Mr. Laz
04-16-2007, 10:18 AM
Posted on Mon, Apr. 16, 2007
http://www.miamiherald.com/614/story/75289.html
DOLPHINS
Another QB scramble for Dolphins
Quarterback Daunte Culpepper will be gone, either via trade or release, as Kansas City's Trent Green is pursued, Dolphins sources said.
The continuing face-lift to the Dolphins roster is about to undergo its biggest nip and tuck yet when quarterback Daunte Culpepper is either traded or released in the coming months.
Even as the Dolphins continue working toward acquiring not one but two quarterbacks before April is out, Culpepper's days with the team have become numbered, according to those within the organization with knowledge of the situation.
The Dolphins are still trying to acquire Trent Green from Kansas City, and although there is no timetable for that to happen, it is likely some movement will happen by the April 28-29 draft.
The Dolphins also hope to pick a quarterback in that draft, with general manager Randy Mueller saying Sunday he believes the 2007 quarterback draft class is, ''a good group,'' and that ``five or six guys are first-day worthy.''
Aside from coveting Notre Dame's Brady Quinn, who likely will not be available when Miami picks at No. 9 in the first round, the Dolphins like Michigan State's Drew Stanton and Stanford's Trent Edwards, although both have durability or injury questions. The Dolphins are also interested in East Carolina's James Pinkney.
The jettisoning of Culpepper has no timetable, although it would be quickened by the Green acquisition. The reasons?
HEALTH AN ISSUE
The Dolphins have no confidence Culpepper will be completely healthy soon. It has been 18 months since he ruptured three ligaments in his right knee while playing for Minnesota and more than four months since he had a second, apparently significant surgery on the knee.
Culpepper was not cleared to participate in the three-day minicamp completed Sunday, and although he is confident he will eventually be healthy, he could make no guarantee he would be ready by the start of training camp in July.
''I expect to be ready when I'm healthy and I feel 100 percent,'' Culpepper said Friday. ``That's when I'll be ready.''
That's a problem for Miami because the team does not intend to wait forever for a healthy starting quarterback.
Culpepper's last game was Oct. 1 against Houston when he went 23 of 39 for 249 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in a 17-15 loss. He played only four games last season for the Dolphins and was sacked 21 times, a statistic for which his immobility was partially responsible.
Another problem with keeping Culpepper is that his presence would make for a crowded quarterback situation -- one with obvious tension -- if and when Green and a rookie are added.
The Dolphins are likely to try to trade Culpepper before cutting their loses and releasing him, but it is uncertain what, if any, value the player would have on the trade market.
Culpepper is scheduled to count $6.8 million against Miami's salary cap this season. But if the team releases him it will not have to pay his $5.5 million base salary, which would come off the Dolphins' cap number. The Dolphins would still have to pay the prorated portion of his guaranteed money for at least this year and possibly the remaining six years of his contract depending on when they designate him for release.
OTHER CONCERNS
About the only way the Dolphins are likely to stick with Culpepper beyond this offseason is if he enjoys a miraculous return to health in the next few weeks. Such a recovery would give Miami pause about its current plans, although it would not address the issue of locker room harmony with Green and Culpepper eyeing the starting job.
The movement at quarterback is not the only issue Mueller and coach Cam Cameron will address the next couple of weeks.
The team has all but decided to part ways with defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson. His number 95 was given to first-year tackle Chase Page during the weekend minicamp, and there has been no attempt to talk to the player lately.
Mueller said Sunday he was not certain whether Wilkinson wanted to play or not, but the point is probably moot. The Dolphins are likely to try to trade Wilkinson if he decides he wants to play.
They traded him to Denver this offseason, but it was rescinded when Wilkinson did not report for his physical.
The Dolphins also have yet to decide whether to match the offer sheet punter Donnie Jones signed Friday. Jones signed a five-year, $5.585 million offer with the Rams, and Miami has until Friday to match the offer or get a seventh-round pick in return for Jones.
