Tom Brady will keep close watch on Brian and Ryan

Jeff Howe, Boston Herald:

Hoyer's Browns and Mallett's Texans meet in Cleveland at 1 p.m., so Brady will have an opportunity to watch a pair of former Patriots backups square off before playing the Colts at 8:30. Even more meaningful, it's Mallett's first career start, and he'll join Matt Cassel and Hoyer as Brady backups to start a game this season.

Brian T. Smith, Ultimate Texans:

Cleveland Browns head coach, Mike Pettine knows there is very little tape to watch to prepare for Houston Texans QB Ryan Mallett. The Browns still expect the Texans to be run-focused, said Pettine. Cleveland can’t “chase ghosts” while preparing for the uncertainty of Mallett.

I give kudos to Ryan Mallett for having the Browns scared, and he hasn't even played a down.

Former Houston and current Cleveland RB Ben Tate remembers QB Ryan Mallett from his college days at Auburn.
Tate must have a real good memory. “I think he’s a great quarterback,” Tate said. “He’s got a strong arm. Very, very strong arm. He can sling that thing around.” Ryan Mallett has not appeared in a meaningful game since his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas in 2010.

The job for Houston Texans head coach, Bill O' Brien in preparing for Cleveland Browns QB Brian Hoyer is easier than what faces the Browns head coach, Mike Pettine in prepping for Ryan Mallett. Bill coached the Patriots QB's in 2009 and 2010 when Brian Hoyer was a member of the team. Bill has film to study on Brian when he played for the Arizona Cardinals in 2012, and the 12 games that Hoyer has started for the Browns in 2013 and 2014.

The Cleveland Browns head coach, Mike Pettine can only hope that his QB is better than the "unknown" one.

For information on Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett, the best one to ask would be New England Patriots QB Tom Brady. Good luck with that.

There is no need for Tom Brady to remain nonpartisan. The teacher can root hard for both of his former pupils. He might even learn something on Sunday afternoon that he can pass on to his present backup, Jimmy Garoppolo.



Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

For more of my articles, click here.