Deion Sanders is very generous, especially with money that isn’t his. He continued his periodic crusade to get certain players more cash after Thursday night’s resounding win by the Browns over the Bengals.
“There was a $100 million quarterback on the field tonight, and I didn’t know which one it was,” Sanders said on NFL Network. “But the one that’s sitting right here. . . . And I don’t talk a man’s money unless his game is funny. That’s my rule. Tonight, that game was funny. If that kid can make a hundred, this kid can make a hundred. Pay this man.”
Of course, paying Hoyer anything close to what the Bengals paid Andy Dalton 2.0 in the offseason will mean indefinitely delaying the start of Johnny Manziel’s career as the guy the Browns presumed he’d become when the Browns made him the 22nd overall pick in the draft.
Besides, it wouldn’t take a nine-figure contract to keep Hoyer around. He’s never gotten a big contract, so he’d be more likely to jump on a strong but not spectacular contract offer, especially if an offer of that kind is put on the table while Hoyer still carries the risk of injury during the seven remaining games of his current deal.
Before the season, agent Joe Linta said Hoyer’s value won’t be known until November 1 at the earliest. Hoyer is now 2-0 in November 2014, and 9-3 overall as a starter.
While his numbers don’t scream “franchise quarterback” (he had no touchdown passes last night and fewer than 200 yards passing), Hoyer could be the right quarterback for the franchise. Sooner or later, the Browns will have to decide whether they want Hoyer to be the starter in 2015 -- and then the Browns will need to figure out what it will take to keep him around.
With each passing week, it could be getting a little more expensive. Especially with Deion Sanders on the case.