The Buccaneers & Brian Hoyer
March 22nd, 2020
They’re talking about it in Boston and on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
The official announcement of Philip Rivers signing with the Colts brought the release of 2019 Colts backup quarterback Brian Hoyer.
The 34-year-old friend of Tom Brady is on the street looking for work. Undrafted out of Michigan State in 2009, Hoyer landed with the Patriots as a rookie and crafted an 11-year career for himself.
He never started a game for New England, but he is 16-22 as a starter around the league, with 52 touchdowns and 34 interceptions.
By contrast, Bucs backup Ryan Griffin has never started a game, and still-a-free-agent QB but soon to re-sign with the Bucs, Blaine Gabbert, is 13-35 as a starter with 48 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.
There has been lots of talk about Brady having a hand in personnel decisions. It would be logical to assume backup quarterback might be one of them.
Joe would be just fine with Brady, Hoyer and a highly-drafted rookie as the Bucs’ QB stable for 2020.
March 22nd, 2020 at 8:40 am
Don’t see much difference it will make if we sign Ryan Griffin or Hoyer, except the special bond Brady has with Hoyer. Would rather try to find a gem in the draft where Brady can groom as an eventual replacement.
March 22nd, 2020 at 8:45 am
The roster control myth has been debunked, no?
A small handful of people know the truth on that and they are not to be trusted. So we have no idea. Control, input, influence? It’s unclear.–Joe
March 22nd, 2020 at 8:48 am
Has Griffin even been given a fair shot? After 5 years on the team?
March 22nd, 2020 at 8:50 am
Joe
Agreed!
March 22nd, 2020 at 8:56 am
You want a back up QB, I would rather give Cardale Jones of the XFL DC defenders a shot backing up Brady and learning from the QB whisperer and his league of QB gurus than these Blaine Gabbert and Hoyer types. Bring him in to compete for the backup, he is still young.
March 22nd, 2020 at 9:15 am
But but but……jw is going to be the backup. He’s such a great human he’s learned his lesson. Give him another shot. He’s a class act.
March 22nd, 2020 at 9:31 am
Great idea…Hoyer would be a solid backup this year for Brady. Draft a QB? Yup…this year, maybe next. If they sign Hoyer, not as urgent this year. Still would like to see it.
March 22nd, 2020 at 9:33 am
But Gabbert is more experienced with Arians offense and Hoyer ain’t no Brady. Not saying it couldn’t happen, I just doubt it will happen.
March 22nd, 2020 at 9:34 am
If it’s true that Griffin is about to re-sign with the Bucs, it says something about his capabilities. Every coach that has had him on the roster sees more than just potential. They all believe he can step in and win games. He’s just never been given the opportunity. Why let him go now, particularly since he already knows BA’s system, just because a friend of Brady’s is on the market. Doesn’t make sense to me
March 22nd, 2020 at 9:34 am
@Casual Observer…my thoughts: NO, he was not given a fair shot. And the starter was given more than his share, and blew all of them. But it’s business, and it’s not always “fair.”
But I can’t weep a whole lot for Griffin, whom I really like, who still was on $2.9M for two years, $450K guaranteed, and got his base salary of $950K. Dry eyes here.
March 22nd, 2020 at 9:37 am
IF they sign Griffin, I doubt they draft a QB, unless they see Griffin as THE backup for Brady, to carry three on the roster.
March 22nd, 2020 at 9:45 am
Griffin in the mix so it’s draft pick as #3 depth
March 22nd, 2020 at 9:57 am
@Joe … “Joe would be just fine with Brady, Hoyer and a highly-drafted rookie as the Bucs’ QB stable for 2020.”
Not onboard with either signing Hoyer or drafting a rookie this year Joe, UNLESS a gem falls into our lap in Rnd 1. Would rather keep Griffin for this year because he’s already on the roster & at least has 1-year experience in BA’s offense. The odds of finding a future QB in the later rounds is really VERY low (the majority end up being backups at best). We’ve got much bigger fish to fry with our draft picks this year if we’re gonna make a run for the playoffs … like RT, RB, #3WR, DLine and DEPTH.
Hoyer has bounced around from team-to-team more than Fitz it looks like. He’ll be 35 this fall so he’s certainly not the future. He’s played on some very solid defensive teams (49ers, Bears, Pats, Texans) and yet either had losing records with them or barely broke even. Career completion % of 59.0% is not very impressive IMO. There are lots of backup QBs available with better stats than his.
March 22nd, 2020 at 10:13 am
I think we’re better off resigning either Gabbert or Griffin (coach’s choice), as both already know the offense, and draft TB12’s successor in the 1st or 2nd round of the upcoming draft…assuming the coach’s feel there’s a guy with franchise QB potential available at the spot they’re picking.
March 22nd, 2020 at 10:19 am
I like Hoyer better than Blain Gabbert who was not durable last year. So pick up Hoyer instead and keep Griffin as no. 3.
March 22nd, 2020 at 10:37 am
http://pfref.com/tiny/cCI7b
I have to agree with Toes on the Line that both Gabbert and Griffin should know this offense better, but just look at the per game comparison.
(Covers head and runs for cover. INCOMING!)
tickrdr
March 22nd, 2020 at 10:38 am
Moderation again, presumably because I’m back home and off my iPad.
tickrdr
March 22nd, 2020 at 10:44 am
I think Joe means Gabbert is soon to re-sign with the Bucs, not Griffin.
March 22nd, 2020 at 11:38 am
ah maybe Brady can make some new friends. LOL
March 22nd, 2020 at 11:43 am
Joe, that whole personnel decision myth was that a reporter throwing stuff at the wall to see if it would stick. When she reported it, it sounded very much like a shot in the dark on her part and she didn’t even reference unnamed sources. It has since been widely reported that Brady made no such demands about roster control. I don’t know why you act like this was actually part of their agreement.
