http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2007/04/dolphins_qb_carousel_the_saga.html
Because David Carr signed with the Carolina Panthers , the Dolphins have been left with one fewer potential option at quarterback.
No, Cleo Lemon is not a legitimate option to back up Daunte Culpepper, either.
The Dolphins do have other options to solidify the quarterback position, though. Here are several of them:
Trade for Trent Green:
While this remains the most obvious option for the Dolphins, the situation has taken a turn for the worse. With Carr no longer available, Culpepper coming along slowly and the Cleveland Browns becoming more and more interested in Green, the latter's value is rising. A week ago, Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller probably could have convinced Kansas City Chiefs G.M. Carl Peterson to unload Green for a fifth-round pick. After the above-mentioned recent developments, Mueller could be at the mercy of Peterson if the Dolphins still want Green. Considering Green's age and shaky health, his price tag may be too high for the Dolphins. Nonetheless, Green is definitely the most lucrative QB available.
Draft or trade up for Brady Quinn:
This is definitely an option, especially if the Browns do actually end up with Green. If that happened the Browns would almost certainly pass up selecting Quinn with the third overall pick in this month's draft, setting up the possible scenario of Quinn slipping all the way to the Dolphins' ninth selection. Even if Quinn didn't fall quite that far the Dolphins would still have an easier time trading up to draft him. Quinn is an intriguing option because of his age and ability. Green would undoubtedly be a short-term solution, while Quinn could potentially be the solution. Drafting the most highly touted Dolphins QB since Dan Marino would also re-energize the fan base.
Sign a free-agent QB with extensive starting experience to a one-year deal:
There are only two quarterbacks like that available -- Aaron Brooks and Drew Bledsoe. Brooks' physical prowess trumps Bledsoe's, but Bledsoe is definitely the better player from the neck up. Either player would be a viable backup option for one year and could also be used as leverage in the Green negotiations with Kansas City. Certainly neither of these guys are the most attractive option to Dolphins fans, but if Culpepper goes down these are the only two free-agent QBs who can be trusted to lead a playoff-caliber team. Still, this would be strictly an emergency plan.
Whether the Dolphins choose one of these options to bolster the quarterback position or manage to figure out an entirely different solution, the front office needs to act quickly. It's hard to buy the recent media speculation that Mueller's best option is to wait and let something fall in his lap. Mueller knows he can't just sit complacently with Culpepper. He already lost his chance to get a new Carr. Soon it may be too late to bring in Green or Quinn. Then the Dolphins would be stuck with Bledsoe, Brooks or worse yet -- a Lemon.
Because David Carr signed with the Carolina Panthers , the Dolphins have been left with one fewer potential option at quarterback.
No, Cleo Lemon is not a legitimate option to back up Daunte Culpepper, either.
The Dolphins do have other options to solidify the quarterback position, though. Here are several of them:
Trade for Trent Green:
While this remains the most obvious option for the Dolphins, the situation has taken a turn for the worse. With Carr no longer available, Culpepper coming along slowly and the Cleveland Browns becoming more and more interested in Green, the latter's value is rising. A week ago, Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller probably could have convinced Kansas City Chiefs G.M. Carl Peterson to unload Green for a fifth-round pick. After the above-mentioned recent developments, Mueller could be at the mercy of Peterson if the Dolphins still want Green. Considering Green's age and shaky health, his price tag may be too high for the Dolphins. Nonetheless, Green is definitely the most lucrative QB available.
Draft or trade up for Brady Quinn:
This is definitely an option, especially if the Browns do actually end up with Green. If that happened the Browns would almost certainly pass up selecting Quinn with the third overall pick in this month's draft, setting up the possible scenario of Quinn slipping all the way to the Dolphins' ninth selection. Even if Quinn didn't fall quite that far the Dolphins would still have an easier time trading up to draft him. Quinn is an intriguing option because of his age and ability. Green would undoubtedly be a short-term solution, while Quinn could potentially be the solution. Drafting the most highly touted Dolphins QB since Dan Marino would also re-energize the fan base.
Sign a free-agent QB with extensive starting experience to a one-year deal:
There are only two quarterbacks like that available -- Aaron Brooks and Drew Bledsoe. Brooks' physical prowess trumps Bledsoe's, but Bledsoe is definitely the better player from the neck up. Either player would be a viable backup option for one year and could also be used as leverage in the Green negotiations with Kansas City. Certainly neither of these guys are the most attractive option to Dolphins fans, but if Culpepper goes down these are the only two free-agent QBs who can be trusted to lead a playoff-caliber team. Still, this would be strictly an emergency plan.
Whether the Dolphins choose one of these options to bolster the quarterback position or manage to figure out an entirely different solution, the front office needs to act quickly. It's hard to buy the recent media speculation that Mueller's best option is to wait and let something fall in his lap. Mueller knows he can't just sit complacently with Culpepper. He already lost his chance to get a new Carr. Soon it may be too late to bring in Green or Quinn. Then the Dolphins would be stuck with Bledsoe, Brooks or worse yet -- a Lemon.
