Brian Hoyer

Free Agency Notes: Suh, Bryant, Pierre-Paul

November 14th, 2014 at 5:48pm CST by Rob DiRe

Many NFL teams are focused on making the playoffs during the home stretch of the season, but many of their top players are also worried about their impending free agency. Field Yates of ESPN.com put together a list of five players who are set to receive huge contracts this offseason (subscription required).

The headliner of that list is Lions‘ defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who may be leaving Detroit this offseason for a contract in the range of what J.J. Watt received this past offseason. Dez Bryant, Justin Houston, Demaryius Thomas, and Randall Cobb also made the list of players set up to be paid after the season.

Here are some other notes on player movement this offseason:

Along with the list of players who are ready to get big contracts, Yates also listed five players who have seen their stocks soar since the beginning of the season. Much like the five top free agents, the five soaring stocks all come from potential playoff teams. Yates points to DeMarco Murray, Jeremy Maclin, Brian Hoyer, Mark Ingram, and Chris Harris Jr..
Bryant appears on Yates’ list of players set up for big contracts, but Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com expects the superstar wide receiver to remain with the Cowboys for at least two more seasons (via Twitter). Archer writes that the Cowboys always keep a player they want, and won’t lose Bryant if they want to keep him (via Twitter).
One big name player who doesn’t appear on Yates’ list is Giants‘ defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul has been inconsistent since his breakout 2011 season when he recorded 16.5 sacks. The embattled Giant is ambivalent about returning to the team next year, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (via Twitter). “Hey, if I’m here, I’m here,” said Pierre-Paul. “If I’m not, I’m not.”

AFC Notes: Hoyer, Chiefs, Manuel, Jets

November 13th, 2014 at 8:48pm CST by Ben Levine

As Brian Hoyer and the Browns continue to play well, the quarterback’s contract situation will continue to be a story. Former agent and current CBSSports.com analyst Joel Corry appeared on CBS Sports Radio’s Ferrall on the Bench yesterday, expressing his belief that the team should wait one more season before making a decision about the position…

“There haven’t been any contract discussions with Brian Hoyer since the spring…He’s making $1.2 million this year. He’s severely underpaid, so they’re ultimately going to have to make a choice. Do they go with their first-round pick, Johnny Manziel, as quarterback, or do they pay Brian Hoyer like a starting quarterback and then figure out what to do with Johnny?”

“What I would do is delay the decision a year. I would either put a transition tag for $16 million on Brian Hoyer for 2015 or franchise him for $18.5 million for the one year. It all depends on what my strategy would be, which tag I would use. If I wasn’t afraid of some team in the open market signing him to an offer sheet – which the Browns would be able to match because they’ll have about $50 million of cap room – (I might do that). And (if) they were comfortable with letting the market decide the deal and have him go long-term at that point, then I’d put the transition tag on him. If they wanted to truly play it out for another year, you franchise him for the $18.5 million and let things unfold in 2015.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC…

Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole hushed any rumors regarding Richie Incognito and the Chiefs. The writer tweeted that the lineman has not worked out for Kansas City.
Bills quarterback EJ Manuel will not become a consistent starter in the NFL, opines CBS NFL analyst Steve Beuerlein (via Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today Sports). “There’s no doubt Kyle Orton is not the guy for the future, but you’ve got to decide whether or not EJ Manuel is,” said Beuerlein. “There are just so many questions there, that I don’t know how you make that decision in his favor.”
There is no reason that Mark Sanchez‘s apparent turnaround couldn’t have happened with the Jets, writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

AFC Notes: Dolphins, Hoyer, Broncos, Bills

November 12th, 2014 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The margin for error for Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin is “quickly approaching zero,” writes Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. A loss this week to the Bills would make it extremely difficult for Miami to make the playoffs, and the next seven games could determine the fate of several of the club’s coaches and players.

Pointing out that a half-dozen of the Dolphins’ starters are eligible to hit the open market in March, Beasley suggests the team hasn’t made much of an effort to lock up any of these prospective free agents. One reason for that may be that there’s no guarantee the same front office and coaching staff will be in place by March. As Beasley rhetorically asks: “Why green-light a multiyear deal for Charles Clay if you’re not sure whoever’s coaching the Dolphins in 2015 wants Clay on their team?”

