No, I don't. Penny and Thigpen are in a fight for the backup job. Sparano knows what Pennington can do, so he needs a good look at Thigpen. Also, with Pennington's arm still in rehab, he can't handle a large amount of reps yet. Thus, Thigpen gets more.

The real question is why Pat White isn't getting reps.

 

I have the same suspicion that there is something more under the surface here, but we'll know for sure in a week. Most posters who I respect a lot seem to think he's as good as gone, which is disheartening but I just can't accept the situation at that face value.

 

If Pat White were a lobster in a pot, he would be looking a little sunburned at the moment...

They are not going to take a single chance on player personnel this yr TP, they will not put themselves into a position where the #3 Qb does not have any experience.

 

Because they don't want to display how bad he is so they can trade him.

I will not be happy at all if we ditch Thigpen for White.

 

Trade Thigpen and keep White as the #3? OMG, then what if the Chads both got hurt?

I can't agree with your theory in the slightest and feel we are lucky to have 3 QBs who have proven themselves as at least viable NFL starting QBs who can help us win. Pat White can go play baseball. I loved him in college, was hoping beyond hope he would show at least a hint of being an NFL QB, but it looks now like it ain't gonna happen.

 

I thought Penny was #3... Thigpen and White were supposed to fight it out for #2. :confused2:

 

If Henne gets hurt, god forbid, and Penny becomes the starter, are you comfortable with White as the #2? I didnt think so either. Thiggy is being groomed to handle the job as a backup's backup, since Penny could get at any time if he steps in for Henne considering his shoulder.

 

I agree, but the official line is that Pennington is preferred as an option of last resort.

 

Exactly, they are not going to take a single chance, the WC throwing option will be handled by Ronnie Brown.

Now a more interesting competition to my eyes is Charles Grant for the #7 Dlineman slot.

 

One other reason to keep White around even if you know he's as good as gone would be to keep CP's practice reps down.

They may also be planning on keeping White b/c they feel he could be developed, but they learned last season that he isn't ready and don't want to destroy his confidence by putting him in too early.

I'm not saying either of those are the reason or even that I believe them, but they are possibilities.

 

Godo point about Pennington's reps, why bring in a Camp Arm when you already have Pat White?

What I'd like to see is for somehow White to be stashed on the IR because one way or another, Pennington won't be a Dolphin next season imho.

 

they wont cut pat white before the last preseason game because he will likely play a large chunk of that game with Henne and Pennington sitting out.

 

I think its the opposite may be true. Maybe Penny is on the block? After all, he can step in and help a franchise (think St Louis) in the short term while grooming their QB of the future. I know Pennington has stated his interest to stay in Miami but maybe the thought of sitting on the bench has had him reconsidering his options.

 

yea toddphins i was thinking the same thing myself,he is playing alot maybe to showcase him for a trade. if we keep white and trade thiggy i will be really disappointed. this is no trade value for pat. i'm hoping we may have a trade partner in seattle with pat turner. moore looks like a keeper.

 

I've actually had the very same thoughts, being a 'conspiracy theorist' as well.

However, you see it happen all the time in the NFL, where the '4th' QB is forgotten in camp. Usually tho, it occurs because the 4th guy is an UDFA or a guys that's been to a couple of camps that obviously doesn't have 'it'. For example, in 2007, Gibral Hamden was the 4th QB who didnt play much...he ended up being cut (Trent Green, John Beck and Cleo Lemon were the others...). The difference is that White is a prominent draft pick, not and UDFA....

But the fact that this regime chose him at #44 overall still gives him a chance to be the exception. They may very well have Thiggy up there on the block and that would give them a valid reason to keep White and try to recoup something from the kid.... We'll see....

 

I don't think they'll just outright cut White - even if he's not in the team's plans. If he's not in the long term plans, I would expect the FO would be trying to get some sort of compensation for him through a trade.
On the other hand if they can't get a low draft pick and do end up cutting him, what's the hurry? Right now he serves a purpose. He's filling an important roster spot during preseason.
IMO Thigpen is getting as many reps as he is because he needs them.
Henne is the starter. He'll play with the rest of the starters. Then he'll sit. Pennington is a (brittle) vet. This is his third year here. He knows the offense. The coaches know what to expect from him.

 

I hear ya ToddsPhins... part of me thinks that's whats up too. I wont let myself believe it though. I can't see us trading Thigpen. He's a reliable backup. We need that. Every team does, no matter what. Its odd that White isnt getting any reps, even though all we hear is that he's not showing well at all in practice during camp. I can't see us going with Henne, Pennington, White and trading Thigpen. I just can't see the logic in it. Lets face it, Pennington, while he may still be able to do some things, is very limited it what he offers this team on the field. I know, great locker room and sideline guy as a leader and a role model, but he's probably only got another year of football left in him, I just can't see his health letting him play beyond that. If that is indeed the case, why would we trade Thigpen, who we know we can have on the roster for a few more years as a backup, which is something every team needs. If anything, I see it as Pennington, or White goes. I wouldn't be happy if we let Thigpen go and keep White, with Pennington as the #2.

