Not an Easy Choice at # 9 For Dolphins

Dolphins' top choice might not be so easy

By:Alex Marvez

Published April 28, 2007

Choosing Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn would be a no-brainer.

Penn State left tackle Levi Brown is the next best option when it comes to addressing another problem area.

But what would happen if neither were available when the Dolphins select with the No. 9 pick in today's NFL Draft?

Barring a costly trade up to get either player, General Manager Randy Mueller would face a tough decision.

The selection of Quinn or Brown would provoke little, if any, outrage from Dolphins fans. Quinn would be considered the young quarterback prodigy the Dolphins have lacked since Dan Marino's arrival in 1983, while Brown would fill a big need.

Drafting someone else could create more second-guessing than any other move since Mueller and coach Cam Cameron began gutting the team's roster this offseason.

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, only two quarterbacks and two left tackles are considered worthy of being top-10 picks. And two of them -- Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell and Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas -- aren't going to last beyond the top five. Quinn and Brown could then be gone shortly after.

Quinn's stock may be rising in Cleveland, which could be reticent to choose Adrian Peterson at No. 3 because of concerns about the Oklahoma running back's shoulder. Brown is expected to draw a long look from two other tackle-deficient teams: Arizona (No. 5) and Atlanta (No. 8).

Without Quinn or Brown, the Dolphins would consider addressing quarterback and left tackle later in the draft, and tackling another need first.

On the surface, Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn Jr. seems the front-runner because:

Mueller said he wants to increase the team's speed, and there is no receiver prospect faster than Ginn, who runs the 40-yard dash in the 4.3-second range. While with Seattle and New Orleans, Mueller played a major role in bringing speedsters Joey Galloway (1995) and Donte' Stallworth (2002) to those clubs.

The Dolphins lost one wideout this offseason by trading Wes Welker to New England, and they now have three-year starter Marty Booker on the trading block.

With Welker gone, the team needs a returner, and Ginn excelled at OSU with eight touchdowns on punts and kickoffs. Even if Ginn needs time to develop as a receiver as some predict, he could contribute immediately on special teams as Chicago's Devin Hester did with his NFL-record seven scores in 2006.

St. Louis was considered a strong candidate to draft Ginn. But by trading with Kansas City for wide receiver/returner Dante Hall on Thursday, the Rams may believe Ginn won't be around when they select at No. 13.

Ginn has allies inside Dolphins headquarters, which he visited last week. Wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie, whose son Brian is a Buckeyes receiver, conducted Ginn's workout with Mueller and Cameron in attendance.

Receiver Chris Chambers is a childhood friend who has said he would love to tutor Ginn.

And Cameron first met Ginn as a teenager while still coach at Indiana.

"I've always been impressed with him," Cameron said. Still, the Dolphins may be wary of taking Ginn so early because he is considered raw as a receiver and there are concerns about a foot injury in January's national championship game. The Dolphins also might have Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem, Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis or defensive ends Adam Carriker of Nebraska and Jamaal Anderson of Arkansas ranked higher.

But passing on Ginn for Meachem will raise eyebrows, while choosing a defensive player won't be a popular move for a team with so many holes on offense.

Trent Green to Dolphins Officially Done

Although the Dolphins added six second-day draft picks to their roster Sunday, the bigger news concerned the player who still isn't headed to South Florida as was expected.The Dolphins and Kansas City failed to consummate a trade for Trent Green, leaving it uncertain when -- or if -- the quarterback will be arriving to the team where he wants to play.
During an ESPN interview Sunday, Chiefs President/General Manager Carl Peterson continued to espouse a hard-line stance in negotiations when the Dolphins refused to trade their fourth-round pick to Kansas City for Green. Peterson then rejected the Dolphins' offer of a sixth-round selection, agent Jim Steiner said."There have been negotiations ongoing for quite some time," Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller said. "Obviously, we don't have a deal. To go back and forth about what was [discussed], you don't have enough paper. Trust me. We're carrying on. We both have our plans and will move on from this point."Said Steiner: "We're going to try and address this in the next few days and see where we're going with it."The Dolphins instead used their fourth-round selection on Utah nose guard Paul Soliai, then added two sixth-round picks (Hawaii fullback Reagan Mauia and Central Michigan center/guard Drew Mormino) and three seventh-rounders in Syracuse linebacker Kelvin Smith, Michigan State punter Brandon Fields and Colorado defensive end/outside linebacker Abraham Wright."We don't have any intention on releasing [Green] or letting him go for something that's not of value," Peterson said. "He's more valuable to us right now than probably anything that Miami or anybody else can do."Peterson even went so far as to say that Green is his team's starting quarterback "right now.""He's been a marvelous performer for us both on and off the field," said Peterson, whose team acquired Green in 2001. "He's been our leader. He's healthy. He's ready to play."But barring a willingness to carry a projected reserve at a $7.2 million base salary in 2007, Green still ultimately appears headed to the Dolphins whether by trade or after being released.Damon Huard, who started eight games last season in place of an injured Green (concussion), was re-signed to a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension in February. Chiefs coach Herman Edwards also has said he wants to give additional practice snaps to second-year quarterback Brodie Croyle in hopes he can develop into a starter.Because that would leave Green as a third-stringer, the Chiefs allowed him to shop his services elsewhere last month. The Dolphins quickly emerged as the leading suitor because Green would likely become the team's starting quarterback and has long-standing relationships with head coach Cam Cameron and quarterbacks coach Terry Shea.Green has even worked out a restructured contract.Without Green, the Dolphins will have three quarterbacks -- Cleo Lemon, Gibran Hamdan and second-round pick John Beck -- participating in this weekend's minicamp. Cameron said he didn't expect Daunte Culpepper to practice as he continues recovering from last November's knee surgery.In an e-mail sent last week to some South Florida media members, Culpepper said he will "begin to ease into" more extensive rehabilitation starting Tuesday after not receiving medical clearance to participate in a minicamp held two weeks ago."I'm going to trust his judgment along with the medical staff," said Cameron, whose team is expected to release or trade Culpepper later this offseason. "He will not step on the field until he's 100 percent healthy."Even without acquiring Green, the Dolphins continued to bolster their offense Sunday after selecting four offensive players (Beck, Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., center Samson Satele and running back Lorenzo Booker) on the draft's first day. Mauia is a 272-pound fullback who is projected to backup free-agent acquisition Cory Schlesinger, while Mormino will try to land a roster spot as a reserve interior lineman.Soliai, Smith and Wright also will be vying for roster spots as backups, while Fields is considered the front-runner to replace the departed Donnie Jones (St. Louis)."Today was a big day to fill specific needs," Mueller said. "I think we were able to do that and find some specific skill sets that match what the coaches want on both sides of the ball."

