A Look Back: The Journey of Hoy-Dog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkxDKWOAKrI

Brian Hoyer was my second-favorite Tom Brady back up of all time. Yes, Jimmy Garoppolo was just so talented and handsome, he topped the list, but I always thought Hoyer fit the Patriots Tom Brady backup role as well as anybody.

An undrafted rookie in 2009, Hoyer stepped in for Matt Cassel and gave the Pats a solid but thankfully unneeded backup through the 2011 season. In that time, he saw snaps in some famous games despite never getting a start.

Hoyer played in three of the 2009 Patriots most (in)famous games — the snow blowout of the Titans, the “I can’t get this team to play the way they need to play” game in New Orleans, and the Wes Welker torn ACL game in Houston.

In his first Patriot stint, Hoyer appeared in 13 games, threw one TD and one pick for 286 yards and even picked up a rushing touchdown. Even in limited duty, he showed toughness and made some great throws (see videos below). After he left New England he started a fascinating journey around the NFL, with stops in five cities and nearly 40 starts. Despite playing for some terrible teams, Hoyer often did enough to help his team win.

Let’s take a look back at Hoyer’s journey around the NFL and the experience that should make him an even more valuable backup for his second tour of duty in New England.

Hoyer was released at the end of Patriots training camp in 2012 after he lost the backup job to Ryan Mallet. He spent the first two months of the season staying shape until the Steelers signed him as a backup before getting released again just a couple weeks later.

The Cardinals would pick him up and he would replace Ryan Lindley in Week 16, then start Week 17, the first start of his career. In that game Hoyer completed 55.9 percent of his passes, threw a touchdown and a pick in a 27-13 loss to the 49ers. It wasn’t good enough to stick around Arizona as he was once again released in May of 2013.

The always-desperate Browns signed him to a two-year deal as they were once again throwing a bunch of QBs at the wall to see if anyone would stick. He replaced rookie Brandon Weeden, who injured his thumb, starting Week 3 and led the Browns to two impressive wins over the Vikings and Bengals. Finally it looked like Hoyer was taking full advantage of his shot, but in his third game as starter, a Thursday nighter against the Bills, also Jim Brown Night, Hoyer tore his ACL and was done for the season. It was a devastating moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jWY8kP2Y3M

Hoyer had shown enough promise that he was the day one starter in 2014 for the Browns after defeating rookie Johnny Manziel in training camp. The Browns roared out to a 3-2 start, with the two losses coming by a combined five points to the Steelers and Ravens on last-second plays. It was the most excitement surrounding the Browns in a long time and Hoyer was in the middle of it, throwing seven touchdowns to just one interception.

This also included a miraculous comeback against the Titans which saw the Browns overcome a… wait for it… 28-3 deficit to win 29-28.

But the wheels would fall of the Browns hype train and they lost six of their last seven, to finish 7-9. In the last four games Hoyer would throw a single touchdown and eight interceptions. His two-year deal expired and he didn’t remain in Cleveland.

Hoyer’s next stop was in Houston reuniting with his old Patriot coordinator Bill O’Brien. Once again, Hoyer won the starting job out of training camp. But he wouldn’t even last the entire opening game as he was benched for the same Ryan Mallet who beat him out for the backup job in New England three years earlier.

But Hoyer would get another shot after Mallet got hurt and would play out the rest of the 2015 season, but did miss two games due to concussions. Hoyer would go 5-3 the rest of the way, leading the Texans to their first AFC South title and playoff berth since 2012. It wasn’t pretty but Hoyer continued to win football games.

Unfortunately it was a dreadful playoff performance by Hoyer against the Chiefs. He threw four interceptions in a 30-0 loss and was unceremoniously released that offseason.

Hoyer signed a one-year deal with the Bears to backup Jay Cutler in 2016, and was inserted into the lineup after Cutler was injured. He’d start five games, going 1-4, but did throw six touchdowns with no interceptions and had 397 passing yards against the Colts, the most by a Bears quarterback since 1999.

Again, Hoyer’s season ended with a gut punch as he broke his arm and was placed on injured reserve in late October.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol5ci44gf9g

Last offseason, Hoyer signed with the 49ers and would start this first six games of the season, losing all of them with four touchdowns and four interceptions. He was pulled for rookie CJ Beathard in Week 6 before being released so he could join the Patriots without costing them a compensatory draft pick.

Back in NE

Hoyer’s had a frustrating career. He’s had big games and impressive streaks for a starting NFL quarterback. But whether it was his own terrible play, an inept team around him or heartbreaking injuries, he never could never find stability at any of his stops.

I wonder how he really feels now at age 32 being back in New England where his dreams of being a starting quarterback are most likely over. He’s now firmly and hopefully permanently a back up until he retires.

What he does get is a chance at a Super Bowl ring and to play for the most stabile organization in the NFL. He’s no longer an apprentice, he’s a journeyman at his last stop.

Patriots fans should feel pretty good about Hoyer should he ever be called into duty. At every stop he’s shown he can play the position and with the best coaches in the league once again, they would surely put him in the best position of his career to succeed, Hoodie forbid he’s ever called into action.

Now he can end his career with stability and familiarity, it just comes at the cost of his starting dreams (we all hope).