''Cam and I haven't had a chance to sit down and make a decision on that,'' Mueller said. ``We've talked about it for only two minutes before [meeting with the media Sunday.] We'll make that decision in the next couple of days.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/614/story/75289.html
DOLPHINS
Another QB scramble for Dolphins
Quarterback Daunte Culpepper will be gone, either via trade or release, as Kansas City's Trent Green is pursued, Dolphins sources said.
The continuing face-lift to the Dolphins roster is about to undergo its biggest nip and tuck yet when quarterback Daunte Culpepper is either traded or released in the coming months.
Even as the Dolphins continue working toward acquiring not one but two quarterbacks before April is out, Culpepper's days with the team have become numbered, according to those within the organization with knowledge of the situation.
The Dolphins are still trying to acquire Trent Green from Kansas City, and although there is no timetable for that to happen, it is likely some movement will happen by the April 28-29 draft.
The Dolphins also hope to pick a quarterback in that draft, with general manager Randy Mueller saying Sunday he believes the 2007 quarterback draft class is, ''a good group,'' and that ``five or six guys are first-day worthy.''
Aside from coveting Notre Dame's Brady Quinn, who likely will not be available when Miami picks at No. 9 in the first round, the Dolphins like Michigan State's Drew Stanton and Stanford's Trent Edwards, although both have durability or injury questions. The Dolphins are also interested in East Carolina's James Pinkney.
The jettisoning of Culpepper has no timetable, although it would be quickened by the Green acquisition. The reasons?
HEALTH AN ISSUE
The Dolphins have no confidence Culpepper will be completely healthy soon. It has been 18 months since he ruptured three ligaments in his right knee while playing for Minnesota and more than four months since he had a second, apparently significant surgery on the knee.
Culpepper was not cleared to participate in the three-day minicamp completed Sunday, and although he is confident he will eventually be healthy, he could make no guarantee he would be ready by the start of training camp in July.
''I expect to be ready when I'm healthy and I feel 100 percent,'' Culpepper said Friday. ``That's when I'll be ready.''
That's a problem for Miami because the team does not intend to wait forever for a healthy starting quarterback.
Culpepper's last game was Oct. 1 against Houston when he went 23 of 39 for 249 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in a 17-15 loss. He played only four games last season for the Dolphins and was sacked 21 times, a statistic for which his immobility was partially responsible.
Another problem with keeping Culpepper is that his presence would make for a crowded quarterback situation -- one with obvious tension -- if and when Green and a rookie are added.
The Dolphins are likely to try to trade Culpepper before cutting their loses and releasing him, but it is uncertain what, if any, value the player would have on the trade market.
Culpepper is scheduled to count $6.8 million against Miami's salary cap this season. But if the team releases him it will not have to pay his $5.5 million base salary, which would come off the Dolphins' cap number. The Dolphins would still have to pay the prorated portion of his guaranteed money for at least this year and possibly the remaining six years of his contract depending on when they designate him for release.
OTHER CONCERNS
About the only way the Dolphins are likely to stick with Culpepper beyond this offseason is if he enjoys a miraculous return to health in the next few weeks. Such a recovery would give Miami pause about its current plans, although it would not address the issue of locker room harmony with Green and Culpepper eyeing the starting job.
The movement at quarterback is not the only issue Mueller and coach Cam Cameron will address the next couple of weeks.
The team has all but decided to part ways with defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson. His number 95 was given to first-year tackle Chase Page during the weekend minicamp, and there has been no attempt to talk to the player lately.
Mueller said Sunday he was not certain whether Wilkinson wanted to play or not, but the point is probably moot. The Dolphins are likely to try to trade Wilkinson if he decides he wants to play.
They traded him to Denver this offseason, but it was rescinded when Wilkinson did not report for his physical.
The Dolphins also have yet to decide whether to match the offer sheet punter Donnie Jones signed Friday. Jones signed a five-year, $5.585 million offer with the Rams, and Miami has until Friday to match the offer or get a seventh-round pick in return for Jones.
''Cam and I haven't had a chance to sit down and make a decision on that,'' Mueller said. ``We've talked about it for only two minutes before [meeting with the media Sunday.] We'll make that decision in the next couple of days.''