Here’s more on the Dolphins, as well as a few other AFC teams:

Within the aforementioned piece, Beasley also writes that Philbin won’t necessarily lose his job if the Dolphins miss out on the playoffs. However, the team would probably have to finish with a winning record and show signs of trending upward.
The Browns have an opportunity to get a deal done with quarterback Brian Hoyer in the wake of Carson Palmer‘s season-ending ACL injury, argues Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio suggests that Hoyer, who had a season-ending ACL injury of his own last year, may be more inclined to secure some guaranteed money after seeing what happened to Palmer, and speculates that perhaps something in the neighborhood of two years and $18MM (fully guaranteed) would work for both sides. That sort of contract may look modest, but I doubt Hoyer will get much more fully guaranteed money than that on a longer-term deal.
Joel Corry of CBSSports.com touches upon the Browns‘ quarterback situation in his look at several contract predicaments teams will face this offseason. The Broncos‘ franchise tag decision and the Bills‘ defensive line issue are among the other dilemmas he addresses.
Jets head coach Rex Ryan expects a strong second half from his team, and knows that without one, he’ll almost certainly be looking for work this winter. “I need every [win] I can get,” Ryan said, according to Danny Knobler of ESPNNewYork.com.

North Notes: Bears, Ihedigbo, Hoyer

November 10th, 2014 at 2:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Following last night’s embarrassing 55-14 loss in Green Bay, it’s time for the Bears to re-evaluate every aspect of the team, from the roster to the head coach to the front office, according to David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune. Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com expresses similar sentiments, writing that an overhaul of the club shouldn’t be out of the question.

However, it doesn’t sound as if major changes are in store in the short term. Speaking to reporters today, including Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times (Twitter link), head coach Marc Trestman indicated that no coaching changes will be made in the wake of consecutive blowout losses.

Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two North divisions:

Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap singles out Bears quarterback Jay Cutler as his “new contract disappointment of the week,” writing that Cutler needs to do better, since the team is stuck with him for at least the next two years.
The Lions’ investment in safety James Ihedigbo in free agency this past offseason has paid off significantly, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com details.
Brian Hoyer’s agent, Joe Linta, tells Peter King of TheMMQB.com that he hasn’t talked to the Browns about a new contract for his client since May. However, King says he’d be “amazed” if Cleveland lets Hoyer get away in free agency this winter.
Meanwhile, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com attempts to find a multiyear contract structure for Hoyer that could work for both the quarterback and the Browns going forward.

Sunday Roundup: Jags, Cowboys, Randy Moss

November 9th, 2014 at 12:33pm CST by Rory Parks

PFR’s Ben Levine wrote yesterday that Jaguars owner Shad Khan expects his club to be active in free agency in 2015, and Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union followed up on Khan’s statements this morning. O’Halloran, noting that the Jags have nearly $30MM in cap room, a “figure that could double with rollover (unused) dollars, an increase in the cap and cleared space from veterans who will be released or not re-signed,” will have a whole host of opportunities to improve their roster next year.

Although Jacksonville is still far from a destination of choice for the league’s top free agents, Khan noted that it is not just the money that the team has to spend that excites him, it is the fact that 2014 has revealed the specific needs that the Jaguars need to address in the offseason. As our Rob DiRe pointed out yesterday, the team could look to add a defensive lineman, a free safety, and a pair of linebackers.

Now for some more links from around the league:

An earlier report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport claimed that 20 Cowboys players missed curfew on Friday night, but Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk writes that owner Jerry Jones said there were no curfew violations because there is no curfew. Meanwhile, head coach Jason Garrett said there is a curfew, at midnight. As Alper notes, this is not the first time Garrett and Jones have issued contradictory statements regarding the team’s inner machinations, and the Cowboys need a win today to divert attention from what should have been a non-issue.
In the wake of the mounting criticism surrounding Falcons head coach Mike Smith, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution sides with defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora, who believes the coaching staff is not the problem. Ledbetter writes, “If the Falcons get rid of the winningest coach in team history, it won’t be about winning football games. It will be about selling tickets and premium seat licenses to the new stadium.”
Marc Sessler of NFL.com says retired wideout Randy Moss, to whom the Seahawks made overtures after trading Percy Harvin, said he would come out of retirement if Peyton Manning and the Broncos came calling.
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes that “how the season ends — and how [Marshawn] Lynch plays — may matter only so much in the debate” as to whether the Seahawks should retain Lynch after this season. Instead, “it will still come down largely to one thing — will the Seahawks think it worth it to pay Lynch $7 million in 2015 when he’s 29 years old? And will Lynch be happy playing out the final year or would he ask for more money?”
ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith‘s suspension was not reduced as expected, thereby allowing him to participate in today’s game, because “while Smith did more than mandated in terms of community service, he did not fulfill the obligations assigned him in terms of his counseling protocol.”
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that, although the Browns and Brian Hoyer have not engaged in contract talks since the summer, sources indicate the deal that Andy Dalton recently signed with the Bengals will be the benchmark for future negotiations.

