Here’s what new Dolphins quarterback David Garrard had to say in his conference call Tuesday afternoon:
He said he was told he will be given a chance to compete with Matt Moore for the starting job: “They said it will be a competition. A competition is great for everybody. That is what was presented to me. I wouldn’t expect anything else.”
On his health, after missing last season with a back injury: “I’m perfect. I feel great, I’m 100 percent, ready to roll.”
On whether the team will add another quarterback: “They didn’t talk much about it. I’m sure they’re always looking at different positions.” But he said Monday that the Dolphins said “it’s a possibility they could add another quarterback, whether in the draft or whatever.”
Impressions of Joe Philbin and the Dolphins: “They were great. Coach Philbin is a great mind, a great coach. He really understands what it takes to put together a great team. He had a great vision, a great purpose. Everything he said, I felt was already in my head. You can look at his history, and hopefully that can continue.”
On Steelers safety Ryan Clark saying no player wants to play for the Dolphins: “I’m not sure why Ryan Clark would say that. Maybe he just had some hard feelings for Miami. It’s unfortunate any player would dog another [team] like that. That shouldn’t happen in the NFL.”
He said the team “definitely” will run a West Coast offense “and that offense is right up my alley. I was in that when Byron Leftwich was the starting quarterback [for Jacksonville]. It is perfect for me. I love getting the ball out of my hands fast, moving in the pocket, bootlegging. The style and scheme they are doing is going to be great. A lot of the terminology is similar to what I was already running. It’s not all the same but a lot of it is. It’s going to be a smooth transition. It’s great that it’s already familiar to me.”
He decided not to visit the Rams “because the Rams already have a guy in place there. Not that I discounted being a solid backup. [But] I wanted to give another shot at being able to at least compete for a job and giving myself a chance to start somewhere. I feel I still have that ability. It’s still in Florida. It’s a great organization.”
How much does he feel like he has something to prove? “I don’t know that I have anything to prove. I proved a lot of things as a starting quarterback. I want to go further than I’ve ever had before. I want to have a shot at winning the championship.
I have a number of years left in me, and I wanted to make sure I left this game with no questions.”
On his outlook: “I’m just excited to be in Miami. It’s a great opportunity for me and the organization and city…. I know [Dolphins GM Jeff] Ireland is going to do some things moving forward with the team.”
On why he passed up signing with Miami last October after Chad Henne’s injury: “Last year, I was having the first stages of having my herniated disc. I didn’t know what was going on. I had a little treatment. My leg was really starting to bother me. I was starting to get myself kind of healthy. It continued to get worse. I knew by the time the Dolphins were calling, I wasn’t feeling good. I didn’t find out until a couple weeks later that I herniated my disc.”
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He said he was told he will be given a chance to compete with Matt Moore for the starting job: “They said it will be a competition. A competition is great for everybody. That is what was presented to me. I wouldn’t expect anything else.”
On his health, after missing last season with a back injury: “I’m perfect. I feel great, I’m 100 percent, ready to roll.”
On whether the team will add another quarterback: “They didn’t talk much about it. I’m sure they’re always looking at different positions.” But he said Monday that the Dolphins said “it’s a possibility they could add another quarterback, whether in the draft or whatever.”
Impressions of Joe Philbin and the Dolphins: “They were great. Coach Philbin is a great mind, a great coach. He really understands what it takes to put together a great team. He had a great vision, a great purpose. Everything he said, I felt was already in my head. You can look at his history, and hopefully that can continue.”
On Steelers safety Ryan Clark saying no player wants to play for the Dolphins: “I’m not sure why Ryan Clark would say that. Maybe he just had some hard feelings for Miami. It’s unfortunate any player would dog another [team] like that. That shouldn’t happen in the NFL.”
He said the team “definitely” will run a West Coast offense “and that offense is right up my alley. I was in that when Byron Leftwich was the starting quarterback [for Jacksonville]. It is perfect for me. I love getting the ball out of my hands fast, moving in the pocket, bootlegging. The style and scheme they are doing is going to be great. A lot of the terminology is similar to what I was already running. It’s not all the same but a lot of it is. It’s going to be a smooth transition. It’s great that it’s already familiar to me.”
He decided not to visit the Rams “because the Rams already have a guy in place there. Not that I discounted being a solid backup. [But] I wanted to give another shot at being able to at least compete for a job and giving myself a chance to start somewhere. I feel I still have that ability. It’s still in Florida. It’s a great organization.”
How much does he feel like he has something to prove? “I don’t know that I have anything to prove. I proved a lot of things as a starting quarterback. I want to go further than I’ve ever had before. I want to have a shot at winning the championship.
I have a number of years left in me, and I wanted to make sure I left this game with no questions.”
On his outlook: “I’m just excited to be in Miami. It’s a great opportunity for me and the organization and city…. I know [Dolphins GM Jeff] Ireland is going to do some things moving forward with the team.”
On why he passed up signing with Miami last October after Chad Henne’s injury: “Last year, I was having the first stages of having my herniated disc. I didn’t know what was going on. I had a little treatment. My leg was really starting to bother me. I was starting to get myself kind of healthy. It continued to get worse. I knew by the time the Dolphins were calling, I wasn’t feeling good. I didn’t find out until a couple weeks later that I herniated my disc.”
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...t-fins-offense-perfect-fit.html#storylink=cpy
