In signing undrafted rookie free agent Brian Hoyer, the Patriots have four quarterbacks on their roster. Hoyer joins Tom Brady, Kevin O'Connell and Matt Gutierrez as the Patriots' signal callers. While it is obvious that Brady will be the starter, barring an unforeseen injury, the backup quarterback role is currently up for grabs.
For all intents and purposes, the backup job is O'Connell's to lose. The Patriots used a third-round draft pick on the former San Diego State quarterback, making it clear that they were enamored with the fleet-of-feet O'Connell. O'Connell is being groomed as the Patriots' heir apparent to Brady, and some rallied behind O'Connell after Matt Cassel struggled early in the 2008 season.
However, O'Connell, Gutierrez and Hoyer have combined for four career NFL pass attempts (all coming from O'Connell in the September 21 game against the Dolphins). This fact is not lost on Patriots fans, who believe the Pats need to sign a veteran backup quarterback in case Brady's knee is not fully healed and O'Connell struggles.
With that in mind, I bring this name to the table: Trent Green. Green started only once last season with the Rams, and has a history of concussions. However, in his last fully active season, 2005, Green threw for 4,014 yards with 17 touchdowns and ten interceptions with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Green floundered in an injury-plagued season with the Miami Dolphins in 2007, throwing for 987 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. In 2008, in only three games with the Rams, Green threw no touchdowns and six interceptions.
Obviously he isn't what he was in 2004 or 2003, when the Chiefs were led by Green, Priest Holmes and Dante Hall, but he still has the poise and arm strength to be an average NFL starter.
Obviously I'm not saying Green should get the call ahead of O'Connell, but having a veteran in the system who can guide the young players through the rigors of a sixteen game season is important.
While the 2008 Patriots didn't have a veteran backup, they could have benefited from landing somebody like Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch in the 2008 off-season to help in Matt Cassel's learning stages.
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