[First off, thank you for a record day on the blog yesterday. Incredible how a little actual football news turns this blog into a monster. GRRRRR! Anyway, continue to stay here or return here often throughout the day as the Dolphins continue to operate in stealthy fashion while folks like me chase what's going on from other less-than-perfect, agenda-driven angles. What can I say? You get shut out, you do what you have to do.]
Now to the news and analysis:
Tyler Thigpen is a Buffalo Bill. He has agreed to join that team in return for a three-year contract that gives him a chance to compete for a starting job against Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick will win that competition. The deal sends Thigpen packing after a year and a half in Miami and reunites him with Buffalo coach Chan Gailey, who was Thigpen's offensive coordinator in Kansas City in 2008 when Thigpen enjoyed his best NFL season.
Even though the Dolphins showed casual interest in keeping Thigpen, I do not see this as a big loss, folks.
I know many of you thought Thigpen had potential to chase a starting job. Me? I shared that thinking until he got on the field in 2009 against Pittsburgh and last year against Chicago and was ineffective both times. Thigpen has the gift of adding spark. You see it when he enters a game and the pace picks up.
But Thigpen also is cursed with inconsistency. He'll lead an energy-lifting touchdown drive on one possession. And throw an interception and go three-and-out on the next two possessions.
Thigpen lovers will say that inconsistency in Miami was a result of his little opportunity to work with the first-team offense. Great, so explain his similar inconsistency in Kansas City when he was the starter for 11 games.
So the Dolphins will have a new backup quarterback for 2011.
They're also trying to add a new starting quarterback for 2011.
Hear that, Chad Henne? Hear that Henne supporters?
I have confirmed that Miami is heavily involved in trying to add Kyle Orton while various reports which I've not been able to independently confirm have linked the Dolphins to Matt Hasselbeck. I can see the Orton thing. I don't understand the Hasselbeck fling one bit.
[7:45 AM update: The Hasselbeck fling is not a thing in Miami after all. He is going to the Tennesse Titans. That obviously limits the Dolphins to a focus on Orton with a possible fallback being Marc Bulger or Vince Young.]
Orton is better than Chad Henne, or at least has been the past two years. Is he the man? Is he a franchise quarterback? No. Does he have a superstar arm? Can he escape the rush and turn disaster into dynamics? No.
But he's better than Chad Henne.
And right now, that seems to be good enough for the Dolphins who at last check were hopeful of adding Orton in trade from the Denver Broncos. Problem right now is the Broncos apparently have at least one other team on their line and are trying to reel in the highest draft pick compensation possible.
I do not know the specifics of what the Dolphins have offered (if anything, officially) but I understand the Broncos were asking for a first-round pick initially and are seeded in the second-round asking price of late. Really, Denver? A second for Kyle Orton?
The Dolphins aren't quite ready to do that, apparently. I hope they don't have to at that price. I would more comfortably understand yielding a conditional pick in which Miami gives up a fourth-rounder that could be a third if Orton takes the team to the playoffs, and maybe a second if he advances them to the AFC title game perhaps. (Yes, improbable, but I'm a dreamer.)
Bottom line: Be it either Orton or Hasselbeck, the point is clear the Dolphins are trying to add a veteran quarterback whose resume is superior to Chad Henne's because, well, they are trying to replace Chad Henne even if it's on a short-term basis.
Good for Miami.
Henne is young. He is talented. He has potential. But he has not earned the right to go into training camp unchallenged. He was benched in the 2010 season-finale, if you remember, the second time in the season he suffered that fate. That does not translate to, as some of you have suggested, "sticking with Henne to see if he develops."
The Dolphins are not afforded the luxury of seeing if Henne develops. Both Tony Sparano and Jeff Ireland want to, have to, win now to secure the footing underneath themselves. Banking on Henne to either develop or flop for a third consecutive season is not the most certain way to secure one's footing.
Henne should be watching this and understanding. He must realize he still has a chance to win the job if he, well, wins the job. But he must realize this isn't 2010 when the job was simply handed to him without a competition.
The hope here is this itself makes Henne better. Nothing like a realistic view of the situation to sober the spirit and steel the mind. Would be nice if it improves the decision-making and long-range accuracy, also.
By the way, regardless of whom the Dolphins add -- and it will not be Donovan McNabb as some of you lobbied for -- the idea is not simply to hand over the job. Sure, Orton or Hasselbeck come with reputations. But the Dolphins can still sell the competition idea to the public and Henne.
That can only make everyone better.
Follow me on twitta, as they say in Boston.
