NFL news: Agent claims Cleveland Browns interested in re-signing Brian Hoyer

The Cleveland Browns have reportedly reached out to QB Brian Hoyer to discuss a contract extension with the impending free agent QB.

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Joe Linta, Hoyer’s agent, told the Akron Beacon Journal that the Browns had reached out to him to express their interest in bringing Hoyer back, but “…never got to the numbers part,” according to Linta.

Hoyer is due to become a free agent in March unless he re-signs with the Browns before then.

In 2014, in his first year as the Browns starter, Hoyer led Cleveland to a 7-6 record while recording 3,326 passing yards, 12 TDs, and an NFL-leading 13.7 yards/completion. In Week 5, Hoyer helped the Browns overcome a 25-point deficit on the road in Tennessee against the Titans to win 29-28 – the largest road deficit overcome in NFL history, and by mid-November the Browns were neck-and-neck for a playoff berth with the other AFC North teams. But Hoyer went three straight games with no TDs and multiple turnovers and was benched in Week 14 for poor performance, never getting the starting job back from rookie QBs Johnny Manziel or Connor Shaw, neither of whom played well in his stead.

It’s not known what kind of deal the Browns would be interested in offering Hoyer, who is 10-6 as the Browns starter in two seasons with the team. But after having a fair amount of success with the Browns in 2014, it certainly isn’t beyond the realm of possibility that he could get a large contract with a QB-starved team such as Tennessee, Tampa Bay, the Jets or Buffalo.

“I think the only thing that would make him not (want to) come back is if they said Manziel or whoever we take in the draft or whoever we sign in free agency is going to be the starter and you will only be the backup,” Linta said. “I think that would probably drive him away a little bit.”