Brian Hoyer helps bring out the best in Patriots QB competition

Brian Hoyer has been stepping up to help the other quarterbacks on the Patriots.

FOXBORO – There’s a fine line between competing with your teammate and helping one who’s competing against you. It’s a part of football that isn’t always talked about – players help out those who might actually take their jobs.

In the quarterback room, it’s seen plenty.

Take Brian Hoyer, for example. He went out of his way to help Jarrett Stidham last summer prior to the then-rookie beating him out for the backup role behind Tom Brady. This offseason, the 34-year-old is at it again – helping three different quarterbacks all vying for spots on the Patriots roster. In any other job, it’d be awkward to help out a coworker who might directly get you laid off, but in Foxboro, it’s commonplace for someone like Hoyer to help those around him.

His efforts could also help bring out the best of this quarterback competition.

"It’s not hard to balance. Look, we’re all trying to be the best for the team and also do what’s best for the team," Hoyer said. "For me, obviously, with Jarrett and Cam (Newton) and even Brian Lewerke, I try to use the knowledge that I’ve accumulated over the years of playing in this offense to help those guys out when they need it."

For the Patriots, Hoyer’s expertise has been a big help. He has five years of experience in this offensive system and is the perfect teammate for a younger quarterback like Stidham or even someone like Newton, who’s here for the first time. On the field, the competition has been fairly even among the competitors with all three quarterbacks having solid days throughout this first week of training camp.

During the first four days, we’ve seen all three quarterbacks rotate in and out of the lineup. There hasn’t been an established starter and on Wednesday, Bill Belichick said that the Patriots will get to the point where they condense the reps around one player, but the team isn’t here yet. So far, the competition has brought out some bright spots for Hoyer, Newton and Stidham.

On Day 1, Stidham looked like the best quarterback on the field completing 7-of-7 passes in team drills. On Day 2, Hoyer had two of the best passes of the day and finished 9-of-11 while Newton was right behind him completing 9-of-12 passes. In Day 3, both Stidham and Newton were intercepted two times while Hoyer didn’t turn over the ball. On Thursday, Newton looked like the best quarterback on the field, competing 10-of-17 passes.

It’s been fun to watch and Hoyer said it’s been a fun experience on the field.

"For me, it’s been great. All you ever ask for in the NFL is a chance to compete," Hoyer said. "That’s something I’ve had throughout my career in different places so it’s not something that I’m not used to. If anything, coach Belichick and the coaches, they always say, competition makes everyone better. My goal is to go out there every day, compete the best I can, push everyone else to compete as hard as they can. When the dust settles, it settles and whatever it is, it is."

Due to Covid-19, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Patriots keep three quarterbacks on the roster just to have added insurance. So far, the competition between Newton, Stidham and Hoyer has been the most compelling storyline of training camp. Inside the building, however, the quarterbacks have banded together to help one another.

For Hoyer, that means stepping up to teach Stidham, Newton and Lewerke. He said that it’s been a fun process so far this summer.

"It’s been great. Look, every year in the NFL, there’s change," Hoyer said. "For me, I’ve had change almost constantly throughout my career so you’re always getting to learn new guys and getting to know who they are. I think that’s the beautiful thing – look, we’re all different and we all bring different things to the table and we can all appreciate those things about each other, get to know each other, help each other and push each other. That’s a great thing.

"When you have a so-called quarterback competition, look, we’re not all in there not talking to each other. We’re all learning from each other. We’re watching when one person goes and learning from there rep and vice versa. It’s been awesome."

mdaniels@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @MarkDanielsPJ