• With Miami drafting 15th, here's how ESPN's Mel Kiper ranks the top quarterbacks: Missouri's Blaine Gabbert eighth, Auburn's Cam Newton 14th, Arkansas' Ryan Mallett 20th and Washington's Jake Locker 24th. Even if Miami drafts one, expect a veteran to be added, too.
ESPN's Todd McShay calls Newton ``a long-term project.'' CBS' Phil Simms said, ``It will probably be the second year before we see him on the field.'' At Auburn, it was ``always look at one guy and throw it. In the NFL, that's not the way it is.''
• Not only do the Dolphins know they need upgrades at two of the three interior line positions, but talks with one starter they like (guard/center Richie Incognito) have stalled because they're far apart on money. Vernon Carey, signed through 2014, expects to return but knows he could move to guard if a new coordinator pushes for that or if Miami drafts a right tackle.
• Ross told impending free agent Chad Pennington he wants to find a role for him with the team when he retires. ``He said, `We value your capabilities and leadership,' '' Pennington said. ``I'm on the fence about playing'' in 2011.
Here's what a good teammate Pennington is: Each week, he studied film and wrote 48 ideas about how to attack opponents on first, second and third downs and red-zone situations. But he isn't sure he wants to coach.
• Billick, on two Dolphins options: He said Donovan McNabb can still play, blaming his problems partly on a ``transition to a different style.'' With Vince Young, ``emotion and maturity are serious issues. I don't know that he has demonstrated he can drop back and make the right reads'' and decisions often enough, though he improved in 2010.
Popular Dolphins announcer Jim Mandich, battling bile duct cancer, was hospitalized with an infection last week but hopes to return home Monday.
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