Being Tom Brady's backup might be the most anonymous job in all of New England. Nevertheless, the battle to backup Brady has raged through the early weeks of the Patriots training camp. Second-year quarterback Ryan Mallett was once seen as a sure bet to leap Brian Hoyer on the depth chart, but the early reviews have some questioning that prediction.

Tom Curran of CSN New England did not have a positive update on the former University of Arkansas star.

"Ryan Mallett has an opportunity to lay claim to being the heir apparent to Tom Brady, and he just hasn't done it."

The Patriots play their first preseason game on Thursday night against the New Orleans Saints. Mallet and Hoyer should both get plenty of snaps to try and cement their case.

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