Brian Hoyer’s Long-Term Outlook

November 9th, 2014 at 9:26am CST by Rory Parks

The Browns, one of the biggest surprises of the 2014 season, are quarterbacked by another big surprise, Brian Hoyer. However, as PFR’s Luke Adams pointed out several days ago, Hoyer’s success has been something of a double-edged sword for Cleveland, who are riding him to a potential playoff berth but who will have a difficult and franchise-altering decision to make regarding his future when the season is over.

Although Hoyer has not been dazzling this season, he has been very good, throwing 10 touchdown passes to just four interceptions and posting a 90.4 passer rating. More importantly, he gets results, having compiled a 9-3 record as the Browns’ starting quarterback over the past two seasons. Adams discussed Hoyer as a potential extension candidate back in October, but since Cleveland is sitting on top of the strong AFC North in November, and given that Hoyer has had at least a strong showing in all but one of the club’s nine games this season, questions regarding his next contract are once again on the front burner.

As Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal writes, former NFL quarterback and current CBS analyst Steve Beuerlein, who witnessed Hoyer’s dreadful performance against the Jaguars several weeks ago, believes that Hoyer has “done a spectacular job with how little he’s had to work with and how little experience he’s had in the NFL.” Although Beuerlein concedes that Hoyer still has more to prove, he believes that Hoyer has demonstrated that he can succeed in the NFL long-term, and another former NFL signal-caller-turned-analyst, Rich Gannon, shares that view.

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that if Hoyer continues to win, he will hit the jackpot on the open market, as some team–whether its the Browns or someone else–will pay him starter’s money. Cabot adds, however, that if Hoyer can lead the Browns to the postseason, Cleveland will not let him get away.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe lays out the Browns’ dilemma when it comes to Hoyer: “Do they give $30 million to $40 million guaranteed to a journeyman quarterback who is having a career year at age 29? Do they risk losing Hoyer to a quarterback-desperate team such as Houston, Tampa Bay, or St. Louis, and just let a successful quarterback walk out the door?” To resolve that question, at least temporarily, Volin suggests the most sensible solution is slapping the franchise or transition tag on Hoyer in 2015, which would give the team extra time to evaluate Hoyer’s long-term potential while delaying making a decision on Johnny Manziel‘s future. Joel Corry floated that idea last month, and given Cleveland’s ample cap space, it might just be the best solution for both sides.

AFC North Notes: Roethlisberger, Hoyer, Eifert

November 7th, 2014 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

At age 32, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is playing at an elite level. In the last two weeks, he’s torched the Colts and Ravens for 12 total touchdown passes, and on the season, his 20.4 overall Pro Football Focus rating is tops in the NFL. While Roethlisberger isn’t a free agent until 2016 and there are no extension talks taking place, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole believes the veteran quarterback will seek approximately $24MM per year on his next deal, which would make him the league’s highest-paid player by average annual value. While it remains to be seen whether Big Ben will receive – or even ask for – that kind of money, he’s certainly in line for a big payday if he keeps up his current torrid pace.

Let’s round up a few more items from around the AFC North….

After the Browns dismantled the Bengals in Cincinnati last night, Brian Hoyer‘s record as Cleveland’s starter over the past two seasons improved to 9-3 — in games he didn’t start, the Browns posted a 1-12 record. Hoyer’s continued success is great for the Browns’ playoff chances, but it’s pushing the team further into a corner when it comes to making a decision on the signal-caller’s future, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis told reporters today, including Coley Harvey of ESPN.com (Twitter link), that while tight end Tyler Eifert is on the mend, there’s a chance he misses the rest of the season. Eifert is currently on injured reserve with the designation to return, and is eligible to be activated as soon as next week.
Even before his domestic violence incident, former Ravens running back Ray Rice appeared to be on the decline, says Tom Pelissero of USA Today. So if he’s reinstated, will Rice even get another shot in the NFL? One personnel director tells Pelissero he believes the running back has “played his last game,” while a GM cautioned to “never say never,” and a veteran scout said he’ll get another chance, but “maybe not right away.”

Matt Feminis contributed to this post.