I am extremely Hapy this happened he would of been a temporary fix for at most 2 years. The Dolphins still have Culpepper and they drafted beck so im happy. Hopefully beck or culpepper pan out

Dolphins Draft Grade

Overall Grade: B

This draft was started with what we all expected Jamarcus Russel being the #1 pick but everything went out of hand after that. Lions Select Calvin Johnson their 4th receiver in 5 years and the browns take Joe Thomas in stead of their hometown boy Brady Quinn who they would eventually get through a trade. Then comes the dolphins pick everybody was expecting Quinn but we passed on him For the WR from Ohio State...

Ted Ginn, Jr. WR Ohio State
Grade:B-
This pick was not a great pick but it was a good pick, the dolphins passed on possibly a franchise QB in Brady Quinn but we got an ok receiver and amazing punt/kick returner. He has tremendous upside and if Chris Chambers can teach him how to receive maybe he can turn into a great receiver as well as a returner.

John Beck QB BYU
Grade:A++
With passing up Quinn in the first round the dolphins needed some type of QB for an insurance policy to Cleo Lemons and Daunte Culpepper. He is one of the most pro ready quarter backs in this draft and the dolphins will test this in the upcoming season, as he competes for the starting job. He has great accuracy but his power has been questioned but it is adequate. Hopefully a good pick for the Dolphins in a few years.

Sanson Satele C Hawaii
Grade:B+
A very versatile lineman that has played every position in his days at hawaii. He is also very durable playing 53 straight games almost a division 1 record. He will probably start this season at guard with the Dolphins Dismal Offensive line. He could be one of the dolphins best offensive linemen for years to come but it all depends on how he wants to perform.

Rounds 3-7 coming soon

By:Yboord028

Quinn Manifesto

Seriously enough is enough!

You do NOT spend your life evaluating QB's. Just because the ESPN "so called experts" say Brady Quinn is a 1st round talent means absolutely nothing.

We got our QB of the future and that is all that matters.

Some numbers
John Beck:2006 69.3% 3885 yards 32 tds 8 int 169.1 passer rating

Brady Quinn:2006 61.9% 3426 yards 37 tds 7 int 146.65 passer rating

So I still don't get it.... for all you stats lovers who are so in love with Brady Quinn.

Next Ill give you one more from BYU

3,902 yards 33 tds 71.3%

For those who don't recognize the numbers, this is Steve Young (Pro-bowler, Hall of famer also from BYU with "no competition").

Next for poor Ginn... hated before he even touches a ball because of who he is NOT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmbbPKL3uc

Nuff said. WATCH THE ENTIRE THING OR DO NOT POST!

So seriously, get over yourselves. There is no logic to state WHY Brady Quinn is so high and mighty and John Beck is a bust or a horrible QB. If you are going by Stats (which I admit means nothing) then they are pretty similar. Oh Beck actually WON the big game.... funny how that is. Also funny how Cameron interviewed Quinn half a dozen times and STILL picked Ginn over him. Also funny how 22 OTHER TEAMS also passed on him.... you're right. Miami is stupid. If they drafted Quinn and he was a bust it would be "Waaaaaaaaaaa always the same, we drafted a QB who was a bust.. I KNEW he would be a bust" and we'd never hear the end of it.

Seriously buckle up, sit back and enjoy the new regime who will actually take us places.

By:StayOnBoard