Green’s just keeping the No. 1 QB spot warm for Beck

By Adam Best  |   Friday, August 03, 2007  |  Comments( 12 )

Miami Dolphins
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Trent Green has already been anointed Miami's starting quarterback for 2007, even if head coach Cam Cameron hasn't outright said as much. Right?

Well, not exactly.

Pundits can point to Green's big contract all they want, but owner Wayne Huizenga doesn't mind spending money when it comes to his Dolphins. The fact that the team is in the top half of the league in salary-cap spending proves as much. Also, the front office knew that bringing in a clean-cut QB like Green, a former Pro Bowler, could only boost ticket sales. As much as a Cameron-Green reunion makes sense (the two were formerly together in Washington) on the football field, the acquisition of the 13-year veteran was also about business.

When Cameron says that there is an open competition for the Dolphins' starting quarterback position, don't chalk it up as just empty rhetoric. Sure, as a coach it's in his best interest to be politically correct and promote competition, but there's more to it than just that.

The Dolphins drafted ex-BYU Cougars QB John Beck 40th overall, just eight picks after the first round concluded, for a reason. You don't burn an early-round choice on a passer unless you plan on making him your quarterback of the future.

The Dolphins have kept veteran Cleo Lemon around for a reason, too. Obviously, Cameron has considerable respect for Lemon dating back to their time together with the San Diego Chargers; if not, the 27-year-old wouldn't still be on the roster. Miami was also high enough on Lemon (and the other two QBs) to hand Daunte Culpepper his walking papers, losing the chance to recoup anything for the former star in the process.

That being said, the Dolphins have three quarterbacks they like. It's foolish to think that Green will be the starter, at least all season long, just because he makes the most bank. Starting Green initially makes a lot of sense, as he's the only QB on the roster with significant NFL No. 1 experience. Green hasn't been all that impressive in camp thus far, though, so penciling him in to start 16 games this season isn't such a good idea. Sometimes the 37-year-old looks great, like when he nailed wide receiver Chris Chambers on a 60-yard bomb on Wednesday. Other times, however, Green looks like Muhammad Ali against Larry Holmes -- an old wash-up propping himself up for both another beating and another paycheck.

Honestly, Lemon hasn't been much worse than Green, and Beck has played well for a rookie. Yes, Green is learning a new system and new players, but so are Beck and Lemon, to a certain degree. Therefore, it's hard to buy that excuse. A veteran of Green's caliber should look much sharper than he has. The only legitimate excuse that has surfaced at this point is Cameron's insistence that his quarterbacks attempt risky throws during training camp -- something he won't tolerate during the regular season.

Green should be the starter on Opening Day, but all bets should be off after. As a head coach you want to give your team the best chance to be victorious, but winning isn't always about winning immediately. If the Dolphins get off to a slow start, which is something many expect, Cameron would be smart to call for Beck. Why try and steal a game here and there when you can prepare your team for consistent winning in the future? The Dolphins surely don't want to throw the team's most promising quarterback prospect since Dan Marino to the wolves, but the training wheels have to come off eventually.

Green could still turn things around and prove lots of people wrong -- hey, it's early. On the other hand, anyone who sees Green as more than a short-term stopgap is delusional, especially given his early play. If the Dolphins and their fans want long-term success, the Beck project may need to launch sooner than later. Should Miami ever make it back to the Super Bowl, it will be Beck, not Green, who takes the team there.

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CommentsComments: 12  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Dave From Canada		08:20 AM
08/03/2007
Thanks for the daily updates makes for interesting reading on the Dolphins. I wish everyone would just STOP with the Green knows...
No.2
Ron		09:46 AM
08/03/2007
Make no mistake, Trent Green is the starter until injury or a team record like the last two years after 6 or 7 games. The...
No.3
Samantha		12:27 PM
08/03/2007
I don't have any problem with those risky balls in practice. If you don't throw them now, when are you going to find out where...
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