Henne named the starter QB

[Defense54]

So much for competition:

http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/sparano-names-henne-starting-qb-owners-meetings

I was hoping to see Thigpen and Penny battle it out in Pre Season with him for the start. I like Henne. I just hope if Thigpen comes on they will have the balls to pull him.

[Dave Gray]

I'm surprised by thing.  I thought Pennington would battle for the job.  This is good, I guess.

[MaineDolFan]

Naming a starter now means virtually nothing.  I don't think Pennington will be at "full speed" until well into camp.  So hand the job to the kid you drafted for the job - the same one that started last season after Pennington went down.  And then you see how it shakes out at camp.  If he sucks he will quickly be replaced.

This is a paper move more than anything.  It isn't like it will be hard to unseat Henne, if needed. 

[Dave Gray]

True, but it sends a message to Henne that it's his job to lose, and with good performance, he will retain his job.

[MaineDolFan]

That is a bad thing?

[Doc-phin]

Who cares?  You can't trust anything they say anyway!

Did anyone actually think Henne wouldn't be the starter (if healthy)?  I don't see Thigpen getting an honest shot unless injury puts him in that position.  I hope he lights it up in preseason and gets enough media attention that the front office can't help but give him an honest chance.  Unfortunately, my bet is that Thigpen gets very limited play time and most of it will be run plays and check downs.

[CF DolFan]

Thigpen is getting the support of the fans as if he was the back-up QB. Oh yes I forgot ... he is the back-up!! 

[Phishfan]

Thigpen is getting the support of the fans as if he was the back-up QB. Oh yes I forgot ... he is the back-up!! 

When people feel things are bad there is no more popular player than the backup QB.

[StL FinFan]

I think there should be open competition for every position.  That being said, I also think Henne would win the starting spot and nothing says he could not lose it.

[Doc-phin]

I disagree with the notion that this is just another case of disgruntled fans calling for the backup QB.  I think the Chiefs should have given Thigpen a better shot, the guy seems to be pretty talented and a fantastic competitor.  He sure as hell gave us a run for the money when we played them in 2008, and from what I saw he didn't have all that much help.  Just to be clear, I did see him play in many of his games in 2008 and I am not basing my opinion of him on just the Dolphins-Cheifs game.

I have no problem with Henne being the pronounced starter.  He has done very well considering all circumstances and I see no reason to believe he won't improve.  However, I have seen enough of Thigpen to make me believe he deserves some honest consideration.  I just don't think he will get it and I really don't think it has anything to do with his ability to play his position.

[dolphins4life]

No reason why Henne should not be starter in 2010. 

I'm not really sold on Thigpen as number 2.

I think that should be Pennington's role. 

[Defense54]

No problem with Henne starting, I just hope that if he is outplayed its his Job to lose as well. From what I saw from Thigpen he will make a hell of a backup and possible future trade bait at the very least if he performs well enough.

And I gotta applaud  Pennington for having 0% ego problems . Most Starting QB's would NEVER accept a 3rd back up role. He really is a class act. The Jets didn't deserve him.

[ethurst22a]

I disagree with the notion that this is just another case of disgruntled fans calling for the backup QB.  I think the Chiefs should have given Thigpen a better shot, the guy seems to be pretty talented and a fantastic competitor.  He sure as hell gave us a run for the money when we played them in 2008, and from what I saw he didn't have all that much help.  Just to be clear, I did see him play in many of his games in 2008 and I am not basing my opinion of him on just the Dolphins-Cheifs game.

I have no problem with Henne being the pronounced starter.  He has done very well considering all circumstances and I see no reason to believe he won't improve.  However, I have seen enough of Thigpen to make me believe he deserves some honest consideration. 

Doc-Phin is on the money...

I live out here where you get Broncos and Chiefs games and I watched the Chiefs when Thigpen was quarterback. The  Chiefs played better ball with Thigpen in the lineup. There were seven games (including Miami) that they were in until the final four minutes. Under Herman Edwards, the Chiefs decided to go young and they didn't know how to close out games.

But KC had a problem. Brodie Croyle didn't show anything and kept getting injured and Damon Huard was old but most of your cap was tied into those two players. Last year, when Haley came in (because he had his own pick in Cassel) he gave Thigs some sorry plays to run in preseason. Thigpens specialty is throwing the ball downfield and using his legs to buy time.

So he'll get some sorry plays in Miami this preseason. 3rd and 8 and Sparano will have Thigs run a kneel down play. Thigpen will not get the chance to showcase what he is about.

Also on Pennington. In the back of Chad's mind, he probably believes that he can beat out Chad Henne. That's why he resigned. There were other places that he could have went to (see Arizona). He obviously knows something that we don't.

Why all of a sudden does he want to be a backup when he didn't accept that role with the Jets? He still has a legitimate shot to be the starting quarterback on opening day.

[Phishfan]

the guy seems to be pretty talented and a fantastic competitor. 

This is exactly what a disgruntled fan says.  Let's be serious about this. From what I have heard Thigpen is coming in at number two. That means he will get every chance that a number two always gets. Saying he will do nothing more than kneel on 3rd and 8 is really rediculous ethurst.

I liked some things I saw in Thigpen, but I also disliked some things I saw. Henne is in the same boat as far as that goes.

[Philly Fin Fan]

Also on Pennington. In the back of Chad's mind, he probably believes that he can beat out Chad Henne. That's why he resigned. There were other places that he could have went to (see Arizona). He obviously knows something that we don't.

Why all of a sudden does he want to be a backup when he didn't accept that role with the Jets? He still has a legitimate shot to be the starting quarterback on opening day.

Please show me any form of link saying Arizona was interested in Pennington. Or that any team was interested in him. I think I recall reading the Jets were considering bringing him back, so that he could help mentor Sanchez (like he did with Henne in Miami). Just because a team has an opening at the QB position, doesn't mean they had interest in every QB out there.

You need to remember that Pennington was coming off of a shoulder injury, which wasn't his first.

Maybe he accepted that backup role in Miami because it was the only opportunity he had available to him. Or maybe he wants to transition into coaching and felt this was the best chance for him to do that.