Over the past few weeks, indications have emerged that the Dolphins aren’t thrilled with the performance of quarterback Chad Henne. Last month, Vic Carucci of NFL.com characterized former V.P. of football operations and current high-level consultant Bill Parcells as “very disappointed” with the 2008 second-round pick.
In garbage time on Monday night against the Patriots, Henne was yanked for Tyler Thigpen.
On Tuesday morning’s SportsCenter, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen acknowledged that the team is concerned about Henne. Mort also suggested that Chad Pennington could eventually replace Henne.
But the 34-year-old Pennginton isn’t and would be the future. Mort says that there’s talk that Pennington would “bridge the gap” to Tyler Thigpen.
Originally a seventh-round pick of the Vikings, Thigpen was waived in the hopes of slipping him through the to practice squad. But the Chiefs pounced.
In 2008, Thigpen started 11 games, compiling a passer rating of 76.0, via 18 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. The Dolphins traded for Thigpen, whom the new regime in K.C. didn’t want, during the 2009 season.
Last night, Thigpen completed only two of six passes for 15 yards and one interception in garbage time. His passer rating was 2.8.
Though he’ll have to do a lot better to become the latest heir to the throne once occupied by Dan Marino, Henne’s failure would mean that the Dolphins will have wasted another second-round pick via draft or trade in an effort to find the replacement to Marino, the Hall of Famer who nearly slipped through to the second round in 1983.
So from A.J. Feely to Daunte Culpepper to John Beck to Chad Henne to Pat White, the Dolphins have continued to swing and miss in the second round when it comes to picking quarterbacks.