If Favre decides not to play, the Dolphins would be wise to involve themselves in the drama.
If Favre leaves the Vikings now, after the team bet everything on his return by not drafting a quarterback or trading for Donovan McNabb, the Dolphins should try to take advantage of the situation and offer to bail out the Vikings.
Jeff Ireland should call Rick Spielman and offer quarterback
Chad Pennington.
A second-round pick for Pennington would suffice. Even a third-round pick should tempt the Dolphins to pull the trigger.
That call from the Dolphins current general manager to the man who is in charge of Minnesota's personnel department and once was Miami's GM could be beneficial for both men.
Ireland: ``Rick, I understand you have a Super Bowl contender if you find a good starting quarterback, so I'd like to offer you Pennington, who came to us late in the 2008 preseason and promptly took us to the playoffs. He could do the same and more for you.''
Spielman: ``I'm intrigued, Jeff, but you have to sell me on this. Regardless of what you heard about the Lamar Gordon trade I made in Miami, I don't ordinarily panic when I desperately need a player. And regardless of what you heard of the A.J. Feeley trade I made in Miami, I do intend to drive a hard bargain.''
Ireland: ``Well, what would you offer for Pennington?''
Spielman: ``We love Tarvaris Jackson, and we're ready to go with him, if necessary. So it's not going to be a first-rounder, I can tell you that. Let's see, I gave up a second for Feeley so . . .''
This scenario is only a suggestion, of course, and there is nothing here that says the Dolphins will definitely shop Pennington in the coming weeks, even as he continues his certain ascent to the backup quarterback job.
It is, in fact, more likely Pennington spends 2010 in Miami and, unsigned for 2011, he either leaves or settles in as the long-term backup to Chad Henne.
But if the Dolphins want to push the personnel envelope and maximize the value of their players, they try to trade Pennington to Minnesota or anyone else offering a draft pick. That's what you should do with any player who isn't likely to play much this year and might not be around next year because he's a free agent.
Now, this is about the time when the naysayers start hatching reasons why this suggestion is flawed.
I can hear them now:
The Dolphins would never trade Pennington because he's too valuable, the armchair journalist would argue.
Really? The idea of Miami trading Pennington was so apparent to Pennington himself, he requested a no-trade clause be included in the one-year contract he signed during the offseason.
Pennington saw the possibility he could be moved and wanted to guard against it. The Dolphins eased the quarterback's concerns by giving him a $1.5 million bonus in his contract, saying the money would be payable if he's traded.
But it is notable the Dolphins did not give Pennington the no-trade clause.
So Miami can trade Pennington.
Well, the Monday morning columnist could say, the team shouldn't do this because losing Pennington leaves them no reliable backup in case Henne is injured or flops in his first full season as the starter.
"If you think you have four quarterbacks, you don't have any. We can't get four quarterbacks ready to play."
So, the number will be pared to three for next week. Then, another quarterback won't make the "Herd Idol" cut. Finally, the remaining two will go head-to-head for the starting job.
"I want to have it down to two by the time school starts (Aug. 23)," said Holliday.
So, who will be the first quarterback voted off the island?
If anybody surmises Sullivan simply because he's a true freshman. … well, that guess is off-base.
The 6-foot, 200-pound teenager has been wowing observers since arriving in Huntington for summer workouts. In fact, rumor has it Sullivan possesses the strongest throwing arm among the quarterbacks.
"That's true," said Holliday. "And you know what else? He's the best runner, too."
That's why Sullivan is very much in the midst of the competition despite his true freshman status.
"In a perfect world, you would redshirt him," said Holliday. "But if he's the best, he's going to play."
Makes sense to me.
If there were ever a time to roll the dice, it's during Doc's maiden voyage as head coach.
So, why not give this talented kid a shot?
"It's good to know I have that opportunity as a true freshman," said Sullivan. "It's a good feeling to know that they have enough confidence in me that they're not immediately redshirting me.
"If I'm ready, then I'd like to play. But if I'm not, then I'll sit down. It's just good that I'm having the opportunity."
We'll know in a hurry if the aptly-named Sullivan is up to running "the really big shew."
The clock is already ticking.
"The pressure is on, obviously," said Sullivan. "You have to perform well, if you want to play ball. That's pretty much the bottom line.
"The competition started Wednesday. And I like the competitiveness. I like going up against Willy (Korn). I remember watching Willy when I was going into high school.
"I remember watching him play high school ball against Glades Central (Fla). I still remember it. I said, 'Wow, I want to be like him and go to college.' And, now, I'm playing against him.
"It's crazy how the world brings you together."
What isn't crazy is the premise that a true freshman could be Marshall's starting quarterback. It has happened before. Does the name
Chad Pennington ring a bell?
And, yes, tight end Lee Smith thinks there's a correlation.
"Ed is a
Chad Pennington guy," said Smith. "He's a leader. He's a competitor. He's the one who is going to be here when no one else is here, watching film and putting in the extra work.
