Posts tagged TrentGreen at FanHouse

Who knows how this Dolphins three-way quarterback situation will resolve itself, but as it plays out, one thing is becoming abundantly clear: last year's second-round pick John Beck, is this year's new Cleo Lemon. Which is to say, he's pretty much out of the running for the gig before the competition gets going.

I mentioned yesterday that Chad Henne, this year's second-rounder, was finally under contract, which means that, for all practical purposes, he and journeyman Josh McCown will battle it out for the right to lead a team that won a whopping one time last year. And according to Pro Football Weekly, McCown is the early (early, early) leader for the honor:

Sources close to the club say [McCown] has impressed coach Tony Sparano with the ease with which he's picked up the nuances of the offensive system, which they credit to McCown's experience playing in many different systems. "He has this air of confidence to him," one source told PFW. "He's just this relaxed, happy kid who feels comfortable with where he's at." Additionally, he's been terrific throwing on the run, specifically on rollouts, which the Fins are expecting to utilize often.

It's not the perfect scenario, but McCown is better than either Daunte Culpepper or Trent Green, two players way past their primes by the time Miami brought them in to help "turn things around" (or some such).

Oh, and in case you needed confirmation, Beck had a "disastrous" start to camp, which has a lot to do with how the depth chart is shaking out. In Beck's defense, he wasn't bad in limited duty last season, but he's now the victim of being the "quarterback of the future" in the eyes of a front office that was just collectively canned.

Mike Sando of ESPN recently wrote about a survey of the league's dirtiest players and analyzed which teams received the most personal fouls. The Patriots' Rodney Harrison got the most votes for dirty play, and the Raiders received the most personal fouls.

The Houston Texans received the least personal fouls, but Sando got it completely wrong as it related to Texans defensive tackle Travis Johnson:

Former Patriots receiver Deion Branch drew a line between Harrison's hard-nosed play and the approach Houston Texans defensive lineman Travis Johnson took after knocking out then-Miami Dolphins quarterback Trent Green with a legal hit last season. Johnson stood over the fallen Green and taunted him.

"[Harrison] is not that type of dude, I promise you," Branch said. "He's not going to go into a game and try to hurt someone.

Uh, I'm guessing that Sando didn't actually see that play or maybe he just got his actives and passive mixed up writing about it. It was Trent Green who knocked himself out after Green intentionally blocked Johnson with a low but legal hit. If anyone was dirty in that play, it was Green who admitted he dove low, smashing Johnson's knee with his helmet, causing Johnson to somersault into the air and land on his head.

I'd put up some real speed video of this, but it no longer exists because the NFL pulled it. This slo-mo YouTube version above is all that exists.

It's the deadest part of the offseason, which means we'll be reading about things marginally related to football like top-50 players, doctored videos, visits to the Playboy Mansion, and, of course, Rodney Harrison, the NFL's dirtiest player.

While some NFL coaches agree that Harrison is one of the league's dirtiest players, ESPN.com's Mike Sando writes that there are plenty of other guys worthy of a little finger-pointing:

A review of data since 2001 shows Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson with a league-high 17 personal fouls. Harrison and New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith are tied for second with 14, followed by Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour (13), Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor (12), late Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor (12) and Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers (11).

According to 11 of 18 head coaches who responded to Sando, Cowboys' safety Roy Williams finished second behind Harrison (interestingly, Wade Phillips voted for Williams. Twice.*), followed by Antonio Pierce, Hines Ward, Kevin Mawae and Olin Kreutz.

Former Patriots teammate Deion Branch "draws a line between Harrison's hard-nosed play" and, say, Travis Johnson talking smack over a dying Trent Green. Not sure anybody would disagree on that on.

Brandon Stokley, who said he would've "bet his life savings" on Harrison earning top honors, also singled out Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan "as a player with bad intentions." And I'm pretty sure he doesn't mean that in a topless, sausage-party, "what about the kids?" way.

* Joke. Coaches were only allowed to vote once.

Amid the recent rumors that the Packers are interested in acquiring Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, we have yet to hear from twinkly toes himself. Until now. Sort of. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the scoop, via an anonymous source, on Taylor:

The Packers are not on the lengthy list of teams Taylor would like to join in a trade, according to multiple sources close to the situation. And it doesn't appear they'll be added any time soon.

"I don't see it happening," a source close to Taylor said Friday. ... "He's been through that quarterback thing before," the source said. "He doesn't want to go through it again. Maybe if Favre was still there, but even that wouldn't be a given."

In Aaron Rodgers' defense, I think it's a little unfair to compare him to a senile Trent Green, or fresh-faced rookie John Beck. That said, I take Taylor's point. Plus, he's a VERY IMPORTANT PERSON these days, an accomplished dancer, a movie-star-in-training, and also a likely NFL Hall of Famer. He doesn't have time for Green Bay. That's like asking Ed Norton to star in The Incredible Hulk after Eric Bana bombed in the role five years before.

So what teams are under consideration? Deep throat says there are roughly 12, but reveals just five to the Sentinel: San Diego, New England, Dallas, Jacksonville and Philadelphia.

The common theme: these teams all have established quarterbacks. And direct flights to LAX. Now it's just a question of if any of them are willing to part with something more than a third-rounder for Taylor's services for the 2008 season.

Whatever happens in 2008, there's virtually no way it can turn out any worse than 2007 for the Miami Dolphins. Probability makes it almost an impossibility. One of the reasons is because of the turnover in the front office and on the coaching staff, and Bill Parcells' subsequent wheelings and dealings to get "his players" on the roster.

