Tom Brady Told Brian Hoyer to 'Be Ready' For 2019 Patriots?

At that time, relations between Brady and the Patriots had become icier than the Tuck Rule Game despite coming off a sixth collaborative Super Bowl run: neither side could settle whether Brady should've stayed or left as he turned 42. Apparently prepared to take the extremist route, Brady wanted to make sure that Hoyer was prepared for extended duties.

"Watching the show and hearing Tom talk about what he had heard, it sounds like (walking out) was surely the plan," Hoyer said. 

Hoyer recalled there was a day of Patriots practice where he and fourth-round rookie Jarrett Stidham were the only throwers in attendance. A deal for Brady was agreed upon shortly after, one laden with caveats and expenses, and sanity, to the tune of an 8-0 start, seemingly prevailed.

But the Patriots ended the year on a 4-4 note and wound up losing their customary spot among the AFC first-round playoff byes. Postseason heartbreak awaited in the Wild Card round, as not only did the Patriots fall to the Tennessee Titans but Brady's final pass as a New Englander was a desperation heave intercepted by former teammate Logan Ryan. 

All that and more was no longer Hoyer's problem, as he was among the Patriots' final summer cuts. Signed by the Indianapolis Colts, Hoyer kept an eye on New England's affairs affairs from afar with knowledge of the coming storm once the season ended.

"I did not know it was to that extent and like I said, that was cleared up pretty quickly because it was one day where he didn't practice and then the new contract was signed and he was back out there," Hoyer noted. "I left a few weeks later to go to Indianapolis, so I know that was a rough year for him."

"Being a friend, I would watch their games and you could see there was no joy for him."

Hoyer, ironically, wound up returning to New England while Brady was granted his release by the end of the season. Three more seasons, and one more Super Bowl, awaited with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.