We heard earlier today that the Patriots may be gearing up for a starting quarterback competition between Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham, but Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston says that as of now, the job is Stidham’s to lose.
There is plenty of logic to that. The Patriots selected Stidham in the fourth round of the 2019 draft and are said to be high on him, and most believe that New England will spend 2020 cleaning up its salary cap situation and preparing for a return to contention in 2021. That means that the club will not pursue a potentially pricey QB like the recently-released Cam Newton, and it means that Stidham will have a chance to prove that he can be the rightful heir to Tom Brady.
Curran does say that if the COVID-19 pandemic puts a damper on Stidham’s development — which it seems almost certain to do — then Hoyer could get the nod to open the 2020 season. Stidham, though, would probably step in at some point thereafter. The Auburn product threw just four passes in his rookie campaign but put together a strong two years against SEC defenses in 2017-18.
While we’re on the subject of the Patriots, let’s round up a few more notes out of Foxborough:
- The release of longtime kicker Stephen Gostkowski did not create $3.5MM of cap space, as originally reported. Because $2MM of Gostkowski’s 2020 salary was fully-guaranteed, the move actually frees up less than $1MM of space. So as Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets, Gostkowski’s release wasn’t financially motivated; the team just wanted a new kicker.
- Hoyer’s contract calls for a $1.05MM salary with $2MM in playing time incentives, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). Because his deal with the Colts contained offsets, Hoyer will earn at least $2MM in 2020.
- The Patriots agreed to sign veteran defensive back Cody Davis yesterday, and ESPN’s Field Yates reports that Davis will take home a $1.1MM base salary and landed a $100K signing bonus (Twitter link). He will carry a cap charge of $1.5MM.
- Fullback Dan Vitale‘s new contract is a one-year pact worth $1.3MM, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. He received a $100K signing bonus and can earn another $200K in playing time incentives.
A 1 year reboot is a good idea. They will have over 100 million in cap space next year to revamp their lineup and get back to contending.
stimpyi,
Go find Ren! What’s with this taking a knee behaviour. Your already tossing in the towel on the season. Sure being without Brady is huge. It’ll be a huge test to see how good the coaching staff is. However the Dolphins and Jets suck Bills not so much so NE should still be fine. They still can contend they will have to play solid d and on offence hold on to the ball. I hate NE major weakness at QB obviously. Let’s hope the world gets back to normal soon and people stay safe/healthy.
One of the things I respect most about the NE franchise is their ability to ‘shed their skin’ or remain competitive while evolving and changing their roster each year. It also seems like the Pats know exactly when to get rid of a player at the exact moment his value begins to decline. Saying that, it was always going to be near impossible to find a replacement for Tom Brady. I feel like my Seahawks will be crossing the same bridge after RW3 leaves. We would’ve been 4-12 w/o last year.
Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham are vying to be the answer to a trivia question.
It’s going to be sad AF when it is one, because well all be old AF.
eh, might be on Jeopardy within a few years
I’m already old AF!!!
Cam should go to the Dolphins and try show his work in Florida. The Dolphins are obviously building for Tua but he comes off a big injury getting Cam in makes them competitive and allows Tua to not be rushed back and he can learn the playbook while Cam drives the ship.
This would mean Dolphins get Cam and Tua, which frees up Rosen and Fitzmagic. Rosen would be perfect for the Pats in a rebuild.
They could pick him up for a 5/6th round pick, he probably isn’t good enough to win much games meaning they can draft a QB next year and if he re discovers his form and turns good under BB then they have picked up a replacement for Brady at a cheap price.
Rosen has always played in terrible offences under no protection. Atleast the Pats would give him a good coaching staff, some targets and some protection.
no definitely don’t bring in Rosen. he’s garbage and cant read pro defenses.
Your not bringing him in to win. Your bring him in to start over These two garbage guys and see if you can re find the form which made him a top pick in the draft. It would cost peanuts and if it works out your a huge winner
Why not? I mean, Cam hasn’t had any recent health issues or anything…
Russ,
WTF wants to play for that joke of a team. No one to give the ball too. They are awful I mean heck the Jets are better !
Rosen is nothin more then a backup.
Tua is injury prone and overrated as heck. Dolphins aren’t drafting him. I know multiple Dolphins fans and they are saying Hebert.
I didn’t see the news release announcing that fans of the Dolphins were now making their draft picks…
LOL! It is The fins, nothing would surprise me.
Look like the Bills AFC East Winners
I’m sure there is a universe where Newton and Belichick could co-exist in harmony…but I doubt it is this one.
The race for Trevor Lawrence begins
Why not sign Cam or Jamis. I don’t see the Pat’s tanking for Lawrence
BB tanking? doesnt seem to be in his DNA, but he has a plan. Pats do not have any cap space to sign a free agent QB at this point.
Because Belichick wants the all time wins record, and he is too old to take a season off.
How much of this is BB ego ? i can make any qb good enough to win thought process.This reminds me a lot of when the Texans went into the season with Hoyer and Mallet and everyone with a brain said these guys are not good enough and Obrien claimed these guys can play i dont care what anyone says these guys are good…. two weeks into the season .. he realized he bite off more then he could chew.
So you are saying BB is an idiot and has no plan? highly doubtful.
no i am saying that i am wondering if in his mind he thinks he is going to WILL Stidham into a Pro Bowler. Much like Shanohan and Kubiak believed they can take any RB and turn him into a 1k rusher.
I remember when BB shipped Moss off. He was asked if he was throwing the towel in on the season. Bill just laughed.
I’m really surprised the Pats didn’t go after Dalton. I feel like he would thrive in the the heavy structure of Belichick’s system. Instead they went with Hoyer. I guess they’re trying to save a buck and toss in the towel on next season before it starts. Stidham or Hoyer, the Pats aren’t making the playoffs.
I think in a normal season, they might have. But with no mini camps or (in all probability) a very short preseason/training camp, they went with somebody who is familiar with the offense. Besides the Patriots have no cap space, so it would take some major moves to sign him even under his current contract.
My guess is Hoyer starts the first 4 games and then Stidham takes over. Belichick always has a plan. Even though the pats are losing what seems like everyone, they still have the mastermind behind it all
I think the plan is to let Stidham run the offense this season so they can see what they have with him. Clearly he is a talented QB. The real question is can he perform well against NFL Starters. SO far all he has done is look good in preseason against guys who are no longer on NFL teams.