You read it hear first - at some point during tonight's Dolphins/Jets game, ESPN will show a graphic board detailing the atrocious string of quarterbacks that have come through Miami since Dan Marino's departure in 1999. Its happened in nearly every prime time game the Dolphins have played in for as long as I can remember and try as I might to not, I remember every name on that list as well.
Damon Huard– I mostly remember him coming in to replace Marino during the second half of his final game; a 62-7 destruction at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Needless to say at that point the game had kind of lost its appeal.
Jay Fiedler – He came into that game too, replacing Jacksonville starter Mark Brunell. Apparently he played well enough in that pointless blowout to become the Dolphins starting QB for the next 4 years. Also a 2002 inductee to the National Jewish Museum Sports Hall Of Fame; so that's something.
Ray Lucas – Along the same lines as Fiedler, Lucas had a few nice games with the New York Jets, one of which was against Miami, and that instantly propelled him into the running for starting quarterback of the Dolphins. He started six games. This was basically the end of Miami's “if you can't beat them, sign them” phase.
Brian Griese – The most positive thing I can say about Brian Griese's time with the Dolphins was he was easily the second best Griese to ever don the aqua and orange; meaning he is also the worst.
A.J. Feeley - Finished his career with 27 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He started eight games for Miami and threw more than half of those picks during a magical 2004 season. My gut tells me that at least 5 of those were returned for touchdowns and I'm prone to believe it because Feeley's favourite target was the gut; just of an opposing team's cornerback.
Sage Rosenfels – Only started two games, but seemed to be the team's third string QB forever. In fact the Dolphins just resigned the Iowa product to back-up Matt Moore after the loss of Chad Henne. To the best of my knowledge is not yet a member of the National Jewish Museum Sports Hall Of Fame.
Gus Frerotte – Yes, THAT Gus Frerotte. And in 2005 he helped the Dolphins do the equivalent of running head first into a wall. He lead them to a 9-7 record. He helped them win six consecutive games to end the season. He gave the team hope. Never give an awful team hope! Because of Frerotte Miami came up with the idea that they could actually contend in the AFC. So they signed this next man out of desperation...
Daunte Culpepper – Note: He had NOT fully recovered from his knee injury. Culpepper was supposed to be the final piece of a championship puzzle. In fact SI picked the Dolphins to go to the Super Bowl; granted they were to lose to Carolina, but still! However the former Viking only started four games in what was maybe the most depressing 6-10 season in Miami history. Who was the other free agent QB the Dolphins were going after that summer? Oh yeah, Drew Brees. Good call guys.
Joey Harrington – Well, I guess that one time on Thanksgiving when the Lions played Billy Joel's “Piano Man” to introduce Harrington to the crowd gave me something to laugh at besides the 2006 team.
Cleo Lemon – He couldn't make it in the NFL. He found out this year he couldn't make it in the CFL. He's not a very good quarterback. Although he was responsible for my favourite moment in Dolphins history. Ahhhhh... Sweet, sweet 1-15. So much better than 0-16. I'm looking at you Detroit Lions.
Trent Green – Green missed most of the 2007 season with a concussion. I hope for his sake that made him forget he ever even signed with Miami.
John Beck – Beck was the first of two recent second round draft picks used on QBs. Coming out of BYU only a few things were clear about Beck. He was older than most draft picks (he was 25 when drafted after spending two years on his Mormon mission) and he had small hands. Four years later this is now what we know about John Beck: He is a career back-up quarterback in the NFL. Although he did get some time in yesterday's Redskins game, but that seems like more of a detriment to Rex Grossman than a compliment to Beck.
Chad Pennington – I actually like Pennington; and really, who doesn't? He's the every man's starting QB. He can throw about as far as I can, but the guy just wins games. However, much like Frerotte's 2005 season, the Dolphins' 11-5, 2008 club just really stunted any chance of team growth. They made the playoffs capitalizing on an easy schedule that featured both the AFC and NFC West and that also happened to be the year that Matt Cassel's name became known to the world. They were blown out by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the playoffs and haven't made it back since.
Tyler Thigpen – No, just no.
Chad Henne – This year was supposed to be the year he broke out. Or wait... Was that supposed to be last year? Either way Henne is out the rest of the 2011 season and for a player who's job was in question this off-season, that's bad. Actually to a player who's job was in question because of interest in Kyle Orton, a QB who's already lost his own job this season, that's really bad.
So welcome to the club Matt Moore. You are now part of a very non-selective group. Apparently the rest of the Dolphins' season is in your hands, which presents an interesting career opportunity. Most would agree that it would be in the Dolphins best interest to tank the rest of their games in an attempt to obtain the 1st overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. There's this kid Andrew Luck that's just kind of getting a little publicity and could easily become the first quarterback taken in the 1st round by the Dolphins since 1983; when they selected Marino. But then again, if Moore can win a few games maybe he can save his own job by giving Miami another pointless 8th overall selection. It would keep two Dolphin traditions alive: The never ending search for a franchise quarterback and being so awful, that they're not awful enough to draft such a player.
