The Green Bay Packers, who were also exploring a trade for Bears quarterback Cade McNown, were awarded Patriots quarterback Michael Bishop on Monday in a waiver claim.

The Dolphins placed a claim on him Saturday. Because the Packers had a worse record than the Dolphins, the Packers were given Bishop's rights.

"He's excited to be a Packer and work in an offense with Brett Favre," said his agent, Michael Lartigue.

Bishop met with the Patriots coaching staff last week about his status as the team's fourth quarterback after Tom Brady had moved ahead of him. To give him a chance to catch on with another team, the Patriots released him.

The Packers have been looking to increase competition for the backup job to Favre. On Tuesday, the Packers released Billy Joe Tolliver, who had been battling Doug Pederson for the backup job.

Bishop was a former seventh-round choice of the Patriots. He has thrown nine passes during his NFL career, completing three.

Where does this leave Bears quarterback McNown? In Chicago. The Packers pulled out of trade negotiations over the week, leaving the Dolphins as the only team willing to make a deal for McNown. The Dolphins are offering a seventh-round draft choice. The Bears want a fourth-rounder.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.