,” he said. “I want to try to play up to (Brady’s) level. If you just try to follow his lead and do what he does, I think you’re pointed in the right direction.”
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
August 5 Morning Practice
–Practice ended in mock controversy with the two sides once again battling on one last play with a lap on the line. Brian Hoyer found Randy Moss across the back of the end zone for the score on the play. But somehow, the offense ended up running a lap, although Brady and Co. ran with their hands in the air in celebration, turning it into more of a victory lap than a punishment lap. Moss did kick the ball into the air and the stands after the catch, possibly earning a penalty and the lap. After practice Light seemed confused about why the offense had to run despite scoring for the second straight day, blaming it on a bad call by an official, one who looked curiously like Bill Belichick.
Hoyer Hoping to Follow Brady's Path
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Hoyer hoping to follow Brady's path
By Andy Vogt/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Aug 04, 2009 @ 10:56 PM
FOXBORO —
Some players in training camp set simple goals from day to day. Brian Hoyer is thinking more long-term.``For me, watching Tom (Brady), and seeing how fluid he is in the offense, how comfortable he is ... that's what I want to strive to be,'' said Hoyer, an undrafted quarterback out of Michigan State.
``It might take 10 years to get there, but that's what I'm striving for.''Hoyer saw considerable action during yesterday's fourth day of double sessions at Gillette Stadium, including a good number of reps with Randy Moss and the rest of New England's top threats.
The final half hour of the morning session was a nice microcosm of the highs and lows of a rookie finding his comfort level. After fumbling a center exchange with Russ Hochstein, both players had to take a lap around the adjacent practice field. But Hoyer rebounded on the final play of practice to end on a good note. With the offense given one chance to score on a two-point conversion, Hoyer connected with Joey Galloway in the end zone, setting off a joyful celebration and forcing the defense into a post-practice jog.
``As athletes, we're competitive, so you never want to lose,'' Hoyer said. ``To do that and send the defense running, it was good.But it's just one play after practice,'' he added. ``You've got to come out in the afternoon, and it's a brand-new practice.''
Hoyer also said that rebounding from some of the disasters like the fumbled snap has been eased, thanks to some advice from quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien.``You can't have a bad practice,'' Hoyer said. ``You might have a bad play here or there, but you've got to bounce back.''
Hoyer also briefly commented on the arrival of Andrew Walter, his newest competition for a roster spot now that Matt Gutierrez has been released (Walter did not speak to reporters following his first practice with the Patriots.)``You learn pretty quickly that it's a cutthroat business,'' he said. ``
That's something that I can't control. I can only control what I do out there, and that's doing my job, getting into the playbook and watching film.''
By Andy Vogt/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Aug 04, 2009 @ 10:56 PM
FOXBORO —
Some players in training camp set simple goals from day to day. Brian Hoyer is thinking more long-term.``For me, watching Tom (Brady), and seeing how fluid he is in the offense, how comfortable he is ... that's what I want to strive to be,'' said Hoyer, an undrafted quarterback out of Michigan State.
``It might take 10 years to get there, but that's what I'm striving for.''Hoyer saw considerable action during yesterday's fourth day of double sessions at Gillette Stadium, including a good number of reps with Randy Moss and the rest of New England's top threats.
The final half hour of the morning session was a nice microcosm of the highs and lows of a rookie finding his comfort level. After fumbling a center exchange with Russ Hochstein, both players had to take a lap around the adjacent practice field. But Hoyer rebounded on the final play of practice to end on a good note. With the offense given one chance to score on a two-point conversion, Hoyer connected with Joey Galloway in the end zone, setting off a joyful celebration and forcing the defense into a post-practice jog.
``As athletes, we're competitive, so you never want to lose,'' Hoyer said. ``To do that and send the defense running, it was good.But it's just one play after practice,'' he added. ``You've got to come out in the afternoon, and it's a brand-new practice.''
Hoyer also said that rebounding from some of the disasters like the fumbled snap has been eased, thanks to some advice from quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien.``You can't have a bad practice,'' Hoyer said. ``You might have a bad play here or there, but you've got to bounce back.''
Hoyer also briefly commented on the arrival of Andrew Walter, his newest competition for a roster spot now that Matt Gutierrez has been released (Walter did not speak to reporters following his first practice with the Patriots.)``You learn pretty quickly that it's a cutthroat business,'' he said. ``
That's something that I can't control. I can only control what I do out there, and that's doing my job, getting into the playbook and watching film.''
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
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Walter on board; Tuesday morning notes
By Paul Perillo, Patriots Football Weekly
The Patriots made a move at quarterback Monday night, but it wasn't involving any of the passers rumored to be coming in. Andrew Walter, the former Oakland Raider, replaced Matt Gutierrez on the team's depth chart instead.
