The New England Patriots have some big names among their final cuts, including long-time center Dan Koppen, who re-signed with the club in the off-season after missing most of 2011 with a broken ankle. Various reports also had the Patriots letting go of veteran wide receiver Deion Branch and cutting second-string quarterback Brian Hoyer, which leaves only Ryan Mallett behind Tom Brady. Source: National Football Post
Kinda surprised by the Hoyer cut. Mallett must have massively impressed the staff. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket
Would assume their plan is to have Mallett to take over for Brady in a few years. I think the Cards might take a look seeing their problem at QB. But yea Green Bay would be a great fit for both him and the team.
Have to wonder if Branch was cut to save money, but (like Gaffney, IMO) told to keep his phone handy and they'll call in a week. When the WR depth is Welker, Lloyd, Edelman, and Matt Slater (with Hernandez essentially lining up as a 5th WR I guess), I'm not exactly super-confident there. Eerily similar to the 09 starting four of Moss, Welker, Edelman and Joey effing Galloway, albeit with a monstrous upgrade in the TE position. Slater isn't what I'd call... a good receiver. I think we all saw Koppen's release coming, although it would have been nice to keep some depth on the line if they need to slide Connolly over to RG in the event of injury to Waters (whose locker was filled with gear today. He's coming back, unofficially). Hoyer... wow. THAT was a money-saving move. No point in keeping a 3rd-stringer around that's making almost 2 million bucks, and considering what Kevin Kolb and now Matt Flynn have done to the "backup QB star in the making" market, the Pats had zero trade partners.