Mike Pettine On Carr, Manziel, Hoyer

October 22nd, 2014 at 5:59pm CST by Zachary Links

This Sunday, the Browns will take on the Raiders who are led by promising rookie quarterback Derek Carr. While the Browns drafted the most talked about QB this year, Carr is making the biggest impact of any rookie signal caller this year. Cleveland coach Mike Pettine can’t help but be impressed by what he’s seen out of Carr. “For a rookie quarterback, the kid’s playing.. pretty well,” Pettine said, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal. “You use a coaching cliché, ‘He can make all the throws.’ This is a kid that can legitimately make all the throws. You could tell he’s got a firm grasp of what they’re doing.” In an alternate universe somewhere, the Browns resisted the urge to draft Johnny Manziel and instead selected Carr. While you ponder that, here are more highlights from today’s presser, courtesy of Ulrich:

On what his discussions were like with Carr before the draft

Positive. We had a good visit with him – ran out to Fresno (State University), spent some time with him and his brother. It was good. He’s very mature. If you’re around him you wouldn’t think that he’s a kid just coming out of college. The fact that he’s so close with his brother and what his brother has been through in the NFL, I think prepared him that much more. It’s showing up in his play. You can tell he’s very much a student of the game just by how he plays. You can tell he knows certain defenses, where to go with the ball, when to get out of a run and throw it on the outside and based on coverage where to attack a defense. I think his football IQ is well ahead of the game because of his background.

On if his brother David Carr’s lack of success in the NFL ever came up when evaluating Derek Carr

No, to me, you look at it as a positive because the mistakes that his brother made or what happened to his brother can only make Derek better. Like I said, here’s a guy that’s only been sacked four times. He can make plays with his feet and get out of the pocket. He’s got a quick release, and he’s decisive with the ball and they’re blocking well in front of him.

On if the Browns had Carr rated close to Manziel on their draft board

I don’t know where he finally fell in that cluster of guys, but this year – just going back looking at the draft – you just had so many varying opinions on players. It wasn’t that there was a clear consensus on it, but when you watched the Fresno tape he was guy that you knew this kid’s an NFL quarterback.

On what makes him think that pending free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer can come back from last week’s loss to the Jaguars

Number one, I think his confidence, his preparation, his ability to compartmentalize and put something behind him, then also just confidence in the guys around him. I think all the guys know on offense that they didn’t play well enough for the offense to be successful, which was a big part in making his performance look the way that it did starts up front. That goes to the backs, to the receivers, to the tight end. It’s the whole group, and it’s a subtle effect. When you have issues in the run game that puts you in second-and-9. It’s hard for your quarterback to look good at times – second-and-9, third-and-9 than it is second-and-5, third-and-4. To me, it’s a ripple effect throughout when you’re not playing at a high level around him

Extra Points: Harvin, Jets, Manziel, Ravens

October 20th, 2014 at 10:12pm CST by Zachary Links

Percy Harvin‘s character has come into question following reports of fights with former teammates Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin, but Breno Giacomini, who played with him in Seattle, isn’t concerned, writes Seth Walder of the Daily News. “Almost everybody in this locker room’s been in a fight before, we play football,” the Jets‘ offensive lineman said. “Oh, it happened twice? Who cares. He’s a good competitor, that’s what it is.” More from around the NFL..

Jets coach Rex Ryan expressed similar thoughts on his new star wide receiver, saying “Nobody’s perfect,” Walder writes. The Jets have had experience with wide receivers and off the field issues in the past. Braylon Edwards, for the most part, stayed out of trouble during his Jets tenure. Santonio Holmes, meanwhile, was cut after several reported locker room disruptions.
The Browns briefly considered putting Johnny Manziel in at quarterback on Sunday while Brian Hoyer was having a tough time against the Jaguars, writes Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. “It was discussed briefly, but it was a situation where we still wanted to…at least try to end the game with Brian on a positive note,” coach Mike Pettine said. Hoyer appears poised to have some significant leverage as he approaches free agency this offseason but more outings like Sunday’s will change his forecast for 2015.
Despite his slow start, the Ravens should give Torrey Smith a new deal, opines Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun. Smith has just 18 catches for 308 yards and four touchdowns so far this year, but he’s a strong No. 2 receiver and offers great leadership in the locker room.
Rookie Marcus Martin is going to get the “first shot” at replacing the injured Daniel Kilgore in the starting lineup, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said, according to Steve Corkran of the Mercury News. The club lost their starting center to a left leg fracture in the third quarter of their blowout loss to the Broncos.

