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Brian Hoyer was greeted with an “hey Axel,” by a member of the media on Wednesday afternoon.
Hoyer responded with a “thanks a lot Slater.”
If not for Mac Jones’ injury late in Sunday’s loss to Baltimore, many of us would have never known the backup quarterback’s real first name. Now, not only is Hoyer’s birth name common knowledge, but the veteran QB was at the podium for the first time in a long time to answer questions as the (most likely?) starter in Green Bay Sunday.
While fans may not think much of him, Hoyer’s coaches, teammates and Hoyer himself believe the Patriots can win if he’s the one taking snaps under center in Lambeau Field.
“I think you kind of go back to training camp. You get a lot of reps with everyone. Training camp is also you talk about the “new” look offense. I’ve said it before, offense is new ever year. Whether it was Josh [McDaniels] year, after year, after year, we were adding something, taking things out. It’s always adjusting to your players, who you’re going to be playing against. So I feel confident with that level of it,” Hoyer said. “It’s obviously good to get more — come back in the swing and get more reps with the guys that I maybe haven’t been taking with. But I have a great confidence level in all of those guys, the receivers, the tight ends, the running backs — obviously the offensive line are all guys I know very well and have known them for over a year now.”
In the middle of his epic “day-by-day” press conference on Wednesday, Bill Belichick also expressed his confidence in Hoyer if he has to go.
“Brian’s got a lot of experience,” said Belichick. “He’s done everything that we would want to do. Mac would be able to do it with I think minimal practice if that is what is was. So just take it day-by-day. We’re not really doing anything differently.”
Hoyer also has a different perspective as a veteran and knows these opportunities don’t come around very often, which could also play into his mindset entering Sunday.
“At this point you don’t know how many chances like this you get anymore,” he said. “So obviously, it’s a part of the job. You’re always ready to play. So for me, it’s an opportunity to go out there and have fun, and go out and execute really. Have fun. I really love my teammates, what they do, how hard they work. So an opportunity to go out there and play with those guys.”
The only thing fans remember about Hoyer is the ugly loss to Kansas City during the Covid season back in 2020. Hoyer isn’t letting that game define him or his career and Sunday would be an opportunity to erase some of those bad memories.
“I mean look, I’ve played for 14 years, I have a lot of bad memories. I have a lot of good memories, too. One game doesn’t define me, one play doesn’t define me. I’m excited for any opportunity I get to go play. I really could [not] care less about that,” said Hoyer.
So, if No. 5 is under center on Sunday afternoon at historic Lambeau Field, he, the coaches and his teammates all believe that Axel (had to get it in there at least once) can keep them in the game and possibly even win it. Either way, getting this unexpected opportunity in such a special place would mean quite a bit to him.
“Anytime you get a chance to play at Lambeau, I think that’s a pretty cool experience there,” he added. “I heard Devin [McCourty] talking about it. It’s a historic place. A historic organization. Obviously my first and only time, didn’t get to finish it off the way I like due to the injury. But it’s a great opportunity. Anytime you get to go in there and play. They’re obviously a great team. They have gone deep in the playoffs for however many years. They have a great quarterback in Aaron [Rodgers]. Their defense, you look all around, they’re very solid. Whether it’s the D-line, the linebackers, the defensive backs.
“It’s a unique challenge. I think I heard today they’re like 13-2 in their last 15 home games. So it’s obviously a hostile environment to go into. But it’s always a great opportunity to see where you’re at too.”