The Penguin ( Sparano ) will refuse to break in a new QB. He has already told everyone that he intends to RUN RUN RUN the ball. He hates the passing game. We will not have a passing game or a great QB till he is gone. He thinks the best way to keep his job is have a caretaker QB, run the ball and play defense, win 8 or 9 games maybe. I'm sure in his mind he is already thinking the shorten prep time for this season means stay with Henne run the ball even more and punt.
Posted by: Phin4Life | July 27, 2011 at 12:14 PM
none of these guys can go anywhere till friday, but we all know where they r going anyways
Posted by: dusty bottoms | July 27, 2011 at 12:14 PM
id take sanchez easily over henne. just rid ourselves of henne, which im glad they are finally doing. no way on the picks for orton. so lets hope they sign bulger. our rb problem is a mess also
Posted by: dusty bottoms | July 27, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Elway is high on Colorado weed if he even thinks he is getting a 2nd and a 3rd.......John Elway is insane....i want to drive up to denver and slap him just for thinkn such madness
Posted by: jamesthefinfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:18 PM
If Ireland gives a 2nd and 3rd for Orton, our qb situation still wont be completed settled and we go into the 2012 draft minus a 2nd and 3rd rd pick.
We maybe able to draft a 1st rd qb from about the 18th-15th position. Still the rest of our 2010 draft wont begin until the 4th rd. Or about the spot where backup players not starters are drafted.
Posted by: DyingBreed | July 27, 2011 at 12:18 PM
wow bobbyd12 even showed up.lol
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:20 PM
I dont mind a second rounder if we can bundle our third and a fifth next year to recoup the second we gave away.......in essence its like trading daniel thomas for kyle orton.......good trade in my book
Posted by: jamesthefinfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Teams are still kicking themselves for not taking Vick when he was on the cheap. Next in line could possibly be VY. Love it or hate it.
BTW, when Vick was available there were love it or hate it fan mobs out there too. However, motsly the hate it mob. Dolfans do you see a reemerging pattern developing here?
Posted by: DyingBreed | July 27, 2011 at 12:24 PM
What's the problem...I don't see any signings that matter. What is Ireland waiting for?
Posted by: biggbatts79 | July 27, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Its like deep sea fishing biggbatts79........hopefully.......you know it takes a while to land the big ones........gotta fight, the lil ones get landed easy
Posted by: jamesthefinfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:26 PM
hate sanchez be he's one f'n good qb period...........
henne = 4th best in the afc.
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:26 PM
afc east that is.lol
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Dolfans Answer This Question For Yourselves:
"Of all of the available qb's this offseason, which one places the greatest fear of God Into defensive coordinators around the league?"
The predominant answer should easily be Vince Young!
Posted by: DyingBreed | July 27, 2011 at 12:27 PM
I hear this Eagle-Young connection but does he really want to be third string cause they have vick and kolb...that puts VY third string
Posted by: jamesthefinfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:28 PM
db vy fumbles to much and imagine him with the heat sweat and liquid sunshine at the joe. but?.lol
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:29 PM
good stuff poizen
everyone slams the fins for their mistakes over the last decade and their inability to find a franchise qb
there r NO franchse qbs available people
vy has the talent but not the emotion to be franchise
u r dreamin if u think orton could be franchise
if we get orton for a second round pic it will indeed be the same old fins screwing up qb trading unless he morphs into someone new
he aint gonna do that coz he's been around getting dumped out of different teams for too long
i am not against getting him and agree he might (but imo unlikely beat out henne for the starter)and he's one of the best available, but i am against the asking price
if you are grading qb's orton/henne/ and sanchez would get similar grades
BUT we do need to get a qb to compete with henne/backup whatever
we don't want to mortgage the future on a stopgap
if u view all the qb's being mentioned with henne as part of that group,imo he rates as one of the best and has the most upside - but tarining camp would help to decide that
Posted by: The Wolf, ICU, (starvation coma) | July 27, 2011 at 12:30 PM
quit dealing the picks away, we arent close to winning right now so dont deal picks away. sign bulger, unreal
Posted by: dusty bottoms | July 27, 2011 at 12:31 PM
james. vick is good for 2-3 game absence each season.
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:31 PM
kolb is long gone
Posted by: dusty bottoms | July 27, 2011 at 12:33 PM
2 watt,
i understand that i just dont see VY and all his confidence going to a team where he KNOWS he wont be the starter....in miami hed have a shot at the job at least
Posted by: jamesthefinfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Dear Mr. Ireland,
Just really now, how much faith do you expect your team to have in a qb who would be playing for his 3rd different team in 6yrs?
Look at it from your players perspective before making a final decision on Orton. If they're not completely sold. The coaching staff cant completely sell them on thier chances to compete for a championship in 2011 neither.
At least with VY, 18 come from behind career 4th qtr wins would have me sold as a teammate that win it matters most this is our guy.
Posted by: DyingBreed | July 27, 2011 at 12:34 PM
james,unless ireland is blowing smoke out of his axx,he hasn't inquired about vy yet.
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:36 PM
young is dumb as a retarded rock. so glad hes not coming here. hilarious last year vs us how bad we confused him. hes abckup and thats where he belongs. bulger will lead us to our normal 8 wins like always. run right, run left, throw on 3rd and long. punt
Posted by: dusty bottoms | July 27, 2011 at 12:36 PM
it was palmer 1st. hasselback/orton 2nd.from what i gather.
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:37 PM
good sta db. what is hennes.?.lol
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:38 PM
culpepper put the phins back 1 decade.
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:40 PM
2-watt,
We also came up with one hundred million reasons why Michael Vick should not have been brought to Miami too. As Ive been shouting from the roof tops the last couple days. This offseason isnt about finding an immediate upper-echelon qb. That guy really doesnt exist here.
Every qb in this offseason lot has serious warts. Its not about the best qb being available, it about choosing the best of the not so best qb available. A very good case for VY can be made as being that guy.
Just like at last call at your local nightclub we're choosing from the "prettiest ugly girl" of the lot to go home with.
Posted by: DyingBreed | July 27, 2011 at 12:41 PM
God please dont bring in bulger......if we dont land orton or young......just get a back up ala croyle or moore and spend our money on ol and rb......then draft the kid out of houston next year..kase keenum.....i love that guy
Posted by: jamesthefinfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:42 PM
hey db. vy over henne any day dude.lol. james. with the 134 days off this o/s. the play book will be on a post it. vy should be able to handle that.lol maybe
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Mark @ 7:13 AM....where did you get those numbers from.....
Posted by: Kris | July 27, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Kyle Orton is average / slightly above average.
Vince Young is Terrible.
Vince Young is not Michael Vick.
Micheael Vick was already an outstanding NFL player whose career was detailed due to off-the-field issues. The fact that he came back even better than before is icing on the cake.
Vince Young (to be fair one of the greatest college QBs of all time) was not an outstanding NFL player. He is a phenomenal athlete with terrible mechanics, subpar accuracy, and a congenital inability to read anything but the simplest defenses.
Oh yes -- as fans of "Vince Young Suicide Watch" will recall -- he has more than a few off-the-field issues of his own.
Stay clear of Vince Young.
Posted by: Gary Stevens | July 27, 2011 at 12:45 PM
k/os will be at the 35 so kr wont be a need.imo
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:46 PM
DB,
HOW CAN YOU PUT THESE 2 THINGS TOGETHER .... VY AND FEAR OF GOD IN THE TEAMS DEFENSES ...........................
VY IS JUST AN AVERAGE QB ..........FEAR OF GOD MY ....... FOOT .
Posted by: ALoco | July 27, 2011 at 12:46 PM
I knew Armando was a Patriot fan, now we have the proof.
Posted by: jeff | July 27, 2011 at 08:40 AM
---------------------------------------------------------
To add to that Jeff....I knew Armando was Aloco.....and now we ahve a bit more proof......
Posted by: Kris | July 27, 2011 at 12:47 PM
have....
Posted by: Kris | July 27, 2011 at 12:48 PM
AS KRIS ASKED .............YES MARK ,WHER DID GET THESE NUMBERS FROM ?
YOU GOT TO PROVIDE 2 LINKS AND AFFADAVID ..............
Posted by: ALoco | July 27, 2011 at 12:48 PM
i said armando = aloco a long time ago.lol
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:48 PM
armando,are you the drew carey fan too.haha
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:50 PM
because aloco.......VY is a dual threat do you bring pressure and let him escape it for a big run or do you stay back and let him pick you apart with time.......basic football know;edge man....watch a game
Posted by: jamesthefinfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:50 PM
KRIS..........
I AM NOT ARMANDO OR LOOK LIKE HIM,I AM TALLER AND HAS A NICE SMILE .
Posted by: ALoco | July 27, 2011 at 12:50 PM
The Miami Dolphins are among a handful of teams engaged in contract negotiations with Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, who expects to be traded by week's end.
According to a team source, Orton sits atop General Manager Jeff Ireland's wish list of quarterbacks he'd like to add to the Dolphins' roster. But another source said the seven-year veteran, who is owed $9 million in 2011, is seeking a multi-year contract extension that will pay him north of $6 million a year.
per Omar Kelly
Posted by: UtDolfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Gary Steven,
The major difference between VY and Vick when drafted, is Vick's HC was welcoming him with open arms. Jeff Fisher wasnt. So there was a great conflict of interest before VY first step foot on Titan soiled.
