Once upon a time Brian Hoyer was Tom Brady's backup quarterback.
Now, after a tour around the league as both a part-time starter and a backup, Hoyer is back where it all began for him as an undrafted rookie out of Michigan State in 2009.
Hoyer made it clear Monday in his first meeting with the New England media since he signed a three-year contract with the Patriots last week that he's quite happy to be back in Foxborough.
The Boston Globe says Hoyer is comfortable to return to where it all began for him in the NFL. The Globe Patriots notebook as Stephon Gilmore saying he expects to play on Sunday night in Denver, this after missing three games to a concussion.
The Boston Herald says Hoyer is “happy to be in a familiar place.” The Herald says the Patriots have been missing some magic in post-bye action in recent years. The Herald also has Gilmore talking about his potential return to action.
The Providence Journal writes that Gilmore proclaimed himself ready to return. The ProJo says “familiarity” led Hoyer back to Foxborough.
ESPN keeps the Patriots at No. 2 in their power rankings. ESPN declares that the AFC East is surprisingly competitive.
ESPNBoston.com relays Bill Belichick saying that sometimes it matters just as much when you play a team as who that team is. ESPNBoston.com writes that Brady and the Patriots are still finding their way after the Julian Edelman injury.
WEEI.com notes that Belichick told the station's afternoon show that quotes in a recent ESPN The Magazine story are “fake news.” WEEI.com also passes along Belichick saying he had no interest in trading Jimmy Garoppolo last spring.
NBC Sports says that when the Patriots called, Hoyer gladly answered. NBC Sports notes that Belichick made a case for former Cowboys personnel man Gil Brandt as a Hall of Fame candidate. NBC Sports also has Gilmore talking about a return, while the site says wide receiver Philip Dorsett needs to be ready to go this Sunday.
NFL.com picked up on Belichick’s high praise for Brandt, who's now a contributor to NFL Media.
The New York Daily News says the Giants need to blow up their organizational structure and turn things over to a couple guys with Patriots ties – Scott Pioli and current New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. “Pioli and McDaniels are each ready for Act II. The Giants need to put them on the stage together.”
NESN.com offers up some midseason Patriots superlatives, including praise for Brandin Cooks.
The *Denver Post *looks at Sunday night's battle from the Broncos perspective.
Yahoo Sports says the Patriots coaches aren’t taking the Broncos lightly this week, despite the team's losing streak and changes at quarterback.
