The Patriots haven't had to worry about the quarterback position for the last decade, and after making Tom Brady the highest-paid player in the business, the Pats are set through 2014.
Brady, who will likely earn his second MVP award in two weeks, will be a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer and will ensure the Patriots are Super Bowl contenders for as long as he's in uniform.
It only seems right that we start with the quarterbacks during our weeklong position-by-position breakdown of the 2010 Patriots.
Quarterbacks on Final Roster
Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Jonathan Crompton (practice squad)
Key Statistic
Brady completed 324 of 492 passes (65.9 percent) during the regular season for 3,900 yards, 36 touchdowns and four interceptions. He finished the regular season by completing an NFL-record 335 consecutive passes without an interception.
Hot Topic
Brady played very poorly in the playoff loss to the Jets, as he looked rattled, unsure of himself and as a result, he was inefficient with his throws. Two of Brady's worst games in the last two seasons have come in playoff defeats, and he has lost four of his last six playoff games, including three in a row. Brady is the best quarterback in the NFL and built his legacy by winning in the postseason, but he hasn't been the same guy in recent years.
Offseason Question
Do the Patriots have any interest in carrying three quarterbacks on the active roster?
It's an obscure question, sure, but the Patriots' depth chart is in no position of changing with Brady and Hoyer. Since signing Hoyer as an undrafted free agent in 2009, the Patriots haven't carried a third quarterback, which is a real luxury. Only five other teams (Baltimore, Indianapolis, New Orleans, San Diego, St. Louis) had two quarterbacks on the roster, including those who were placed on injured reserve, and it allows the Patriots to use the 53rd roster spot on someone who might actually contribute on game day.
It's also a gamble, because that means the Pats are always an injury away from using Julian Edelman as an emergency backup quarterback. Obviously, it's extremely rare for a team to lose two quarterbacks to injury in the same game, and the outcome would likely be determined by that point anyway. Since the Pats are so comfortable with Hoyer, it seems like they've got a good formula by developing their third quarterback on the practice squad.
Monday, Jan. 24: Running backs