You gotta remember, VY didnt create this conflict, Bud Adams did. So VY to the Titans was a marriage made in hell from the very beginning. IMO, its outstanding VY managed to have the success he did have in Tenn under those conditions.
A more fragile young may have been a complete bust. VY wasnt and we all know at least this much for a fact.
Posted by: DyingBreed | July 27, 2011 at 12:51 PM
aloco = wearing heels and using red lip stick to put a smiley face on.lol
Posted by: 2 watt | July 27, 2011 at 12:52 PM
JAMES ......... AGREE W/YOU PARTLY ...BUT SINCE VY SO SMART AND SO GOOD ,HOW COME HIS TEAM ALWAYS BEEN IN THE CELLAR W/US ?
Posted by: ALoco | July 27, 2011 at 12:52 PM
DB,
I feel ya....you give VY a fresh start and show some trust in his amazing abilities and he will perform.......id love to have him
Posted by: jamesthefinfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:53 PM
if we put our franchise in ortons hands we are even more scrwed than i thought. but least it will be the final final final nail in sprano and irelands coffins
Posted by: dusty bottoms | July 27, 2011 at 12:53 PM
ALoco,
If you were a defensive coordinator you would lose zero sleep game planning for Kyle Orton. But against VY you want to especially make sure you've dotted your I's and crossed your T's becauses he can beat you in a "variety" of ways.
No other qb available in this lot has that variety in the ways he can hurt a defense offensively than VY.
Posted by: DyingBreed | July 27, 2011 at 12:55 PM
JAMES AKA DB ............
NOW SINCE YOU ARE TALKING TO YOURSELF ,LET ME SAY YOU R DB AKA JAMES .............
P.S...... NO BODAY IS ALLOWED TO TALK TO HIMSELF AND PAT HIMSELF ON THE BACK .
Posted by: ALoco | July 27, 2011 at 12:55 PM
Are the Dolphins involved with anyone besides Orton? Sure doesn't seem so. Sickening front office. Again, all eggs in on basket and when they do or don't get their man, everyone else will be signed. We need much more than a QB and have the money to do it. Get going on RB already!!
Posted by: jrljr2 | July 27, 2011 at 12:55 PM
2 Watt is funny.....and I agree.....
Posted by: Kris | July 27, 2011 at 12:55 PM
FAKE ALOco......@ 12;55 pm
Posted by: ALoco | July 27, 2011 at 12:56 PM
ALOCO,
You know nothing VY was rookie of the year, pro bowler in 2006 and 2009, made playoffs in 2007 2008 and won the afc south in 2008 come on man........you are ill prepared to battle wits
Posted by: jamesthefinfan | July 27, 2011 at 12:57 PM
DB, I agree but he hasn't done it consistently at the pro level...and he is a head case. Orton has big play potential with good receivers. Albeit only with his arm, but Henne has neither. Forget ratings, Orton and VY are head and shoulders better than Henne.
Posted by: jrljr2 | July 27, 2011 at 12:58 PM
I DIDN'T KNOW ALL THAT ABOUT VY JAMES,THANK YOU FOR POINTING THIS OUT .......THIS IS WHY I KEEP POSTING EVERY DAY TO LEARN MORE AND MORE ...... STILL THINK VY IS FAT AND CAN'T BE TRUSTED .
Posted by: ALoco | July 27, 2011 at 01:00 PM
How is there not more to report on this week than Tyler Thigpen? Mando, what's going on???????
Posted by: jrljr2 | July 27, 2011 at 01:00 PM
EVERY TIME I SEE YOU
I FEEL YOU
I SAY
I LOVE YOU ............. BACALA
Posted by: ALoco | July 27, 2011 at 01:01 PM
Why wont the Dolphins just sign VY. I hate this regime they never do anything out of the ordinary Grow some balls and take a chance! He wont cost much and if he gives you problems cut him. If we suck this year fire everybody. Forget about Orton. We need a real dual threat!
Posted by: DM | July 27, 2011 at 01:03 PM
dustybottoms,
Most dolfans are far more concerned about winning than having nails placed in Ireland/Sparano coffins. However, if we dont win thats exactly what we'll all be screaming for.
Posted by: DyingBreed | July 27, 2011 at 01:03 PM
I JUST FINISHED EATING ////////
WHITE SEBASS , FRIED
WHITE RICE
AN ORANGE
NOW,IT'S TIME FOR TEA.......... BACALA
Posted by: ALoco | July 27, 2011 at 01:03 PM
dusty bottoms..."Vince Young will go to the Eagles"...How do you know? Your big brother told you or something?
Posted by: #1 Dolphin Fan in Montreal | July 27, 2011 at 01:05 PM