 

I could be wrong, but isn't there some sort of no-trade clause in Penny's contract ?? I thought I read that somewhere. Ooops, just checked that...There is not a 'no-trade' clause but it'll cost an extra $1.5m if we do trade him (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4970681).

That said, if the regime thinks we could be on the cusp of the next level, trading Penny probably would be one of the last things they'd do. If something should happen to Henne, particularly later in the year and we are contending, having Penny there who's been there and done that, makes more sense than Thiggy...it just really depends on whether they are making a decision for the short term or the long term. That said, if they don't think we are near that level, keeping Penny around to continue to mentor Henne and either Thiggy or White makes sense as well....

 

I have a hard time believing that White is the only QB on this roster that has solidified his spot on this roster so much so that he does not need to play in the pre-season, especially when he needs all the playing time he can get. Teams use the pre-season to prep, why would they not be prepping White for the season (even as a third stringer) instead of prepping a player to play for another team? Thigpen is hardly a non-entity, if teams are going to be interested in him they are not going to be judging him on the 2010 pre-season performances.

My guess would be that they are trying to keep White under the radar so they can add him to the PS.

 

The drama should be about Pennington and what his future holds. He may want to move on next season for another shot at starting; or view career stability by backing-up Henne as a greater benefit for him and his family. If it's the latter, I expect Parcells to sign Pennington to a multi-year extension.

Once Pennington decides his future, then the regime will know if 3rd string QB needs to be Henne's long term back up or a Wildcat specialist.

 

Because he was brought in to do one specific thing: bring a throwing element to the Wildcat. Since he can't seem to run that offense, or even a simple convetional offense, and won't try other positions, he's of no use to us. No need to see what he can do if he can't perform even simple drills during practice. Might as well not expose him since other teams might still be curious as to what he could do for them. He also could suffer another concussion out there. At this point, its all about retaining his value. Its like buying a car and a year later you realize it's not the kind of car you really need. So instead of driving it and putting miles and wear and tear on it you decide to keep it in the garage and put an ad in the classifieds.

 

All I know is it would be a mistake to trade Thigpen and have White as our #3.

It should be

1. Henne
2. Thigpen
3. Pennington

 

They did this with John Beck a few years ago.

The bottom line is the level of your play on the practice field is the primary factor in figuring out your preseason time. When you get yourself in a hole you have to work twice as hard to get out of it because your reps start shriveling up.

As for why Pat White is still on the team, why not? We're not down to cut time yet.

I don't think this is a conspiracy and I don't think a trade is in the works. I think they're giving reps to the players they expect to be on this football team. They're giving Thigpen lots of reps because, unlike White, he's a promising prospect.

 

Your point would be fine except that, according to Sparano, that's not why he was brought in or at least certainly not the only reason he was brought in...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/05/12/fins-playing-shell-game-regarding-pat-white/

"Sparano initially reiterated that the Dolphins drafted White to be a quarterback. Later, however, Sparano gushed about White's ability to "do a lot of jobs," which implies that he might do some moonlighting at other positions."

This is just one article that states he was brought in to be the #3 QB and some "other jobs..." He was brought in to be the #3 QB. The fact that they wanted him to do other jobs came along after the draft...supposedly...

Honestly, I think like you guys do, but Sparano has been pretty stubborn about him being a QB, nothing else...

 

White is not eligible for the PS. He played in 13 games last year. Once they exceed 8, a player can't be on a PS.

From what we have read, White gets a lot of work in practice. He has a few bright moments, but as a passer he mostly makes Joe Kapp look like Johnny Unitas.

I go along with the premise that those who play in the games are the ones who earn it in practice. They are giving White every opportunity to earn time in games and he hasn't. There is no reason to cut him until the roster is reduced to 53. They may want to give him the last PS game for extended number of reps, as one last chance.

 

I understand the logic, but also would be wary of this, if it is their strategy. By not playing White and keeping him, means if you need him in an emergency you are up sh*ts creek. I can't imagine this regime ever being caught with their pants down like that.

 

I honestly have been thinking if it has to do with making thigpen trade bait but im just not certain. We shall see....

 

You're absolutely right that Thigpen is being prepped for a trade.

But it's because Pennington is plenty good for a 2nd string QB. Thigpen is too much trade value for a 3rd string QB. Pat White is crappy enough that who cares, he's 3rd string.

The fins know they won't get anything for Pat White. They may get a decent trade for Thigpen. You don't keep 3 talented QBs on your roster.

Neither of them are going to be 2nd stringer... it's been Pennington coming back from injury all along.

 

It raises a flag alright.

It raises the Pat White is never going to be a legitimate NFL QB prospect flag.

It's clear to me why Thiggy is getting reps.
Pennington dosen't need to prove himself and his health is still an issue.
White was picked as a Wild Cat expirement and they already know if he had to come in and play an entire game at QB that our offense would be a disaster.

Thiggy NEEDS reps because he is head and shoulders the best 3rd string option and because he may be all we have if Henne goes down and the staff knows it.