Not sure if Josh McCown qualifies as a "Parcells guy", but he was signed this offseason to compete for the quarterback job with second-year player John Beck and rookie second-rounder Chad Henne. And so far, according to the players, anyway, McCown's the early favorite:

Feedback from a few players is that Josh McCown was the sharpest of the quarterbacks the past month and appears the most ready to play, and strong-armed Chad Henne flashed impressive skills but needs seasoning. Sparano would love for a starter to emerge from among McCown, Henne and John Beck by the third preseason game, ``but I'm not sure that happens.''

Plus, it would go against quarterbacks coach David Lee's strategy to let the threesome get the full NFL experience before naming a starter.

However this plays out, I'm guessing most Dolphins supporters don't think McCown's the guy you rebuild a team with -- he was just mediocre in stops in Arizona and Oakland -- but if he can keep the team competitive while Henne or Beck (and let's be honest, everybody knows this is Henne's team) learn the ropes ... well, it could be a lot worse. Like, say, Trent Green or A.J. Feeley. And unlike Feeley, McCown didn't cost the Dolphins a second-round pick.

Now that the Saints have officially lost (won?) the Trent Green sweepstakes, it's time to look in another direction for Drew Brees' backup. But they're not looking to get any younger than the 38-year-old Jamie Martin, who held the spot last year, as the interest in Green would indicate. Especially now that Mark Brunell is coming to town.

The team is meeting with Brunell today, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him signed by tomorrow. He can step in adequately if needed (although no Saints fan embraces that possibility), but his value lies mainly in his being another set of discerning eyes, almost as if he's another coach.

That player/coach role will have its greatest impact on Tyler Palko, the young guy being groomed for the future. Between Brees, Payton, highly-regarded quarterbacks coach Pete Carmichael Jr., and possibly Brunell, Palko has an excellent group to learn from, and he should be ready to step into the backup spot in another year. Palko is also, like Brunell, left-handed, adding another potential learning benefit. Brunell might not have much in the tank, but he's still got a lot to offer the Saints, and he's a much better option in my mind than Green.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting that the St. Louis Rams have agreed to terms on a contract with free agent quarterback Trent Green.

This will be the second stint in St. Louis for Green, who grew up in the area. He previously spent the entire 1999 season on injured reserve for the Rams, watching the team win the Super Bowl after he was hurt in the preseason. He then started five games as Kurt Warner's backup in 2000.

After the 2000 season Green was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he stayed for six years, and then the Miami Dolphins, where he started five games in 2007. In both of his last two stops he was carted off the field after taking shots to the head, and that has raised questions about whether it's safe to be back on the field. But Green says he's been medically cleared to play, and he will, as Marc Bulger's backup, in 2008.

The Rams official talking to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas makes a good point: the team is trying to get better; trading wideout Torry Holt would actually accomplish the opposite. Still, rumors persist: Holt could be on his way to Philly or Cincy or anywhere other than St. Louis. It ain't happenin' though:

"There's no interest, no discussions about trading Torry Holt," [head coach Scott] Linehan said. "He's on our team, we want him on our team, and I hope he feels the same way."

Besides, it simply makes no sense to move Holt. The release of Isaac Bruce leaves Holt, Drew Bennett and Dante Hall as the Rams' top three wide receivers. The team needs to add another quality body at receiver, not subtract one.

First, I'm glad to see Linehan and Holt have patched things up. Second, if Holt was shipped elsewhere, I can't imagine a wide receiver corps "featuring" a former college quarterback and a return guy. Not to mention the possibility of Trent Green serving as the backup quarterback. That, along with all the offensive line issues, would pretty much guarantee 2008 to be worse than 2007. No easy task for a team that won just three games last season.

On the upside, with the addition of Josh Brown, the Rams could just field-goal teams to death next season, which suggests that maybe there isn't really a need for a traditional NFL offense in St. Louis. Or something.

As we all cope with the realization that Brett Favre wasn't kidding with the retirement talk, the conversation now turns to the future. Primarily, what the Packers can expect from Aaron Rodgers, and also, who they can find to install in Rodgers' previous role: backup.

There's not a whole hell of a lot to choose from in free agency, which explains the list of potential candidates.

To help smooth the transition from 38-year-old quarterback Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers have shown some interest in a veteran who will be Favre's age by the time training camp starts in July.

Former Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl quarterback Trent Green became the latest entry into the sweepstakes to be Rodgers' veteran backup as the team contacted his agent, Jim Steiner, in recent days.

Frankly, Green is closer to spending the rest of his life confined to a wheelchair than he is to being an NFL quarterback, but it's a seller's market. Don't worry, though; Green Bay has also shown interest in noodle-armed Mark Brunell who can excel in any offense willing to solely feature the slant pass.

I know that I've got about as much credibility in medicine as Dr. Nick, so maybe I should just acquiesce to the doctors who have cleared Trent Green to play football again, but it seems pretty obvious to me that he ... um ... shouldn't. Two brutal concussions have already left him Eric Lindros-ed, how long will it take before he gets Evander Holyfield-ed?

Yet Green has made two free agent visits -- New Orleans and St. Louis -- and he's all about returning to the Rams.

"I'm trying to be as impartial as I can," Green said. .. ."So I'm trying to take the emotion out of it, although it is very difficult. Because I do think fondly of the city and the fans here. And I have great memories of the organization. All those things weigh into it."

More than winning, I would think "best chance to keep remaining brain matter" would be high on the priority list for Green. In that sense, I don't think St. Louis is the best place to land, if Green is really deadset on being on a 2008 roster.

St. Louis is his hometown, where he was starter before Rodney Harrison (who else?) cheap-shotted Kurt Warner to stardom, and the new home of his former offensive coordinator Al Saunders; it's also got a terrible offensive line and a quarterback who himself is damaged. If last year is any indication, Green will have to step onto the field for the Rams at some point, and who knows what kind of damage a relatively minor sack could produce? New Orleans is a much more stable situation, but I still think it's in Green's best interest to retire.