Based on everything we know at the moment, it appears second-year player Jarrett Stidham will replace Tom Brady and be the Patriots’ starting QB Week 1 against Miami.
But one former Patriot — Rob Ninkovich — doesn’t think that will be the case.
Ninkovich believes due to Stidham’s inexperience, it will be veteran backup Brian Hoyer getting the starting quarterback gig.
“I think Brian Hoyer will be the starter Week 1 and I say that because the quarterback position is one of the most important for reps under center, seeing defensive looks, looking at coverage, understanding the offense,” he said Friday on ESPN’s Get Up. “…Look, they’re not practicing right now. There’s no minicamp, there’s no offseason, there’s no training camp. We don’t know when that’s going to happen.
“So if you have a veteran quarterback who has been in the system, understands what to expect what an NFL season is like, you’re gonna want to go with a guy who has the veteran leadership (and) also what it takes to be in that building. Look, when you’re a second-year player, you really don’t realize what a season’s like as a starter. You don’t understand what it’s going to take, and not having an offseason does not help. So, Brian Hoyer will be the starter Week 1.”
Hoyer definitely has the experience factor, but the Patriots may be better off letting Stidham loose to see what he has. If he looks good, the Patriots know they have their QB of the future, but if he doesn’t, then the team knows it needs to find someone else.
Going with Hoyer, doesn’t really accomplish much.
While everyone has different opinions, Bill Belichick’s is really the only one that matters and time will only tell what that is.
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