Will Tyler Thigpen Save The Dolphins?

The Kansas City Chiefs have just traded quarterback Tyler Thigpen to the Miami Dolphins for an undisclosed draft pick.

Thigpen, 25, was the Chiefs' starting quarterback for much of last season, scoring 22 touchdowns (18 passing, three rushing, and one receiving) after supplanting the injured Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard.

However, Thigpen was supplanted in the offseason by former New England Patriot Matt Cassel, who filled in admirably for Tom Brady when the latter was injured in the first game of 2008—ironically, against the Chiefs.

The Dolphins recently lost starting quarterback Chad Pennington for the season after he suffered an injury while facing the San Diego Chargers this past weekend. Pennington tore a capsule in his throwing shoulder, the latest of many shoulder injuries he has suffered over the past five years.

With the inexperienced Chad Henne and Pat White the only remaining quarterbacks on Miami's roster, the team felt that trading for a more experienced quarterback was a necessity to salvage their season. Thigpen has been on the trading block since the preseason, as he was the third quarterback on the Chiefs' depth chart.

Not only did the timing and needs converge perfectly for the Chiefs and Dolphins, they had an open line of communication. It's interesting to note that Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli is a son-in-law of Dolphins executive VP Bill Parcells.

Right now, the Dolphins are 0-3, last in the AFC East, and seem to have lost the direction and swagger that came with the introduction of the Wildcat offense last year. On offense, the Dolphins are Ronnie Brown's team, but having a smart, solid quarterback is a necessity for any NFL franchise. Thigpen fits the bill—with only 12 interceptions in 14 games last year, he's not going to make stupid plays, and that can only help a team that has lost its way.