Breer On Toucher & Rich: 'No Question' Patriots Try To Move Ryan Mallett
BOSTON (CBS) - Cracking the 53-man roster on a team that regularly makes the conference championship game is hard enough, but to make the team as one of two quarterbacks that, in all likelihood, will have to carry around a clipboard all season long, is near impossible.
The Patriots rarely carry three quarterbacks during the regular season and there's a large faction of fans calling for the team to trade backup Ryan Mallett for a draft pick, or whatever they can get in return.
The NFL Network's Albert Breer believes the Patriots are trying to trade Mallett, despite Bill Belichick's public stance to the contrary.
Breer hopped on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich show Wednesday morning to discuss the Patriots quarterback situation.
"I think Bill [Belichick] has been trying to trade Mallett for a year now. I don't think it's a sure thing he makes the team. I may be on an island on this one, but we all know how valuable those roster spots are. [Jimmy] Garoppolo is making the team. Bill has not kept three quarterbacks very often over the last five, six years.
"His M.O. has been to have two quarterbacks on the roster, and especially when you're a team that looks like it's in win-now mode with Darrelle Revis on a one-year contract and a bunch of other guys going into contract years. I don't think you're going to be wasting roster spots. It makes sense for the Patriots to push Mallett now and see if you can get a draft pick on him, especially if you're not sure he's going to make the team in August.
"If the Patriots get into the second, third preseason game and Mallett is still around, I wouldn't be surprised if he's getting extended playing time and they try to showcase him and pedal him for a draft pick. As of right now I don't think he has much value, because what is he? No team will stick their neck out there and build around Ryan Mallett.
"The best case scenario for the Patriots is showcase him in training camp and rig things so it makes him look good for a week or two, and then some other team has an injury somewhere where they need to bring another quarterback in. Maybe then you can flip him for a draft pick.
"There's no question the Patriots are motivated to move this player, and I do think there's some push within Mallett's camp to get him moved out of New England."
Listen below for the full discussion, including the Andre Johnson situation in Houston and much more:
Albert Breer Interview
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON
