Trent Green To Dolphins Iminent?

Trent Green to Miami Dolphins is Imminent

Trent Green told ESPN Sports Radio 810 (WHB-AM) that he has reached a contract agreement with the Miami Dolphins and that communication between the Chiefs and Dolphins has resumed.

The Chiefs have little leverage and they know it. Expect the Chiefs to agree to a conditional draft pick in the 2008 NFL draft. One source told CappersMall.com "the Chiefs will look like complete morons if they get nothing for Green, so they will agree to a conditional 5th round pick if Green should reach certain incentives or a 6th or 7th round pick if incentives are not met."

The Dolphins have all the leverage however they would like to have Green in mini camp as soon as possible. Although Trent Green is very familiar with the offensive scheme Miami will most likely compromise to make this happen sooner rather than later.

Green told ESPN radio, "He wanted to leave Kansas City because the quarterback competition is "heavily weighted" toward having 2006 third-round pick Brodie Croyle win the spot."

Green has pleaded with Peterson and the Chiefs, "In reality, if the Chiefs wanted to be jerks about it, they could drag it all the way until training camp," Green said. "That would hurt no one but me and my family. It would just be a real negative for us in terms of trying to get kids situated, finding a house and finding schools and all the things that families have to do."

Miami would very much like to sign Trent Green to play quarterback while letting second round draft pick John Beck gain experience from the sideline this season. They want to move him along slowly.
The eventual trade of Green to Miami will also signal the end for quarterback Dante Culpepper who will be traded or most likely released.

Other Dolphins News

Dolphins sign 14 college free agents

By Alex Marvez
Sun-Sentinel.com Posted
May 4 2007, 11:14 AM EDT


DAVIE – The Dolphins announced the signing today of 14 college free agents that are participating in this weekend's minicamp.Those players are defensive end Bruce Mkristo (Washington State), defensive tackle Marquay Love (Houston), linebacker Edmond Miles (Iowa), cornerbacks Tuff Harris (Montana) and Geoff Pope (Howard), guards Tala Esera (Hawaii) and Stephen Parker (Arkansas), tackles Marion Dukes (Clemson) and Julius Wilson (Alabama-Birmingham), safeties Courtney Bryan (New Mexico State) and Chris Vedder (San Jose State), and wide receivers Gabe Hatchett (Oregon State), Kerry Reed (Michigan State) and David Sutton (Texas-El Paso).
Sam Houston State wide receiver Michael Malone is one of five college free agents receiving a tryout. He is the son of NBA Hall of Fame center Moses Malone.The other tryout players are wide receiver Charles Futrell (North Carolina Central), long snapper Jake Weber (Illinois State), punter Cameron Muro (Hampton) and safety David Lofton (Stanford). Lofton is the son of San Diego Chargers wide receivers coach James Lofton, a 16-year Hall of Fame inductee who was the first player in league history with 14,000 career receiving yards.The Dolphins also selected 10 players in last weekend's draft, although first-round draft choice Ted Ginn Jr. isn't participating in this minicamp as the Ohio State wide receiver recovers from a sprained foot.


Cameron has easier time at awards banquet

By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 4 2007


DAVIE · Five days after being booed by angry fans during a draft party at the Dolphins' indoor practice facility for selecting Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn instead of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in the first round, coach Cam Cameron returned to the scene at Thursday's awards banquet.This time, the audience, mostly consisting of season-ticket holders, current and past players, greeted him with polite applause each time he was introduced.
"This is probably only the second or third time I've been in here, but to be honest with you, after tonight I'm starting to warm up to it a little bit more," Cameron joked in his speech.Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller, who didn't speak at the draft-day public relations nightmare, also joked about the friendlier greeting."I'm glad to see we have a little more hospitable crowd than the last time we gathered here," Mueller said. "I'd like to thank Coach Cameron for letting me come up here first this time just to make sure everything was all right."The audience also gave warm receptions to injured quarterback Daunte Culpepper, as well as Ginn, quarterback John Beck, a second-round pick, and running back Lorenzo Booker, chosen in the third round, when they were introduced among the 10-deep draft class.Ginn didn't have a protective boot on his sprained left foot Thursday as ESPN.com has reported. However, a source confirmed that the injury, which will keep him out of this weekend's minicamp, is what is known as a midfoot Lisfranc (ligament) sprain and most likely will have to be immobilized next week.Plantation orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Linn agreed with Mueller's recent assessment that Ginn, barring any reaggravation of the injury, should be fine by July's training camp."Depending on the severity of the sprain, it probably needs to be immobilized, and by training camp, which would be about six to seven months since the injury occurred, he should be ready," Linn said. "It's not unusual to take this long to heal."According to the American Family Physician Web site, Lisfranc joint injuries "are rare, complex and often misdiagnosed" and can range from mild sprains to fracture dislocation.Cameron thanked wide receiver Chris Chambers for not making any Super Bowl predictions this year, and said it was former Dolphins coach Don Shula who recently drilled into him the value of character and work ethic when building a championship team.
CHIP OFF ...
The Dolphins signed 10 undrafted free agents this week, including Sam Houston State wide receiver Michael Malone, the son of Hall of Fame NBA center Moses Malone....Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell and quarterback Cleo Lemon, both unsigned restricted free agents, will sign waivers to participate in minicamp.
Taylor IS TEAM MVP
Dolphins Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor, the reigning Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, won the team MVP and leadership awards named for Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino and Shula, respectively.Safety Renaldo Hill received the Nat Moore Community Service award for repeatedly giving back to children and people in need through his South Florida Top of the Hill Foundation. His brother Ray Hill won the same award in 1999.The leadership award is decided by the players, while the MVP award is determined by votes from the South Florida media. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel does not participate in awards voting.

Culpeppers Health is Improving

Dolphins' Culpepper says he's improving

By Harvey Fialkov
Sun-Sentinel.com
Posted May 4 2007, 3:36 PM EDT


DAVIE -- Rookie quarterback John Beck's first day on the job was overshadowed by incumbent starter Daunte Culpepper declaring that he expects to participate in next month's minicamp and that his surgically repaired knee should be 100 percent healed by training camp in late July."I feel very excited that maybe coming back at the next minicamp in June (8-10), that's going to be a great stepping stone for me being 100 percent for training camp,'' said Culpepper, who spent most of the morning session on the stationary bicycle. "There's no swelling in the knee, and that's a blessing.''
The current trio of healthy Dolphins quarterbacks - Beck, Gibran Hamdan and Cleo Lemon - have one NFL start between them. Despite the imminent arrival of Chiefs veteran quarterback Trent Green, Culpepper is confident that when he's healthy, he'll be starting – somewhere."When I'm healthy, I'm an elite quarterback in this league,'' he said.Culpepper tore three ligaments in his right knee in October 2005 while with the Minnesota Vikings. He was ineffective as the Dolphins' starter in the first four games last season before sustaining a knee cap injury, which required further surgery in November 2006.Beck, who is being groomed as the future starting quarterback, had problems dealing with the speed of the Dolphins defense, and allowed the 40-second play clock to expire twice. He did show off a strong throwing arm in 7-on-7 drills."He learned what most of them learn right away,'' Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said of Beck. "He let the clock run out twice. That clock is a major factor, major difference with guys coming out of college and he was shocked that happened."He'll get that corrected. Like all young guys, it's a process.''

Problems With The Pats

Put a lid on it, Tom! But please, make it a Sox lid
By Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa
Thursday, May 3, 2007 - Updated: 01:31 PM EST

Say it ain’t so, Tom! The ever-vigilant paparazzi snapped New England Patriots [team stats] QB/QT Tom Brady [stats] sashaying through the streets of New York City yesterday shamelessly sporting a New York Yankees cap! Tom and his galpal, soon to be ex-Victoria’s Secret model Gisele Bundchen, were strolling hand-in-hand in the West Village when he was snapped committing the horrid topper transgression. Red Sox [team stats] Nation was shocked and appalled and - as is our way - making excuses for the Bronx Bombers blasphemy. “We know that Tom has an array of Red Sox caps from which to choose,” said team spokesguy Dr. Charles Steinberg. “But we fully respect that he needed to wear a suitable disguise for his own health and protection. We don’t doubt that he’s a card-carrying member of Red Sox Nation.”
Perhaps Tom was wearing the hat as a sympathy gesture. Alex Rodriguez & Co. are, after all, in last place. But avid Brady Bunchers know this isn’t the first time No. 12 has committed the ultimate in homer heresy. We told you way back in 2003 that Tom was sporting a Pinstripes lid when our ever-vigilant spies spotted him fueling up at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Foxboro. At the time, the excuse was that it was a gesture of solidarity with then-Yankees rookie Drew Henson, who, like Tom, is a former quarterback for the University of Michigan. Of course, that lame-o rationalization has gone by the boards now that Henson has ditched MLB for the NFL to play third-string quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. And although Tom has sported a Sox cap on numerous occasions - including during a Super Bowl XXXVIII press conference - and he was in the Fenway stands rooting for Josh Beckett [stats] & Co. on Opening Day, he has been busted in Bombers’ mode before. He was also, need we remind you, caught in flagrante with A-Rod at Tao in NYC, shortly after the Yankees third baseman was declared Public Enemy No. 1 for slapping Bronson Arroyo! Of course, most of Tom’s Yankee-lovin’ has come when he’s been conveniently outside the jurisdiction. And now that the lovesick stud has semi-permanently relocated himself to the Big Apple - to be closer to Gi - he’s apparently in a New York (Yankees) state of mind! Ducking the rap And speaking of the Patriots, as if they don’t have enough problems with their new players’ bad-boy reps, the team was busy denying yesterday that first-round draft pick Brandon Meriweather was a member of the University of Miami’s notorious 7th Floor Crew - a group of Hurricane football stars who recorded a filthy rap song. “The best that I can offer is that it was not him,” said team spokesguy Stacey James. “Multiple sources that we are confident would know that answer say it was not Brandon.”The not-always-accurate Web encyclopedia Wikipedia - as well as numerous sports blogs - identify Meriweather as one of the amateur rappers who made a MySpace [website].com rap song that has been charitably described as “mysogynist garbage.” Chicago Bears first rounder Greg Olsen has had to apologize for his participation in the raunchy rap tune, which he admits he made as a college freshman under the name G-Reg. Linebacker Jon Beason, drafted in the first round by the Carolina Panthers, also has been identified as the 7th Floor Crewman known as Big Beast. He has yet to issue a denial. As for Meriweather, Wikipedia says he was the rapper known as Hollaman whose expletive-filled rap rant comes at the tail end of the nine-minute, er, tune. We’d regurgitate a few lines, but as we are under rather tight rein here, it would just read something like this: “(Bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleepedity, bleep, my hos.)“ One possible reason that Meriweather has been implicated in the 7th Floor Crew - named for the U of Miami dorm floor that housed most of the team - is that the name Brandon is Holla-ed out during his rant. Another reason, of course, is that Meriweather is not exactly a choirboy. In 2006, he fired shots at an unknown assailant who had capped his roomate in the butt. He was also caught on camera stomping a Florida International player during an infamous on-field brawl.
File Under: Crew-d.

Daily Dolphins News From The Sun-Sentinel

Dolphins staffers get a lesson in draft logic

By Sarah Talalay and Alex Marvez
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 3 2007

In the wake of a controversial draft-day decision, coach Cam Cameron and General Manager Randy Mueller met Tuesday with Dolphin Stadium officials who have regular contact with season-ticket holders and other fans. The meeting was spurred by the Dolphins passing on popular Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn to select Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick. "We wanted to have everyone in the organization understand the decision-making process that took place," Dolphins Enterprises spokesman George Torres said. Mueller said the combination of Ginn and Brigham Young quarterback John Beck, who was chosen in the second round, was a more appealing option to the Dolphins than selecting Quinn in the first round. But the move angered a sizable number of fans, including those who booed Cameron during a draft-day party at team headquarters in Davie and interrupted his speech about Ginn with chants of "Bra-dy! Bra-dy! Bra-dy!" The weekly staff meeting was opened to some stadium employees, Torres said. "Both [Cameron] and Randy explained the weekend, so everyone is completely knowledgeable about the plan and strategy so when we talk to season-ticket holders or anyone else, they can explain what happened, what transpired and the thinking about it," Torres said. Wright off to Buffalo One day after being waived by the Dolphins, defensive tackle Manny Wright was claimed Wednesday by Buffalo. A 2005 fifth-round supplement draft choice, Wright showed promise as a rookie but left training camp last August and spent the season on the reserve/non-football injury list while battling depression. Wright returned to the offseason program in March but was overweight at the April minicamp and became expendable when Utah nose tackle Paul Soliai was chosen in the fourth round of the draft. Dukes, Malone signed The Dolphins signed Clemson tackle Marion Dukes and Sam Houston State wide receiver Michael Malone as college free agents. Dukes was a three-year starter, and Malone caught 23 passes for 250 yards and four TDs last season. Elsewhere CONCUSSION SUMMIT: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ordered all teams to send their doctors and trainers to a leaguewide concussion summit in Chicago on July 19. MITCHELL AUTOPSY: A preliminary autopsy showed former NFL linebacker Kevin Mitchell, 36, died of a heart attack in his sleep Sunday at his home in Ashburn, Va.

QB Competition

So entering this preseason the Dolphins have no ideas who is gonna start. Will it be Daunte Culpepper, John Beck, Cleo Lemons or somebody out of nowhere? Well we're here to break it down, will give u the odds of them starting.

Daunte Culpepper

Odds:10/1

Reason:With Culpepper pretty much hurt all last season and not being himself many dolphins fans are tired of him and want him either released or traded. But Randy Mueller and Cam Cameron want to give him somewhat of a last chance this season. If he performs well in the preseason he probably will start with competition during the season. If he does not start the whole season he will either be traded or released during the offseason next year. This may not be a popular pick but it may happen

John Beck

Odds: 5/1

Reason:Overwhelmingly with passing up Quinn the support for our QB problem with the dolphins has gone to John Beck. He had avery good career in college with less then stellar WR's and TE's and he has amazing arm strength and accuracy. He might start right away because his age he will turn 26 this year but again it all depends on how he performs in the Preseason. Most dolphins fans hope it is Beck

Cleo Lemons

Odds:50/1

Reasons:Most fans like Cleo Lemons but mostly as a backup. With his only start last year he lost against the colts but mostly because of the lackluster offensive line not giving him enough time. If he develops more he could possibly compete for the QB job but it is doubtful this year. If both Beck and Culpepper get hurt it is more likely he will start

Other

Odds:15/1

Reason:Well the only other other person that could start is Trent Grenn. He will compete for the starting job but the trade is very unlikely not going down. If the dolphins make a trade for a great QB which is probably not possible it is possible the QB could start but it all depends if a trade goes down.

Random Thoughts From Randy Mueller Sun-Sentinel

May 01, 2007

Mueller chat and cuts

Just had a brief sit-down with Dolphins GM Randy Mueller and we talked about several issues, including the current health status (foot) of first-round pick Ted Ginn (he doesn't want the Jr. anymore) ... Ginn will not participate in this weekend's minicamp, but he wouldn't have even if his foot was 100 percent. Due to NCAA rules, because his classes at Ohio State are still in session he is not allowed to participate in any professional practices. He will be available for the next minicamp in June. Mueller wouldn't say whether Ginn's foot needed to be placed in a boot or not as an ESPN report stated. By the way, Mueller said that his 'intelligence' had Houston definitely taking Ginn with the next pick at 10.
Mueller said that DT Manuel 'Baby Huey' Wright and WR/returner Marcus Vick were cut because of a numbers' crunch, which is partly true. They did draft a receiver/returner in Ginn and a DT in fourth-round pick Paul Soliai, but it's clear that the new regime is separating itself from Nick Saban hand-picked players, particularly the fringe ones with character issues. Although Vick kept clean during his brief stint in South Florida, he's got more baggage than a Samsonite salesman. And Wright, who cost the Dolphins a fifth-round pick last year, didn't endear himself to Cam Cameron by reporting overweight after a year on the non-football injury related list to battle depression. He'll always be remembered by Dolphins fans for walking off the practice field in tears (2005) after being chewed out by Saban.
Also, Mueller gets a lot of heat for being on the Seahawks personnel department when they picked first-round busts - quarterback Rick Mirer and Dan McGwire in the early '90s, but he really had very little input back then other than fetching coffee. It wasn't until Dennis Erickson came in to coach in '95 that Mueller was promoted and the two put together the draft board.
More later...
Harvey Fialkov
Sun-Sentinel Dolphins beat reporter

May 01, 2007

More from Mueller

Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller said today that Brady Quinn isn't the only NFL-ready quarterback.
"There’s no question [that John Beck’s] an NFL passer in every way right now. There’s a learning curve obviously, but we feel like he’s pretty polished,’’ Mueller said.
Mueller also admitted that quarterbacks coach Terry Shea played an "integral’’ role in the teams’ decision to pass on Quinn at No.9 and hold out for BYU’s John Beck (at No. 40) in the second round. Before Shea was hired by the Dolphins, he spent a month with Quinn in preparation for the draft.

Dolphins Q&A Sun-Sentinel

Dolphins Q&A with Alex Marvez

By Alex Marvez
Sun-Sentinel.com
Posted May 1 2007, 1:57 PM EDT

Q: I am baffled as to why the Dolphins want to make Vernon Carey a left tackle. The guy has been a right tackle his entire college and pro career. Why not leave well enough alone?

A: I am thinking the same thing, especially because Carey has said he is more comfortable at right tackle because of his foot placement. Cameron, though, said after the draft that he believes Carey can handle what is considered the most critical position on the offensive line. Carey did play tackle at UM and thinking he could make the transition isn't necessarily far-fetched. But Carey, who did gain some experience playing left tackle at UM, should drop another 10 to 15 pounds so he is better prepared to handle the speed rusher he would face on a weekly basis when trying to protect his quarterback's blindside.

Q: What's with all the guys drafted from Hawaii or coming from out West?

A: With Cameron (San Diego) and General Manager Mueller (Seattle) having previously worked for West Coast teams, the Dolphins' draft seemed less regional than the previous two years when former Louisiana State coach Nick Saban used five of the team's 13 picks on Southeastern Conference players, including first-round selections on running back Ronnie Brown (Auburn) and defensive back Jason Allen (Tennessee). One of Mueller's former coaches from his playing days as a college quarterback (Wes Suan) worked at Hawaii under June Jones, who is friendly with both Mueller and Cameron.

Mueller said the Dolphins were seeking players with a "specific skill set" in the draft. Translated: The Dolphins want players they believe have particular traits best-suited for the systems the team plans to run. The Dolphins are seeking lighter, more athletic guards and want to add more aggressiveness to the line as a whole. The 6-foot-2, 302-pounds Satele fits the bill on both accounts. At 272 pounds, Mauia has the size to become a devastating blocker in the same fashion as Lorenzo Neal, who played under Cameron the past four seasons in San Diego.

The Dolphins also added another Hawaii player in Esera as well as using a fourth-round draft pick on a defensive tackle of Samoan ancestry in Paul Soliai.

Q: Can we expect the rookie offensive lineman to contribute much this season? Also, are they better suited to play center and guard?

A: I would not be surprised to see second-round pick Samson Satele (pictured) of Hawaii receive snaps as the starting left guard during this weekend's minicamp. The Dolphins have juggled their line by shifting Vernon Carey to left tackle and moving L.J. Shelton from right guard to replace him at right tackle. Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said Chris Liwienski and Joe Toledo are expected to split snaps at right guard but added that the plan for how the linemen will be used at the minicamp wasn't finalized.

Eastern Michigan's Drew Mormino (sixth round) could see action as a backup center behind Rex Hadnot. The Dolphins also have agreed to terms with several college free agent linemen who could compete for roster or practice squad spots, including Hawaii guard Tala Esera, Arkansas guard Stephen Parker and University of Alabama-Birmingham tackle Julius Wilson.

The Dolphins want all of their linemen to have the versatility to play at least two positions, so expect Satele and Mormino to work at both guard and center.

Q: Will Lorenzo Booker be the third-down back? Does this mean the Dolphins don't want Ricky Williams back?

A: If reinstated to the NFL as expected, Williams should serve as Ronnie Brown's backup. Booker, though, will see snaps as a third-down back while serving as an insurance policy in case Williams gets suspended again.

Q: Isn't tight end a weakness on this team? I still can't believe they cut Randy McMichael!

A: Because the tight end is used more as a receiver than blocker in Cameron's system, a well-rounded player like McMichael was deemed to have less value than a faster player with pass-catching skills like replacement David Martin. Still, something should be said for the fact McMichael has never missed a game since being drafted in 2002 while Martin has proven far less durable by missing 16 games the past three seasons.

Q: Were you as shocked as I as when they took Ted Ginn instead of Brady Quinn?

A: I was very surprised, but shocked would be a little strong since I truly believed (and reported) the Dolphins had a strong interest in Ginn entering the draft. Remember: You can find a franchise quarterback in the second round a la Brett Favre or Drew Brees. You can't draft a player with the game-breaking speed of Ginn with the 40th overall pick.

I also spoke to someone in the front office of a team with a Top 12 pick that I respect who told me he also didn't consider Quinn worthy of being picked in the Top 10. The fact Quinn slipped all the way to the No. 22 pick gives the Dolphins some validation for their decision. But if Quinn is able to duplicate his Notre Dame success in the NFL while Ginn and/or BYU quarterback John Beck stumble, the coach/general manager regime of Cam Cameron and Randy Mueller will be doomed unless the franchise finds another way to win.

Q: What's the scouting report on John Beck? I think he was a good pick.

A: Here are four pre-draft evaluations of Beck:

Mel Kiper Jr. (from his 2007 Draft Report): "After his stellar senior campaign, I view Beck as definite starter material. Preparation is key with Beck, and in that area, he takes a backseat to no one. At worst, you'll be looking at a quality backup who has the ability to come off the bench and jumpstart an offense."

Nolan Nawrocki (author of Pro Football Weekly's draft guide): "Has the smarts and savvy to become an ideal No. 3 quarterback and at his best could be a solid backup. Physically, falls in line with the same tier of quarterbacks as Tim Rattay and Brooks Bollinger and will never be a solid starter teams want to lead them. A good college system quarterback with enough arm to function in the pros. Will be the best outside the pocket but does not have great mobility to move around and escape in the pro game."

Scout.com: "Positives: intelligent passer accurate in the short and intermediate field. Stands strong in the pocket, poised under the rush and consistently finds the open wideout. Sells the ball fakes, looks off the safety and goes through receiver progressions. Displays a sense of timing, hits receivers as they leave their breaks and nicely sets up screen throws. Puts touch on passes when necessary, placing the ball into the receivers' hands. Immediately gets rid of the ball on quick tosses. Stays away from the errant pass. Negatives: Lacks the top deep arm. Over-aged prospect [at 25]."

NFLdraftscout.com: "Positives: Has a lean frame with room for additional growth, showing average overall muscle tone, good arm length and large, soft hands … Runs with a normal stride and has the functional hip snap to change directions and avoid pocket pressure … Has good balance and adequate body control throwing on the move, demonstrating good hip rotation … Very intelligent player who has no problem executing a complicated game plan … Student of the game who breaks down opposing film and does a good job of making adjustments on the field … Plays through pain and shows very good poise in the pocket and confidence in his protection, as it is rare to see him bolt too early, as he will stand tall and take some shots under pressure … Has good throwing mechanics and sets his feet with agility and solid base … Even with just average timed speed, his feet appear light when forced to move out of the pocket … In the short-to-intermediate area, Beck's tosses show good zip and velocity."

"Negatives: Needs to add more bulk and strength to his frame to absorb punishment in the pocket and, even though he is able to move around the pocket, he is no threat running with the ball … Has good arm strength for the short-to-intermediate area, but realizes that he lacks the raw power to air the ball out consistently, keeping the game plan within his athletic talents … Lacks ideal height and valid speed, but makes up for it with good short-area avoid skills and a quick release to unleash the ball on time … Will sometimes revert to locking on to his primary target, resulting in him throwing into double coverage (see 2006 Boston College and New Mexico games) … Sets his feet well on delivery, but will show a bit of a wind-up when he releases the ball over the top rather than his normal, three-quarters delivery … When he attempts to air it out, the ball tends to float and fall off, causing the receivers to break off their routes. "

Q: Is Carl Peterson crazy or just plain stubborn?

A: How about a little bit of both? Understandably, Peterson is trying to make the best deal he can to maximize value for quarterback Trent Green. But the reality is that the Chiefs aren't going to carry a player with a $7.2 million salary that coach Herm Edwards projected in March as being a potential third-string quarterback behind Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle. This is starting to become a lose-lose scenario on both sides. If Green is going to start for the Dolphins in 2007 as expected, he could use as much offseason time as possible working with his new teammates trying to build cohesiveness in Cameron's offensive system. Peterson, though, may someday rue not taking the Dolphins' offer of a sixth-round draft choice for Green during the 2007 draft.

Q: Why is everyone saying that Ted Ginn Jr. is "raw" as a receiver and runs poor routes? You wouldn't know that from watching him in college.

A: Ginn was a productive college receiver, catching 110 passes for 1,584 yards and 13 touchdowns the past two seasons while also making significant strides as a junior. But NFL draft analysts universally believe he needs significant work on his route running, especially when it comes to correcting his penchant to round off patterns, and must learn how to better shed cornerbacks that will be much more aggressive at the line of scrimmage at the NFL level.

Q: How would you grade the Dolphins' draft?

A: Like in previous drafts, I won't grade the draft simply because how can anyone tell how good the players that were selected will be before they even appear in a minicamp, let along play in a game? Ultimately, this draft will be judged by how well Ginn and Beck fare when compared to Brady Quinn. But it's also important that the Dolphins finally hit on some second-day draft choices. Consider: Safety Yeremiah Bell (2003 sixth-round) and center Rex Hadnot (2004 sixth-round) are the only two of 31 players drafted between rounds four and seven this decade that are projected Dolphins starters entering this season. The lack of productivity from second-day picks is one of the reasons the Dolphins are one of just five teams that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2001

Three Dolphins Released

Vick among three released by Dolphins DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - Marcus Vick's stint with the Miami Dolphins is over. Vick, signed last season as a free-agent receiver after a troubled career as Virginia Tech's quarterback, was among three players waived by the Dolphins on Tuesday. The Dolphins also released defensive tackle Manny Wright and linebacker Bobby Iwuchukwu. Vick appeared in one game with the Dolphins after spending some of the year on practice squad. Vick was kicked off Virginia Tech's team following his junior year after repeated brushes with the law and other misbehaviour. Last December, a 17-year-old girl who claimed she had a two-year sexual relationship with Vick filed a US$6.3 million lawsuit against him, alleging sexual battery upon a minor, infliction of emotional distress, fraud and other charges. Wright was reduced to tears on the practice field during the 2005 season when scolded by then-coach Nick Saban, and asked to be released or traded away last season. He did not play in the 2006 season, and was with the Dolphins for their first minicamp under new coach Cam Cameron last month. Iwuchukwu spent last year on practice squads in San Francisco and Baltimore and signed with the Dolphins earlier this off-season.

Draft Grades Cont.

Now For the rest of the Draft

RB Lorenzo Booker Florida State

Grade:C+

Mostly a value pick because of his speed and his ability to miss. Ronnie Brown is more of a power runner so in 3rd and long positions booker can be put in as a speed runner. He maybe active in the special teams department as well so not a bad pick. The Question that this gives us is Will Ricky Williams Be Back?

DT Paul Soliai Utah

Grade:C-

I really did not like this pick the dolphins have way too many DT's even though they released Manny Wright today. He can be a DE too but not as fast as Taylor or Roth. He probably won't see much playing time till some of our DT's retire or get released.

FB Reagan Mauia Hawaii

Grade:A

Although Mauia was originally planned to go undrafted this is a great pick for the dolphins with recently acquired Schlesinger aging quickly there has to be a backup plan for the FB and Mauia is it. He used to be 350 lbs but after cutting back on the fast food he is now 270. He used to be a Defensive lineman and is now a tremendous run blocker, he will be a starter in a few years.

C Drew Mormino Central Michigan

Grade:C+

This was an ok pick Mormino is very versatile lineman that can play guard. I honestly have not much to say about this pick he'll probably be a backup on the dolphins.

LB Kelvin Smith

Grade:B+

Smith will probably contribute to the dolphins defense as an OLB in 2007. He was one of the best LB's on the orange and he is the nephew of Keith Bulluck so he was taught well. He could potentially be a starter once Joey Porter or Zach Thomas is gone but for now he will be a pretty good backup for the dolphins

P Brandon Fields Michigan St.

Grade:A+++++++++

Yes i overused the +'s on this one but the dolphins needed a young good punter and fields is that. He has good accuracy and pretty good power. I hope he can compete for the job and win or else this wouldn't be a good pick.

Summary:

This Draft overall filled many spots for the dolphins but they failed to address the secondary which is in desperate need of help. Maybe some undrafted free agents can be signed to fill some holes or maybe Jason Allen can step up and do some damage in the secondary.