Brian Hoyer Vikings

Brian Hoyer threw two touchdown passes in the first half against the Vikings and make his second start for the Browns Sunday against the Bengals.

(John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had high praise for his former understudy Brian Hoyer heading into Sunday's game against the Bengals, Hoyer's second straight start for the Browns and third overall.

"Brian was a great player who worked hard to develop himself into a starting caliber NFL quarterback,'' Brady told cleveland.com in an email exchange. "Nobody worked harder or committed himself more than Brian. He's a great friend and I'm not surprised that he's succeeded once he got an opportunity.''

A former Super Bowl and NFL MVP, Brady saw in Hoyer the traits that enabled him to defeat the Vikings 31-27 last week with a last-minute touchdown pass to Jordan Cameron in just his second career start.

"He has everything it takes physically and mentally to play the position,'' said Brady. "He loves football and works hard at getting better.''

Brady, who spent every waking football moment with Hoyer from 2009 through 2011 -- including a trip to Super XLVI against the Giants -- declined to take credit for passing along his wisdom and expertise to Hoyer.

"We talked football whenever we were around one another, but he was solely responsible for his work ethic and improvements over the years,'' Brady said.

On Monday, Hoyer glanced down at his phone only to find a text message from Brady.

"I just congratulated him on the first of many, except when we play them (Dec. 8 in New England),'' Brady said.

At the Super Bowl, Hoyer told cleveland.com, "As a young quarterback, it's been a great opportunity for me to sit back and watch how (Brady) approaches everything, not just football but life as a professional. We're great friends. Just to be around, in my opinion, the best there is has been incredible. You can ask as many questions as you want and he'll answer them all. He's humble and as great a guy as he is a football player."

Last week, Hoyer said serving as Brady's backup helped him prepare for the opportunity he has now.

"It's having a sense of urgency, attention to detail, the little things help you take care of the big things,'' he said. "There's probably not a better guy to learn from and I really went in every day trying to take as much as I could out of that situation."

CBS analyst Rich Gannon, a former Super Bowl quarterback and NFL MVP who will call Sunday's game, recalls working the Patriots season-finale in 2010 when Hoyer played most of the second half, a 38-7 victory over the Dolphins.

Hoyer completed 7-of-13 attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown that game for a 111.7 rating.

"I remember coming away really impressed,'' said Gannon, who reminded Hoyer of that performance Friday after practice. "Bill (Belichick) never told him he was going into the game, and he just threw him in there in the second half. He played most of the second half and he played really well.''

Gannon said it was evident in that game, and during last week's victory over the Vikings, that Hoyer has assimilated many of Brady's tendencies, including his fiery nature.

"He got a chance to learn from the master and he was like a sponge,'' said Gannon. "Brian didn't get to take many reps in New England, because Brady likes to take them all, but Brian paid close attention and picked things up quickly. Brady was obsessed with mechanics and footwork and all of the little details. Not only that, but Brian watched how he interacted with his coaches and teammates and the media.''

Gannon, who also worked the Browns game in week two against the Ravens, marveled at Hoyer's poise on his gamewinning drive in Minnesota, where the crowd noise was deafening and he had to overcome three picks.

"He's an impressive guy,'' Gannon said. "He clearly provided the offensive spark that they haven't had. He gets the ball out quickly, he has great anticipation and he has no hitches in his throw. He has good touch on some of his throws, and he wasn't overwhelmed by the situation.''

Gannon acknowledged that Hoyer, a fifth-year pro, has to clean up the interceptions, "but overall it was a really strong debut. A couple of things really stood out: he hadn't had a lot of reps with these guys, and he responded really well when he had to at the end of the game despite some tough conditions. A lot of guys have a tendency to make mistakes in those situations or go into the tank, but he rose to the occasion.''

He added, "he threw it well inside the pocket, outside the pocket, he pulled it down and ran with it. He's a natural thrower and a very smart player who realizes the opportunity he has here. He knows if he plays well, he can keep the job.''

Gannon, who feels a special kinship for quarterbacks who have to wait a long time for their chance like he did, spent time chatting with Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner about Hoyer.

"Norv is excited from the standpoint that Brian came in and played well despite not having many reps,'' said Gannon. "What got their attention was how he played in that fourth preseason game (in Chicago), when he drove them down at the end to win the game. He's been splitting the second-team reps with Jason Campbell, and they liked what they were seeing.''

He said Hoyer's victory was all the more impressive considering he didn't have a running game in Minnesota.

"They've passed it (145) times and run it 50, which is the highest passing percentage in the league,'' said Gannon.

However, he cautioned that it's just one game, that the Vikings weren't great in the secondary and that Weeden is likely to get another shot.

"I've seen every throw Weeden's made this season,'' said Gannon. "To be fair, his protection was awful and he didn't have Josh Gordon. But he's got to get better. He's got to anticipate things better and he has to take some pace off the ball on the crossing routes and things like that. The thing that bothers me with Weeden is that you've got to see 3-4 plays a game from a quarterback where the conditions aren't perfect and he finds a way to make the play. You just don't see those plays with him, where you say, "wow, that was a heck of a play.'

"But again, he had little protection, they can't run the ball and they had limited talented at the receiver position when he was in there. He got little help from Greg Little, who dropped passes in those games.''

Still, he said, Weeden must step it and fast.

"He must realize he's running out of time,'' said Gannon. "But you've got to be able to fight through the circumstances and play better, by hook or by crook. There's a decent chance he'll get another opportunity to play and when that opportunity comes, he better be ready.''

Conversely, he said Hoyer must do everything possible to keep the job.

"When you look at him from a skillset standpoint, there's no question he can play in the NFL,'' said Gannon. "But whether or not he remains the Browns starter depends on a lot of things. How will the offense around him continue to perform? Injuries play a part. If Hoyer doesn't seize the moment, Weeden will be back in there.''

Hoyer, who wore his St. Ignatius football t-shirt in the locker room on Friday, knows it won't be easy this week against the Bengals' formidable defense. Despite the fact that three key defensive backs are doubtful with hamstring injuries -- starting cornerback in Leon Hall, starting free safety in Reggie Nelson and backup cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick -- Hoyer will go against one of the toughest defensive fronts in the NFL.

It's led by All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins, right end Michael Johnson (11.5 sacks last year) and left end Carlos Dunlap. There's also five-time Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison and middle linebacker Rey Maualuga.

“They’re pretty good,'' said Hoyer. "They have all the players in all the right spots and they have a great scheme. So you have to be on top of your game. Obviously it’s a division game. So this is huge for us and it’s at home. We have to really have a great week of preparation and really study these guys. And when you get out there, read and react because usually they have something they’re going to show you they haven’t shown before.”

But working behind Brady for three seasons, there's not a lot that Hoyer hasn't seen.