AP

Perhaps because of the nature of their roles during their one season together in New England — one on the way up, one on the way out — Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett weren’t terribly close.

But the now-Browns starter said the now-Texans starter had the kind of physical gifts that were easy to see when they were on the practice field together.

“Strongest arm I’ve ever seen,” Hoyer said, via Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle. “And I really do mean that.”

The two developed something of a working relationship while backing up Tom Brady, and working under then-quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien. Hoyer even teased reporters with a long lost nickname for O’Brien, but didn’t deliver the goods on the Texans head coach.

“I can’t do it,” Hoyer said with a laugh. “But those were some of the best times of my career. The quarterback position is so unique in the NFL. Only one of us could play and only one of us could be the backup (to Tom Brady). We knew we weren’t going to be playing unless Tom was hurt. You can compete, but you also know you’re going to be in a room with a guy for 12 hours a day for six months of the year so you’d better get along and make it enjoyable, and I think we did that.

“For me it was about trying to learn as much as I possibly could. I wouldn’t be the player today if I had not been around Tom and around Billy. I give those two so much credit for how I’ve progressed in the NFL. I think I’m a far better NFL quarterback than I was in college because of the time I spent with those guys, learning how to do things the right way.”

Hoyer’s gotten the kind of opportunity in Cleveland all backup quarterbacks dream of, while Mallett will be getting his first start this weekend against his old teammate.