The Patriots Released Brian Hoyer
The Patriots released longtime backup Brian Hoyer. It’s still possible the Patriots bring the veteran signal-caller back in Week 2 to avoid paying Hoyer his full contract,but he is now the top free agent quarterback on the market so chances are slim. Rookie Jared Stidham has been very impressive, finishing 61-of-91 (67 percent) for 731 yards and four scores in preseason. New England will enter the season carrying only two quarterbacks.That means fourth-round draft pick Jarrett Stidham will be Tom Brady’s backup this season. The deadline for NFL teams to cut their roster down to 53 players is 4 p.m. Saturday.
“You take all of the things into consideration that you possibly can and just try to make the best decisions for your team,” coach Bill Belichick said in a conference call Friday morning. “There’s a lot of considerations — long-term, short-term, depth, the next game, games later in the year, next year. You just try to do the best you can to balance it out.”
Other notable names also released were Braxton Berrios, Gunner Olszewski, and Eric Saubert. The Patriots plan on signing Gunner Olszewski to their practice squad if he clears waivers.