Michael Vick?
Nope.
Cleo Lemon?
Try again.
How about Andrew Walter?
We have a winner, tell him what he’s won, Johnny!
Well, that all depends on your perspective. For the Patriots, Walter enters into the mix for one of the backup quarterback spots, most likely with rookie Brian Hoyer for the No. 3 job behind incumbent backup Kevin O’Connell.
For Matt Gutierrez, however, the situation is much bleaker. Gutierrez, who was trying to stick around for a third year, was released to make room for Walter – marking the second straight summer the Patriots have let him go. Last year he was given a reprieve when Tom Brady went down for the season in the opener, but the Patriots certainly hope no such measures are needed this time around.
For Walter, who suited up for the morning practice and received a surprising amount of reps considering his recent arrival, it means another opportunity. He and Hoyer split time behind Brady as O’Connell didn’t get many looks. Despite some understandable rust, he handled himself reasonably well, misfiring on a couple of passes but hitting on his share as well. Walter went right from the practice field to the meeting rooms, politely turning down interview requests, most likely to further digest his new playbook.
For Hoyer, the transaction is likely good news. While there may be a perception that adding a fifth-year veteran quarterback has to be insurance for the backup position, there more likely camp battle is for the third spot behind O’Connell. If that’s the case, the former Michigan State quarterback couldn’t be happier.
“Definitely,” Hoyer said after Tuesday morning’s practice. “You just have to go at it and look at the opportunity that’s been given to me. To come in here and be able to sign, pick the team I wanted to go to, and to come to an organization like this where you can learn from the coaches – Coach Belichick, Tom Brady, Coach [Bill] O’Brien – I just have to try to keep getting better. The more I get to do out here, the more film I get to watch, the more meetings I’m in, the more I’m going to learn.”
Walter brings a rather unimpressive resume to Foxborough. The 6-6, 230-pound former Arizona State signal caller spent all four of his NFL seasons in Oakland after the Raiders used a third-round pick on him back in 2005. The bulk of his action came in 2006 when he started eight of 12 games, completing 147-of-276 passes for 1,677 yards and three touchdowns. Walter played in just three games over the past two years with one start. His career totals include just three touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
The bulk of his playing time in Oakland occurred when Randy Moss was a Raider, and the wideout wasn’t always the most supportive teammate for the young quarterback. Although Moss took part in a rare morning practice on Tuesday, he did not speak with the media following the workout. On one play, Walter badly overthrew Moss in the end zone during a drill.
Be our guest
Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, one of the few NFL coaches who has had Belichick’s number in recent years, was on the field and addressed the team briefly before practice. Shanahan has bounced around at a number of camps thus far this summer and he spoke with Belichick before practice and later chatted with Owner Robert Kraft.
Hit the road
Belichick likes to add pressure to the daily grind of training camp and he did so on Tuesday by setting up a competition late in practice. The offense lined up for a two-point conversion with simple consequences: convert and the defense runs a lap; fail and the offense goes.
Hoyer hooked up with Joey Galloway to spark a pretty spirited celebration by those in white jerseys. Meanwhile, Vince Wilfork looked none too please since he felt he had an easy sack on Hoyer but followed the protocol of camp and allowed the pass without hitting the quarterback. His protests fell on deaf ears, however, and the defense hit the road.
“It’s nice to have a competition out there … you’re playing for something,” Hoyer said. “You kind of lose sight of that when you’re in camp. It’s just drill after drill and team work after team work. When you put something on the line it makes it a little more competitive, a little more fun. To come out on top is always how you want to do it and it was fun to throw to Joey Galloway to get that two-point conversion.”
Who’s hot: Brian Hoyer – The undrafted rookie free agent quarterback has seen his workload increase in recent days and he’s dine well with them. While he doesn’t possess the strongest arm, his passes are generally accurate and arrive on time. Gutierrez’s release has to be perceived as a good sign for the former Spartan.
Who’s not: Paris Lenon – Lenon is a tackling machine so it might be tough on him during camp when players aren’t allowed to actually bring down the ball carrier, but the linebacker has had trouble getting off blocks in 9-on-7 drills and hasn’t made much of an impact early on.
Play of the day – The aforementioned two-point conversion play wasn’t the prettiest we’ve seen so far, but it was important. Hoyer made a nice through in traffic, and even though the ball was slightly behind Galloway, the veteran reached back and made a nice grab to create one of the first moments of emotion we’ve seen in camp.
