Dolphins QB

Fishfan79 · December 9, 2005

The San Diego Chargers have a serious problem on their hands.

It's a heart-wrenching issue, really. One that will certainly cause many fans of the Miami Dolphins to quiver with sympathy and emotion.

The dilemma? They have too many talented quarterbacks.

"They'll have to make a decision about us at the end of the year," San Diego starting quarterback Drew Brees said Wednesday. "I've made it known that I want to be in San Diego for a long, long time. I want a commitment from (the Chargers)."

Such a conundrum. But perhaps the Dolphins could help.

Since San Diego drafted Philip Rivers with the No. 4 pick in the 2004 draft, Brees has been playing to Pro Bowl caliber. As a result, when the off-season arrives, the Chargers must decide what to do with their pair of top-notch quarterbacks.

They could trade Rivers to the highest bidder in need at the position. They could also trade Brees should they decide to keep the younger prospect. Or, of course, they could swallow the money and keep both quarterbacks ? a more unlikely scenario.

So could the Dolphins' quarterback of the future be standing on the opposite sideline Sunday when Miami travels to San Diego?

"You never know how things are going to work out," Brees said.

Not that Brees thinks he'll be the one to make such a move.

"I would assume after this year that a decision would be made, that one of us would be gone," Brees said. "I absolutely feel like I'm the future of this organization at the quarterback position."

So if Brees' hopes are fulfilled, that makes Rivers a potentially marketable commodity. Reports out of San Diego are that it could take as much as an early first-round draft pick and a veteran starter to spark a blockbuster deal.

"But this is one of those hard trades to make," warns Gil Brandt, the former longtime personnel director of the Dallas Cowboys.

That's because of money issues. Rivers carries a salary of nearly $14.3 million, and he's signed through 2010. Such a hefty fee could deter teams such as the New York Jets, who often have been associated with the Rivers-Brees watch.

The Jets need a quarterback and will have the commodities to trade with, but they might not have the room with their struggling salary cap. The Dolphins, though, are more financially sound. Although that's not to say Rivers would be the right guy for the system.

"If your looking for a down-the-field thrower, he is not the guy," former NFL quarterback Phil Simms said. "There are plenty of offenses that he could fit into, but it depends on what you're going to do."

And since Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has an affinity for deep passes, Simms doesn't see a proper fit.

Simms isn't particularly impressed by Rivers' ability, either ? even if the quarterback finished his career at N.C. State ranked second among passers in NCAA history. That's because Rivers is not particularly fast ? he ran a 5.08 in the 40-yard dash before the draft ? and he lacks a consistent deep ball.

"He's not the playmaker," said Simms, who suggested the Dolphins would be better off convincing Notre Dame junior quarterback Brady Quinn to enter the draft. "But the market for Philip Rivers will be driven up by hype, by people who say the Chargers' best quarterback is sitting on the bench.

"That's a very easy thing to say when there's no proof of it otherwise."

The verdict is still out on whether Rivers will be traded ? or whether the Dolphins would be interested. League rules prohibit coach Nick Saban from discussing any potential of acquiring another team's player. And Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said that decision won't be made until the post-season.

Schottenheimer said he thinks it's still possible to keep both quarterbacks, as the team anticipates being nearly $20 million below next year's projected salary cap.

"There's always going to be a No. 1 and a No. 2," Schottenheimer said. "Fortunately, when we get down the road at the conclusion of the season, we'll be in a position (financially) to have both of them here if that's what we choose to do."

Most ? including Brees ? expect otherwise. For now, Rivers will continue to do his job ? even if it means being the top seat-warmer in the league.

"He's doing an excellent job," Schottenheimer said. "He's not the guy taking the snaps every week, but he's working hard and preparing himself for that eventuality."

An eventuality, however, that might or might not occur in San Diego.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphin...VERS_1208.html

Admin · December 9, 2005

A early 1st rounder and a vet? I would think Rivers is going to be the one available and I don't know if he's worth that after playing bench paperweight for so long now

JonDigital · December 9, 2005

a 1st rounder and a vet for unproven talent? id pass and try my hand in free agency. i just dont trust giving up that much for someone who has been sitting on the bench for 2 years.

El Guapo · December 9, 2005

wow, i would love to see Brady Quinn as a Dolphin.......He can throw the ball deep,corners,short he has it all....

Fishfan79 · December 9, 2005

I would give up a 3rd for Rivers nothing more personally. Unless then want howard too lol.

But, mainly I would be interested in Quinn or Cutler (in the 2nd).. Coyle in the 4th interests me too but not sure if he falls there from the 3rd.

odom006 · December 10, 2005

okay, there def not gonna trade drew who keeps winning and playin like a pro bowler qb "which is hard to find in the NFL now a days"...

to start an unproven qb

and if they want a 1st round pick and another person there outta there f***in mind......

i dont wanna give up a first rounder just to get rivers im a maryland fan i seen rivers play in college and as good as he was back than how f*** am i suppose to know he can do that in the nfl.......

the man has no xperince what so eva..... you tellin me we giv up our 1st rounder which is prob gonna be pick # "11-17" in the draft and hope rivers comes in and makes an instant impact..... what are the odds of that sh*t happning?

as 4 Brady Quinn " somebody plz tell me what is so speacial bout this kid?"

in Willinham offense the kid sucked he was nothing more than a average qb.... now he is in a diffrent stystem and all of a sudden his stats are lookin good and people are talking about Heisman for 2006........

he'll be a moron if he comes outta college to go the draft this year... and as 4 next year i feel sry for the franchise that takes em as a 1st pick......

and back to Rivers when he was commin in to the draft they had the man projected as a late 1st rounder early 2nd rounder.... and now we have to trade a mid 1st round pick to get em...... "f*** EM"

Jay Cutler on the other hand... i dunno much bout em i they have compared em to farve..... i gotta see his bowl game be4 i can even make a comment on em.......

El Guapo · December 10, 2005