AFC East: Luke McCown
Didn't think so.
Hoyer's performance in Thursday night's 38-27 victory over the New York Giants underscored the Patriots' decision to waive Kevin O'Connell four days earlier.
Hoyer took every snap for the Patriots, completing 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. The undrafted rookie from Michigan State finished with a 115.8 passer rating.
Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis made a strong bid for a spot on the 53-man roster with a great game. He rushed 29 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 22 yards.
But the real intrigue is at backup quarterback. Tom Brady is returning from reconstructive knee surgery and gave Patriot Nation a scare last weekend, when Washington Redskins behemoth Albert Haynesworth slammed Brady's throwing shoulder.
As impressive as Hoyer's complete game was, the significance might have more to do with the future of Andrew Walter. The Patriots signed the former Oakland Raiders quarterback four weeks ago, but haven't given him an opportunity to prove himself in exhibitions.
Walter didn't throw a pass in any of the Patriots' last three preseason games. He went 5-of-9 for 62 yards and zero touchdowns in the second exhibition. Not exactly a convincing audition.
So who will be Brady's backup? Hoyer seems more logical than Walter at this point, but acquiring a veteran via free agency or a trade is more plausible.
A few options exist. National Football Post analyst Michael Lombardi presented the going rates for possible candidates to join the Patriots. The list includes Tarvaris Jackson, Jeff Garcia, A.J. Feeley, Luke McCown, Tyler Thigpen and Joey Harrington.
Dolphins, Jets will face toughest QB opposition
While on a lunch run Friday afternoon I caught a bit of Colin Cowherd's ESPN Radio show, during which he went down the list of quarterbacks the New York Jets would face this year.
Cowherd was making a point that regardless of how much coach Rex Ryan ramps up the Jets' defense, they'll probably find themselves in more shootouts than 16-14 games. On those grounds, Cowherd made the case the Jets should use the more experienced Kellen Clemens instead of glamour rookie Mark Sanchez.
That inspired me to put together a rundown of all the quarterbacks each AFC East team will face this year.
On paper, it looks like the Miami Dolphins and Jets will face the scariest lineups. The New England Patriots catch a break because, well, they don't have to face Tom Brady twice like the rest of the division does.
Here's the rundown, alphabetized by AFC East team and in rough order of who'll they face as the season goes on:
- Tom Brady, Patriots (twice)
- Chad Pennington, Dolphins (twice)
- Mark Sanchez or Kellen Clemens (twice)
- Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers
- Drew Brees, Saints
- Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn, Browns
- Jake Delhomme, Panthers
- Matt Schaub, Texans
- Kerry Collins, Titans
- David Garrard, Jaguars
- Matt Cassel, Chiefs
- Matt Ryan, Falcons
- Peyton Manning, Colts
Miami Dolphins
- Tom Brady, Patriots (twice)
- Trent Edwards, Bills (twice)
- Mark Sanchez or Kellen Clemens (twice)
- Matt Ryan, Falcons
- Peyton Manning, Colts
- Philip Rivers, Chargers
- Drew Brees, Saints
- Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers
- Jake Delhomme, Panthers
- David Garrard, Jaguars
- Kerry Collins, Titans
- Matt Schaub, Texans
- Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
New England Patriots
- Trent Edwards, Bills (twice)
- Mark Sanchez or Kellen Clemens (twice)
- Chad Pennington, Dolphins (twice)
- Matt Ryan, Falcons
- Joe Flacco, Ravens
- Kyle Orton, Broncos
- Kerry Collins, Titans
- Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers
- Peyton Manning, Colts
- Drew Brees, Saints
- Jake Delhomme, Panthers
- David Garrard, Jaguars
- Matt Schaub, Texans
New York Jets
- Tom Brady, Patriots (twice)
- Chad Pennington, Dolphins (twice)
- Trent Edwards, Bills (twice)
- Matt Schaub, Texans
- Kerry Collins, Titans
- Drew Brees, Saints
- JaMarcus Russell, Raiders
- David Garrard, Jaguars
- Jake Delhomme, Panthers
- Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers
- Matt Ryan, Falcons
- Peyton Manning, Colts
- Carson Palmer, Bengals
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