March 22nd, 2020 at 11:49 am
If Hitler signed, Its not just that Brady wants him for goofing around together. The coaches would have to agree and see the value of Hoyer being another “coach” to spread around and communicate Brady’s preferences and tweaks to the offense. He’d be helpful doing that with players and coaching staff. 2 heads are better than 1!! LOL
March 22nd, 2020 at 12:03 pm
I’m still yapping and pumping the untapped value of Jacoby Brissett!
March 22nd, 2020 at 12:15 pm
Doesn’t matter who the backup is they need to draft or trade for a young QB to work with Brady for 2 years.
March 22nd, 2020 at 12:15 pm
Griffin has looked like a star in every pre-season. He is the top rated preseason QB. That should have gotten him more plays in the regular season. I will blame Jameis for that.
Gabbert looked really bad last pre-season, so dump him. Griffin should make a reliable 2nd.
I still think drafting a QB is a good idea. Brady is probably only has a two year shelf life
March 22nd, 2020 at 12:29 pm
Please dump Gabbert
March 22nd, 2020 at 12:32 pm
The Bucs MAYBE have two years with Brady… probably just one. They’re in win-now mode and aren’t drafting a QB high this season. They need immediate contributors, full stop.
March 22nd, 2020 at 12:35 pm
Allbiucced up – Brady is here to try and win a super bowl, not to mentor some scrub 3rd round QB. We are all in on a two year window. I don’t want them wasted valuable draft capital on the next Mike Glennon.
March 22nd, 2020 at 12:36 pm
Ha, I was typing when you posted that Rob. Completely agree!
March 22nd, 2020 at 1:34 pm
@ Swamp
I agree Jacoby Brissett would be a nice backup but you do realize that there is this thing called the salary cap right? Trading for Brissett would bring along a $15 million dollar price tag. We currently have @ $16 million left.
If the colts release him we might have something to talk about. But until then – no way Jose….
March 22nd, 2020 at 1:44 pm
It’s hard to use a top draft pick on a qb to sit for at least 2 years. Bucs hirer Brady bc they’re in “win now” mode. They need all the draft help they can get bc they don’t have much time before grandpa Brady retires
March 22nd, 2020 at 2:28 pm
BucsFan, my bad. I re-read Joe’s post. You’re right he mean Gabbert, not Griffin, is about to resign. Wonder where Griffin will end up?
March 22nd, 2020 at 3:00 pm
I think we take Nate Stanley in the 4th and get the GOAT and our future QB in the same year. Griffin hasn’t been given a fair chance but he will this year bc we’ll win some blowouts if he can earn a spot on this team.
March 22nd, 2020 at 3:19 pm
I highly doubt Griffin makes the team Matt. If he does he will be the 3rd stringer so he will most likely never see the field.
Speaking of the QB I’ve never heard of, name how many franchise QBs have been taken in the 4th round. I’ll wait! Brady was about a 1 in a million to work out in the 6th, so I need the names of the others. If you find any I could give you a list of the hundreds that didn’t work out at all.
March 22nd, 2020 at 3:35 pm
Pats signed him
March 22nd, 2020 at 3:38 pm
That didn’t last long, lol.
March 22nd, 2020 at 4:32 pm
TDTB
I cheated and used the “googles”. You are absolutely correct if you’re talking about how odds lengthen but there have been some good QB’s taken later.
Brad Johnson our SB QB would be a UDFA today…taken in the 9th.
Many really famous older QB’s but I suspect that’s because when Bart Starr was selected there was not near the cottage industry of evaluating draft prospects.
Roger Staubach was an unusual case…due to his Naval Academy commitment most teams didn’t want to wait for him to complete his military obligation.
I’m not wild about getting a QB this year from the draft.
March 22nd, 2020 at 5:57 pm
StPete, yeah, we almost certain to find a future back up QB at best in this year’s draft. Hell, even if we used a first rounder we would be selecting the fourth best QB in a weak draft for QBs. And I am sorry but Jordon Love is extremely high risk pick. When the Glazers got Brady they transformed to win now mode. We need to protect that shiny new toy and use all of our top picks to try and get this team over the edge.
March 22nd, 2020 at 7:50 pm
We need to re-sign both Gabbert and Griffin and roll with what we have. The future is now. Our draft picks need to address immediate needs.
I’d rather shoot for Trevor Lawrence next year anyway – or perhaps a couple (current and former) Gator QBs who’ll be entering the draft…. I mean, the poor Gators are *bound* to produce a legit NFL quarterback at some point right? (Does Brissett count? Did Chapman? Driskel?? Tebow???) Law of averages, right?
March 22nd, 2020 at 11:32 pm
Wow this aged well.
March 23rd, 2020 at 11:09 am
I personally don’t think drafting a QB this year, IF one the coach’s believe can be developed into “the guy” is available when they’re on the clock, is a waste of draft capital at all. It’s what good teams do (Packers had Favre but kept on eye on the future drafting Rodgers, Patriots drafted Garrapolo…they couldn’t afford to keep him but at least got valuable draft capital in return for trading him, and the Chiefs drafted Mahomes to sit and learn from Alex Smith (who was doing well in KC). Going all in is fine, but no position in the draft is guaranteed to give you a rookie who immediately produces. The draft is full of busts and underachievers in the first couple of rounds. Might as well get a QB early who can sit and be groomed behind one of it not the best to play the position. I think we need to start thinking like the winning teams do vs. the desperate ones.