“Everything’s Been Fine” With Manziel, Hoyer

October 17th, 2014 at 11:02pm CST by Rob DiRe

Earlier this week, Browns’ quarterback Brian Hoyer refuted a report that he would have no interest in re-signing with the team if Johnny Manziel is on the roster. Although he denied the report, the thought that Hoyer wouldn’t want to assume a Matt Cassel in Minnesota type role, remaining as a placeholder to the eventual first-round pick makes sense.

Still, Hoyer insists that there is no truth to the report at all. However, there is definitely some conflict going on, with both quarterbacks looking to be the long term starter in Cleveland. It is not only Hoyer that has to respond to that report, but Manziel who now has the uneasy role of backup quarterback who has to pretend to have no interest in the starting job in order to not cause waves in the locker room.

Still, so far he is saying the right things, writes Jeff Schudel of The Morning Journal and News-Herald. “Brian didn’t even really need to come up to me because obviously he dismissed that and then between me and him and our room, I don’t think we ever even thought that had even the slightest piece of legitimacy behind it,” Manziel said. “So between me and him, everything’s been fine.”

Manziel is the only rookie quarterback drafted in the first 60 picks in 2014 who has not started a game this season. Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, and Derek Carr have all been handed the starting jobs for their respective teams. Hoyer is the only veteran quarterback who was able to ward off his successor.

“I think all of that stuff will really play itself out, but it’s not something that’s really been on my mind,” said Manziel. “I think it’s hard to sit here right now and kind of guess how things are going to play in the future. but every quarterback that’s come into the league has had a different circumstance. I think it’s all about how you handle it when you’re not on the field and continuing to try and better yourself even when it’s really hard.”

However, despite saying the right things, Manziel acknowledges that he is prepared to go in if he is called upon, writes Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland.com.

“I feel a lot more confident, a lot more comfortable,” said Manziel. “Getting into a new system, just getting around these guys, the whole process of being under center a lot more, everything that’s involved in this offense just wasn’t anything that I was asked to do really at A&M. I knew it would take me some time. Now going through these game plans and getting some of the same ideas spilling over into the next week, I’m a lot more honed in on that.”

Quarterback situations can be fickle in the NFL. One injury, or one bad game from Hoyer could open the door for Manziel to get some game action. Play well enough in that opportunity, and it may be enough to overtake Hoyer for good. Manziel stresses readiness in case that opportunity presents itself.

“My strategy, my mindset really haven’t changed much this year except stay on top of my stuff and make sure I’m ready,” said Manziel. “It’s a wacky league, so you never really know when you could be thrust in there.”

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan follows a similar philosophy with his young quarterback. Shanahan is committed to Hoyer, but stresses that Manziel must be prepared for his time under center, despite limited opportunity.

“He could end up being – as the cliché is – one play from starting,” said Shanahan. “I hope he’s working to be ready, and if that ever does happen I think he will be.”

While some have pointed to Steve Young sitting behind Joe Montana or Aaron Rodgers sitting behind Brett Favre, the Hoyer/Manziel situation might be most similar to Philip Rivers sitting behind Drew Brees, writes Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Fowler writes that all Manziel can do in the mean time is to come up with creative ways to say that he is alright waiting for his turn.

It might not be in Manziel or Hoyer’s best interest to leave Cleveland. Shanahan’s recent record with quarterbacks has been fantastic, and both could benefit by playing under his expertise, writes Chris Wesseling of NFL.com. Hoyer is playing his best football right now. In Washington, Robert Griffin III was dominant when healthy, and Kirk Cousins was drawing trade interest before being thrust into the lineup this season where he has mostly turned the football over. Before that, Shanahan spent time with the Texans, where Matt Schaub had some great years before self combusting in 2013, shortly after Shanahan left.

Hoyer staying in Cleveland would make sense, but the truth is that the Browns are committed to Manziel at some point in the future. Albert Breer of NFL.com writes that the team should take a wait and see approach with Hoyer when it comes to a contract extension. Giving him an extension now would risk him petering out, and the team would be heavily invested in a backup after a small sample size of competency.

Of course, if they wait too long, Breer points out that the uneven quarterback situations with the Bills, Buccaneers, Jets, Texans and Titans that Hoyer could have multiple suitors in the open market, and a bidding war could force the Browns hands. They may be starting Manziel next season out of necessity rather than choice.

Still, as of right now, the Browns are 3-2 and clicking on multiple cylinders. Hoyer has them in the playoff race, and All Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon will be back in uniform in a few weeks. For now, Hoyer is the starter and Manziel is the backup, and everything’s been fine between them.

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