Walter on board; Tuesday morning notes
By Paul Perillo, Patriots Football Weekly
The Patriots made a move at quarterback Monday night, but it wasn't involving any of the passers rumored to be coming in. Andrew Walter, the former Oakland Raider, replaced Matt Gutierrez on the team's depth chart instead.
Michael Vick?
Nope.
Cleo Lemon?
Try again.
How about Andrew Walter?
We have a winner, tell him what he’s won, Johnny!
Well, that all depends on your perspective. For the Patriots, Walter enters into the mix for one of the backup quarterback spots, most likely with rookie Brian Hoyer for the No. 3 job behind incumbent backup Kevin O’Connell.
For Matt Gutierrez, however, the situation is much bleaker. Gutierrez, who was trying to stick around for a third year, was released to make room for Walter – marking the second straight summer the Patriots have let him go. Last year he was given a reprieve when Tom Brady went down for the season in the opener, but the Patriots certainly hope no such measures are needed this time around.
For Walter, who suited up for the morning practice and received a surprising amount of reps considering his recent arrival, it means another opportunity. He and Hoyer split time behind Brady as O’Connell didn’t get many looks. Despite some understandable rust, he handled himself reasonably well, misfiring on a couple of passes but hitting on his share as well. Walter went right from the practice field to the meeting rooms, politely turning down interview requests, most likely to further digest his new playbook.
For Hoyer, the transaction is likely good news. While there may be a perception that adding a fifth-year veteran quarterback has to be insurance for the backup position, there more likely camp battle is for the third spot behind O’Connell. If that’s the case, the former Michigan State quarterback couldn’t be happier.
“Definitely,” Hoyer said after Tuesday morning’s practice. “You just have to go at it and look at the opportunity that’s been given to me. To come in here and be able to sign, pick the team I wanted to go to, and to come to an organization like this where you can learn from the coaches – Coach Belichick, Tom Brady, Coach [Bill] O’Brien – I just have to try to keep getting better. The more I get to do out here, the more film I get to watch, the more meetings I’m in, the more I’m going to learn.”
Walter brings a rather unimpressive resume to Foxborough. The 6-6, 230-pound former Arizona State signal caller spent all four of his NFL seasons in Oakland after the Raiders used a third-round pick on him back in 2005. The bulk of his action came in 2006 when he started eight of 12 games, completing 147-of-276 passes for 1,677 yards and three touchdowns. Walter played in just three games over the past two years with one start. His career totals include just three touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
The bulk of his playing time in Oakland occurred when Randy Moss was a Raider, and the wideout wasn’t always the most supportive teammate for the young quarterback. Although Moss took part in a rare morning practice on Tuesday, he did not speak with the media following the workout. On one play, Walter badly overthrew Moss in the end zone during a drill.
Be our guest
Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, one of the few NFL coaches who has had Belichick’s number in recent years, was on the field and addressed the team briefly before practice. Shanahan has bounced around at a number of camps thus far this summer and he spoke with Belichick before practice and later chatted with Owner Robert Kraft.
Hit the road
Belichick likes to add pressure to the daily grind of training camp and he did so on Tuesday by setting up a competition late in practice. The offense lined up for a two-point conversion with simple consequences: convert and the defense runs a lap; fail and the offense goes.
Hoyer hooked up with Joey Galloway to spark a pretty spirited celebration by those in white jerseys. Meanwhile, Vince Wilfork looked none too please since he felt he had an easy sack on Hoyer but followed the protocol of camp and allowed the pass without hitting the quarterback. His protests fell on deaf ears, however, and the defense hit the road.
“It’s nice to have a competition out there … you’re playing for something,” Hoyer said. “You kind of lose sight of that when you’re in camp. It’s just drill after drill and team work after team work. When you put something on the line it makes it a little more competitive, a little more fun. To come out on top is always how you want to do it and it was fun to throw to Joey Galloway to get that two-point conversion.”
Who’s hot: Brian Hoyer – The undrafted rookie free agent quarterback has seen his workload increase in recent days and he’s dine well with them. While he doesn’t possess the strongest arm, his passes are generally accurate and arrive on time. Gutierrez’s release has to be perceived as a good sign for the former Spartan.
Who’s not: Paris Lenon – Lenon is a tackling machine so it might be tough on him during camp when players aren’t allowed to actually bring down the ball carrier, but the linebacker has had trouble getting off blocks in 9-on-7 drills and hasn’t made much of an impact early on.
Play of the day – The aforementioned two-point conversion play wasn’t the prettiest we’ve seen so far, but it was important. Hoyer made a nice through in traffic, and even though the ball was slightly behind Galloway, the veteran reached back and made a nice grab to create one of the first moments of emotion we’ve seen in camp.
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