I haven't seen or heard Sparano's press conference from today. I'm having problems listening to it at the moment. From what I have read he praised Chad Henne. But he fell short of committing to him as the starter for 2010, something he did for Chad Pennington last year. With Chad Pennington being an unrestricted free agent, is this a way of leaving the door open for Pennington or another qb to come back/re-sign and compete for the #1 job? Or do you think he knows Henne is the guy and is simply motivating him for next year? From all accounts, IMO, Henne is the future at the position. And I think the team has started the smoke screen process early for the 2010 draft. If we say we're not sold on Henne, we could force a team behind us in the draft pecking order to trade up and draft a qb, thus letting the player we are interested in slide down one more spot closer to us. It's not like Henne is a veteran quarterback and would have his feelings hurt by the coach being non-committal. (a la Jeff Garcia) Edit.. Read the transcript... http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-transcripts-52 this is what he said about Henne: I found this other part funny:
I didnt see it yet either, but in watching the post game from last night...coach Sparano said mediocroty will not be tolerated here. I love how he sets the tone. Keeps these guys hungry and needed to play their heart out or you are gone!
Unless it's asked directly, I don't know why he even needs to say it outright. I don't see why Henne wouldn't be the starter next year. If he isn't the starter next year, I personally don't see how he could ever be the long term starter here, and given how the staff has talked about Henne I don't see why they would think he isn't a long term starter.
I am big believer in open competition and putting the best players on the field. I think everybody job should be on the line and should be earned by winning it out right.
Did you see the PC? The way I heard about this led me to believe he was asked directly. If the staff didn't see enough out of Henne, particularly the Titans and Texans games were he had to lead comebacks (almost), to know he's the #1 then I would be astonished. With the way those games played out, it was a perfect test of his skills IMO.
This. Nobody ever should be "guaranteed" a starting spot. Open competition is a good thing. I want Henne battling for his starting spot with the likes of Thigpen and Pennington. Of course Henne would easily win that competition imo.
not necessary or prudent to reveal anything about anybody, so why do it Parcells has never been a media darling & quite frankly could care less what anybody thought why should the Regime tip its hat or show its hand? nothing to be gained there is a BluePrint & they will follow it until the construction is complete Competition is the Elixir of Success!
Thats what I was thinking, if the question isn't asked, why say anything at all? Does it really matter at this point? Depending on what happens with Pennington's contract status for next year, I think its safe to say if Pennington is gone, Henne is the starter unless Thigpen blows everyone away in training camp and pre-season. Personally, right now, I think this is a complete non-issue.
IIRC, they said before this season started that no matter what...Henne was going to be the starter next year. It just so happened that Pennington was injured this year and Henne was pushed into action a year early. He didn't disappoint...so why would Tony or anyone else have to state again what was already said before the season? They don't. This is Chad Henne's team.
No reason to read anything into it. He gave Henne a pretty glowing review but he didn't address who was starting next year with regards to anyone and he was asked several times about both offense and defense. His answer was always the same he doesn't know yet, has to sit down with Bill and Jeff, has to watch all the tape and rate the players see who did what and who didn't do what. I think it's pretty obvious Henne is going to be the starter next year.
Read the transcript... http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-transcripts-52 this is what he said about Henne: I found this other part funny:
I reckon he was asked directly guys.. that's pretty much the same direct question, did you find a starter in Chad Henne going forward?... do you think he's the starter for 2010? He needs to sitdown and evaluate things. It doesn't benefit the team to committ to Henne at this time of year. But suffice it to say, we won't be drafting a quarterback in round one or two next draft. FINALLY!
it was expected for us to not have a great record this year. That being said, i think going 7-9 after an 11-5 year calls for some changes in the staff and some players and i love that Sparano has the attitude that we had an average year an need to improve this offseason in order to get back to an 11-5 type year.
Let me preface this by saying I firmly believe barring any sort of injury or anything, Chad Henne will be our QB next year. That being said, Sparano isn't about to give him a free pass. He was overall a good quarterback, but letting any guy on that team think he's got a free pass into next season is looking for trouble, and I don't think that's how this regime runs its game. We've seen open competition at almost every position this year outside of the ones where people are excelling. There is only one person on that team who I think absolutely has a pass, and that's Jake Long. I think that's a good thing. Everyone realizes that their game needs to be ratcheted up next year, because if there's someone else who can do the job, they're getting it. It's Superbowl or bust!
Pennington? could & should return in a coaching/QB capacity he is sorely missed & still has a place in Miami the Iceman needs him in his corner
Its a good point Pauly about the draft, but all the other teams need to do is put on the tape of henne to see if were bluffing, we'd be exposed if they did.maybe we'll put up a little smokescreen with tebow ya know, because of the connection. I think it is somewhat of a motivational tool for the offseason...I want a bigger, stronger chad henne.
Im not going to Get good feedback from people for this comment But No he should not have said Henne is the starter we need to Have a Qb competicion Between Henne and Thigpen Because seriously i am NOT at all impressed with the performance of Chad Henne He had his Ups and downs more downs then Ups but Man we should have a comnpeticion not just Hand him a starting jOB
competition is the elixir of success there should always be competition @ every position to maintain the edge & integrity of the team having said that I believe that the Iceman is the future
Agreed, we have three young QB's and the possibility of penny or even some other Vet QB still looms. No reason why they wouldn't be able to compete for the starting spot.
Me too. I listened to the pressers. At this point, Sparano admitted he didn't know which way he would go with any player or position. It's like he said, if he says something now and it changes, then he'll hear about that. I like Tony a lot and I really think he's going to be better and better as he goes on. He admits his mistakes etc. and IMO, that says a lot about the man.
i think it is something as simple as ... he needs to get better. Henne is the man here .... and will start next season - but the FO wants him to know that he still has a ways to go .... needs to make good decisions, remember the Parcells commandments. i can think of no situation that Pennington comes back here next year. IF he is healthy he will want to start next year -- and that place just isn't here. we need to acquire an explosive element to our offense and does not = Pennington. i also see Thigpen staying here next year - improving his value during the preseason, and then being traded in '11 for a 2/3 rd pick (if there is even a season) ....
Pennington would not be acquired as an explosive element to our offense his value would be as a unifying element, a teaching & coaching component to our attack he would create the right team atmosphere help w/ right decisions & a positive direction he has too many intangibles to pass up we are simply a better team w/him aboard he is a PlayerCoach, who still has play left in him
Have some of you forgotten that this was Henne's first season as a starting QB?? Of course he would have some struggles. Considering all of it though, he played pretty damn well if you ask me.
