The New England Patriots may have lost long-time quarterback Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency, but that hasn’t turned dual-threat running back James White into a pessimist ahead of the 2020 season.
White expressed optimism in both Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer, the two quarterbacks currently on the roster who figure to battle it out for starting signal caller duties should New England stand pat under center.
“We’re confident in Stidham, confident in Hoyer, whoever it happens to be,” White said, via Zack Cox of NESN.
White expressed specifically more optimism about Stidham, who has thrown a total of four passes as a professional, saying, “He’s willing to learn, willing to take the coaching and keeps fighting no matter what the situation is.”
It remains entirely plausible that the Patriots are swayed by either Cam Newton or Jameis Winston, both of whom remain free agents and have the pedigree of having been Pro Bowl quarterbacks.
But it’s also entirely possible that head coach Bill Belichick opts to stick with either Stidham or Hoyer. The latter carved out a niche by backing up Brady from 2009-11, before again returning to the team in 2018.
Aside from the 2008 season that saw Matt Cassel step in after Brady was injured Week 1, the Patriots and Brady have been synonymous with one another. They opted to stick with Cassel that season and finished 11-5, but still came up short in their quest to make the postseason. It remains the most recent instance of New England missing the playoffs.
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