SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Brian Hoyer insists he isn't spending any time worrying about whether the 49ers and coach Kyle Shanahan are trying to acquire Kirk Cousins.
"I know he knows Kirk, he drafted him in Washington," the presumptive 49ers starting quarterback said Friday in a press conference at Levi's Stadium. "I signed a two-year deal, but I was really focused on the excitement of flying out here, meeting these guys and seeing what we can do this year. You look beyond that and you're doing yourself a disservice."
By league rule, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch can't discuss Cousins because he is under contract to another team. Cousins, who played for Shanahan in Washington in 2012-13, signed his franchise tender at one-year for $23.9 million and reports indicate he would like to join the 49ers, if not this year by trade than next year as a free agent.
Hoyer, 31, is working to reacquaint himself with the system Shanahan ran when the two were together in Cleveland in 2014. He is the quarterback of the 49ers until told otherwise.
"When we got to the point where we were going to do the deal and I felt comfortable with it, I'm not going to worry about it because it's out of my control," Hoyer said. "I have familiarity with the system, I'm going to refresh myself. When we start off in April, I can help these guys."
Shanahan said pursuing Hoyer was a no-brainer given their background together. With Hoyer as quarterback and Shanahan as the offensive coordinator, the Browns started the season 6-3 and Hoyer finished 7-6 on a team with marginal talent on both sides of the ball.
"It always starts with the tape, and anyone who studies tape on Brian wherever he's been, he's done a great job," Shanahan said. "Being able to work with him for the year that I did, that means I knew him. The advantage of having been with someone is you know what type of guy they are. To know the tape, to know the person, that's why I was glad we were able to get him."
Hoyer spent his first three seasons with New England as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State. He played well for the Chicago Bears last season before breaking his left arm and led Houston to the playoffs in 2015 before having a poor wild card game.
"When you enter the league as an undrafted free agent, there's a lot to prove," Hoyer said. "I have a lot of confidence in myself. Unfortunately every time something's gone well, there's been an injury or a bad game here or there. You put it behind you and keep fighting. That's why I'm sitting here as an undrafted player in my ninth year with a chance to be quarterback for this team.
"I feel like we had some unfinished business from Cleveland, we didn't get a full year. He talked about knowing the type of guy I am. I know the type of guy he is too."
