Free agent QB Brian Hoyer reportedly signs with Bears
Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer sits on the bench during the second half of a wild-card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Houston on Jan. 9, 2016. Credit: AP / Eric Christian Smith
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Jets can officially cross Brian Hoyer off their list of potential fallback plans.
The 30-year-old free agent quarterback reportedly has agreed to a one-year deal with the Bears. In Chicago, he’ll be Jay Cutler’s backup.
Though they gave Hoyer the same wine-and-dine treatment as they did Robert Griffin III, it was clear the purpose of Hoyer’s two-day visit to New Jersey was simply due diligence. Jets management and players have expressed their desire to re-sign free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick. But the stare down between his camp and the Jets has lasted two months. And while their contract negotiations stalled, the Jets took a look at Hoyer.
But he left their facility without a contract offer.
“When he became available, it was an opportunity for us to look into Brian,” general manager Mike Maccagnan said last week. “We like him as a prospect. We always anticipated this would be more of a fluid free agency, but we’re just doing our due diligence, at the end of the day. We’ll see how it unfolds.”
After meeting with members of the Jets front office and coaching staff, Hoyer flew to Denver. But the Broncos didn’t offer him a deal either.
