Green is finally a Dolphin, but QB questions persist

By Hugo Guzman  |   Wednesday, June 06, 2007  |  Comments( 18 )

Miami Dolphins
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A wise man once said that if you have two quarterbacks competing for the starting spot, then you don't really have a quarterback at all. Sadly for the Miami Dolphins, that is the scenario they now find themselves in.

The Dolphins traded away a conditional fifth-round pick (it could turn into a fourth-rounder) in exchange for Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Trent Green on Tuesday. The acquisition of the 36-year-old passer brings Miami's quarterback tally to five. (Second-year QB Gibran Hamdan can't be feeling too good about his chances of making the 53-man roster.)

Assuming that second-round rookie John Beck will assume an apprentice role and that Cleo Lemon is entrenched as a reserve, Green's only competition for the starting job is Daunte Culpepper. But for how long?

Culpepper, who was given medical clearance by the Dolphins on the same day that Green was acquired, has already intimated that he is not upset by the team's decision to acquire Green and that he will not ask to be traded or released. Instead, the eight-year veteran has taken the high road by asserting that he is looking forward to competing with his elder counterpart for the starting duties.

But a healthy attitude and medical clearance may not be enough to keep Culpepper in Miami. After all, Green has a hefty cap number, Lemon was just re-signed to a one-year extension and Beck is virtually assured a spot on the roster. So barring a significant contract restructuring, Culpepper seems to be the odd man out.

Still, there is an outside chance that Culpepper will remain on the roster and compete for the No. 1 role. And that scenario leads us to a proverbial fork in the road. Here's what that means.

Fork No. 1: If Culpepper stays, does that mean Lemon will be cut? Most teams carry only three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.

Fork No. 2: If Culpepper is cut, will Lemon assume the second-string duties, or will Beck take that spot?

Fork No. 3: If Culpepper stays, is it possible that the Dolphins will keep four quarterbacks on the roster -- Green, Culpepper, Lemon and Beck?

Fork No. 4: If Culpepper is cut and Green eventually succumbs to his concussion issues, who will assume the starting duties? And if Beck is thrust into that role, will the rookie be ready to shoulder the load?

Although some of these scenarios might seem outlandish at best, they serve to emphasize the muddled mess that is the Dolphins' quarterback situation. Green, when healthy, is a solid player, but his acquisition did little to clear the air.

Miami's fans should hope that over the coming weeks and months, one of these QBs will finally put an end to all these seemingly unending questions. If not, get ready for another long and frustrating season, Dolphin fans.

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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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CommentsComments: 18  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
YOYO		08:43 AM
06/06/2007
Culpepper just needs to be cut. Why spend all that time getting Green if you are not planning to have him start at QB? I wish...
No.2
Chris Fulbright		08:58 AM
06/06/2007
Let's just have a good old fashioned q-back competition. Usually, competition will raise everyones game to a new level and if it...
No.3
C-Note		09:09 AM
06/06/2007
I am so not impressd this is such a bad move Culpepper should be given more time to prove himself we're not exactly going to...
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